1. Protecting and exploiting research results at Newcastle University Matt Abbott Business Development Manager Research and Enterprise Services

2. Why we do this?
Newcastle University wants it’s research to have impact in the real world
Successful exploitation of University intellectual property leads to impact which can benefit the University, its employees, funding bodies, and the economy.
In order to realise the true value of research output, intellectual property must be properly identified, protected, managed and exploited.

3. Different types of IP protection
Patents (Reg)
Copyright © (Unreg)
Trade Marks ® TM (Reg or unreg)
Designs (Reg or unreg)
Trade Secret (Unreg)

4. What is a patent? Patents – protect new inventions
Cover how things work, what they do, how they do it, what they are made of and how they are made.
Gives the owner a 20 years of protection from date of filing
Stops other people from selling, manufacturing and importing your invention (does not prevent research)
Has to be
Novel – objective assessment
Inventive (non-obvious) - subjective
Industrial application

5. Copyright Copyright Automatically arises in original works
Copyright duration:
Literary Works life of author + 70 years
Graphic Works life + 70 years
Musical Notation life + 70 years
Sound Recordings up to 70 years
Photographs life + 70 years

6. Ownership of IP generated at Newcastle
Research MSc and PhD students (and Undergraduates doing original research) are asked to assign their rights in new technology in line with the University IP policy
After assignment, you are subsequently granted the same rights as academic staff in relation to future revenues that may be accrued.
Any revenues or equity holdings are split relative to the contribution you made to the technology

7. Royalty Distribution Working for a private company – generally 0%
Self-employed – 100% but facilities, expertise, risk and IP costs

8. Confidentiality
Any information received or generated at University should be kept secret and confidential (unless known to be in the public domain)
Lab meetings, Internal seminars, Coffee breaks
All proposed publications to be submitted to your
supervisor at least one month prior to
submission/presentation
Abstracts, Posters, Oral/Powerpoint presentations, Paper
If publication contains patentable invention or commercially sensitive information you could be asked to delay publication

9. Example
Phycocyanin production in cyanobacteria

10. Summary We treat research students in the same way as staff
Your work will only be commercially valuable if it is confidential
Talk to your Supervisor (or get in touch with BDE team) if you have any queries

11. Thank you very much
Any questions?
Contact us at
Tel: