Intellectual Property (IP) refers to the ideas, inventions, and creative work that students, staff, and researchers produce. The University’s IP Policy helps you to understand and appreciate IP rights, including things such as copyrights and patents, and how these apply in various aspects of academic life, including ideas generated through your studies.

The policy clearly explains what IP is, what should be done when IP arises and the support available when it does. It aims to protect and maximise the value of IP generated through research, teaching and entrepreneurial activities, while encouraging innovation, collaboration, and equitable benefit-sharing with creators, the University and external partners.

The policy is revised periodically to ensure it evolves to match IP trends, regulations and changing circumstances in the academic environment, such as artificial intelligence (AI) developments and increasing student enterprise and research commercialisation activities.

The University’s policy has recently been revised following contributions from a variety of stakeholders and can be found here.

The new policy will be effective from 1 April 2025, replacing all previous versions.

This policy also responds to market forces by incorporating a new mixed model of equity and royalties, with the University reducing its equity share to help attract investment into its spinouts.

This new model mirrors successful US universities’ approach and acknowledges feedback from the UK sector.

Further information

Interested in developing entrepreneurship skills or business ideas? The Masood Entrepreneurship Centre offers support and resources.

You can also visit the UoM Innovation Factory contact page to find out what Intellectual Property support is available.