Protecting your idea

Protecting the ideas and innovations developed through your research or work is important and the University can help you navigate the Intellectual Property (IP) process. Taking the right steps at the right time will ensure your IP is recognised and valued.

Intellectual Property (IP) is a creation that may be legally owned and protected.

As a University researcher or staff member, you may be involved in the creation of IP over the course of your research or work

Taking steps to protect your IP as soon as possible could open up opportunities to develop your discovery or creation into a new product or service. It might even inspire the formation of a startup company or social enterprise.

Initially, the IP process can seem confusing and complex – and how do you even know if your idea is worth protecting? We can help you investigate how the IP process can support you – it may even help you get much-needed funding – and we can guide you through the steps you need to take.

The first step in protecting your IP is to tell us about it, via an IP Disclosure.

Our experts can then help you explore the potential of the IP created through your research, and work with you to protect it. Support is available for researchers, including graduate researchers, as well as professional staff who participate in creating University IP.

Disclosing your IP is important as it ensures you are recognised as a creator of your innovation or discovery. As a creator, you will share in any payments the University receives from commercialisation of the IP.

While you may not have concrete plans for your IP at the time of disclosure, doing this early will allow you to explore a research translation pathway in the future.