Intellectual property (IP) refers to creations of the mind, such as patents; inventions; copyright; trademarks; literary and artistic works; designs; and symbols, names and images used in commerce. IP covers the ownership and usage rights for results and outputs of research projects. IP on a project should be something agreed from the outset of the project in terms of background IP and any IP that will be created through the research being undertaken. This can consist of:

• Patents – A registered right; 20 years duration. 
• Trade Marks – registered right; 10 years (renewable in perpetuity),
• Design Rights – registered right; has to be renewed on the 5th anniversary (max 25 years),
• Copyright – very large area: unregistered right in the U.K. arises automatically – generally; for 70 years dependent on the type of work (written, sound or film),
• Know-How – ‘everything else’; trade secrets, confidential information and accumulated skills and experience.

What is the University’s position on IP? 

The University of Northampton’s IP policy sets out the rights of its staff, research and taught students in relation to their intellect and creative output. The University supports innovative research and enterprising and entrepreneurial projects that have wide- ranging and significant impact on the lives of local, national, and international communities and aims to encourage and facilitate the development and protection, where appropriate, of any IP created. 

Whilst the University has a default position in terms of IP ownership, to understand this please read the IP policy to further understand ownership of IP.