What is Intellectual Property?

Intellectual property (IP) refers to the legal rights that a university or college has over the creations or inventions made by its faculty, staff, or students. This can include things like research findings, software, inventions, and other creative works.

The purpose of university intellectual property ownership is to promote innovation and the commercialization of new technologies. When a university owns the intellectual property rights to a new invention or discovery, it can license those rights to a company or investor for commercialization. This can lead to new products, businesses, and job opportunities, as well as revenue for the university.

In some cases, the university may share the ownership of the intellectual property with the creators, or may even assign ownership to the creators. This can depend on factors such as the type of creation, the funding source, and the university's policies.

Overall, university intellectual property ownership is an important way for universities to support and encourage innovation, while also protecting their investments in research and development.

This video from the UK Intellectual Property Office gives a good explanation of what IP is all about

What is Technology Transfer?

Technology transfer is a term used to describe a formal transfer of rights to use and commercialise new discoveries and innovations resulting from scientific research to another party. Universities typically transfer technology through protecting (using patents and copyrights), then licensing new innovations. The major steps in this process include the disclosure of innovations, patenting the innovation concurrent with publication of scientific research and licensing the rights to innovations to industry for commercial development.

How Do I Find the Expertise I Need?

Please contact us either by phone or e-mail for specific areas of expertise. You can also browse our Directory of Expertise by research topic and identify our research experts in the chosen area.

Are UCC Technologies Ready for Commercial Use?

UCC’s expertise is in research and teaching. Most of the university’s technologies will require further development by the licensing company in order to create a commercial product.

Do I have to sign a confidentiality agreement?

Each technology has different levels of information available. Some have published papers and patents that describe the technology in detail while others can have only short, non-confidential descriptions. Greater exchange of relevant information can take place once you sign a confidential disclosure agreement with us.

What does UCC look for in a potential licensee?

UCC expects a potential licensee to have the necessary commitment, resources and technical & management expertise to use the rights we provide to transform a technology opportunity into a commercial product or service.

Who owns the invention?

Like most universities, the University owns all IP rights in works generated by staff in the course of their employment by the University, and by students during their courses of study. UCC requires faculty members, graduate students, staff, employees, visiting professors, and the like, to assign inventions to the institution. The University owns the patent and, in return, provides professional services to prosecute the patent and license it, without charge to the inventor.

How is license income distributed?

In return for the assignment of the intellectual property, if the technology is licensed and successfully commercialised, UCC shares the income it receives from licensing (e.g royalties of license fees) with the inventors in accordance with the IP policy of the university.