Mana whakairo hinengaro

Intellectual property

Our Intellectual Property Policy sets out the conditions of ownership and management of intellectual property produced by staff and students.

Our Intellectual Property Policy helps everyone involved understand their rights and responsibilities regarding the creation, ownership, and commercialisation of intellectual property (IP) and how it is managed at the University.

The policy sets out:

  • Ownership of IP by our staff and students, third parties, adjunct and visiting scholars, and the University.
  • Mātauranga Māori in relation to IP reflects our recognition of mātauranga Māori as a taonga protected under Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
  • Use of copyright material prepared specifically for the purposes of teaching and learning by the University. This includes principles that will be applied by the University when it uses its license to share copyrighted Instructional Materials.
  • Benefit sharing, moral rights, and disputes are also addressed in the policy.

Commercialising IP

Wellington UniVentures partners with our researchers to help grow and develop their ideas or inventions. The Management of Commercial Intellectual Property Procedure sets out the process to protect and manage IP with potential commercial prospects. Staff and students who need to notify Wellington UniVentures of potential commercial IP need to complete the  Invention Disclosure Form. This will help the Intellectual Property Committee to evaluate your invention, explore relevant market factors, and derive a plan to help your invention reach its full potential.

Student IP

Sometimes students will be asked or required to assign their IP to the University. The Student IP Agreement Procedure describes some of the circumstances where this might happen, including for work-integrated learning. The procedure sets out the principles that apply to all Student IP Agreements and where to get advice if the agreement relates to potentially commercialisable IP.

Talk to us

For more information on the University's Intellectual Property Policy, contact us at research-contracts@vuw.ac.nz

You can send Invention Disclosures to the Intellectual Property Committee.

Intellectual Property Committee
Wellington UniVentures
PO Box 1762
Wellington
Email: info@wellingtonuniventures.nz