Conclusion

Module summary

Number 1 Intellectual Property and its value

  • There are a few different types of IP, with copyright, trademarks and patents the most well-known.
  • If you develop an idea or content that is new or original you may want to protect your ownership rights.

Number 2 IP with automatic protection or no protection

  • Copyright, trade secrets and circuit layouts are automatically protected for a certain duration.
  • You can take steps to protect these types of IP.
  • Some types of works such as datasets, screenshots and photographs of existing works have no copyright protection. However, it can be complicated so check first!

Number 3 IP requiring registration

Patents, trademarks, designs, plant breeder’s rights and geographical indications require registration to protect the IP.

Number 4 IP at Charles Sturt and other workplaces

  • Charles Sturt’s Intellectual Property policy regulates the ownership and protection of the University’s Intellectual Property.
  • As an employee it is likely that the IP of anything you develop in the course of your work will belong to your employer.
  • Moral rights may remain with you even if your copyright is assigned to another party.

Number 5 Is your idea original?

If you develop a product or content it is important to consider if somebody else already owns the IP.

Number 6 Indigenous Knowledge

If your idea uses traditional knowledge or cultural expressions from an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person, community or nation you should ensure that you do it in a way that recognises, respects and protects Indigenous Knowledge.

Number 7 Global implications

There is worldwide protection for IP rights but laws can vary from country to country.

Number 8 IP ownership

  • IP can belong to businesses, organisations or individuals.
  • IP can be sold, transferred or licensed.
  • A licence allows others to use your IP, according to the licence conditions, but you retain the ownership.
  • Get permission before using material online that is not your own work, is not public domain (copyright expired) and doesn’t have a licence

nineCopyright and Creative Commons

  • Creative Commons licences are free legal tools that copyright owners can use to permit others to use their works.
  • Consider: Is there any other IP in your work, such as logos or trademarks, images of people?
  • If you modify and share other CC works, your adaptors licence must be compatible with the licence/s of the original materials.
  • Always include the name of the CC licence and link to the licence deed whenever possible
  • Consider how you want to be attributed and add an attribution statement

10 Social media and IP

  • Sharing content on social media platforms before applying to protect your IP could prevent you from securing commercial rights.
  • Copyright applies to material on social media platforms
  • Many social media platforms “Terms of Use” require you to grant the platform a licence for all the material you upload.

Congratulations!

You have completed the Intellectual Property module.

Help us improve

We value your feedback. Please take a moment to share your thoughts on this resource: Feedback: OER at Charles Sturt

Digital Skills – choose other modules to build your digital capabilities.

Licence

Icon for the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License

Digital Skills: Content Creation Copyright © 2024 by Charles Sturt University is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.