Intellectual Property Rights for Students
Great idea! Now what?
Let’s suppose your invention, design or idea turn outs to be the answer to an economic or social need. Are you allowed to market it? We’ve made a list of the laws and regulations that are relevant to students when it comes to intellectual property rights (because that’s what this is about). In any case, you should take action: check your legal position and make sure you’ve concluded agreements in good time.
Do you actually own the intellectual property rights to the idea?
Students like you regularly come up with inventions, concepts, software or theses that are of interest to existing companies or may inspire a start-up. However, is the idea really yours to market? Who decides what happens to your internship or project outcome? Who shares in the profits, if any? In other words: who owns the intellectual property rights (IPR)?
The way IPR are regulated by law has now been clarified for students. Check what action you must take and make use of the facilities offered by your university or university medical centre.
- Before you start your internship or research project, check your IPR position: what is included about IPR in your contract?
- Read the IPR guideline for students (below the image on this page).
- Conclude clear agreements and put them in writing.
IPR guidelines for students
The IPR rules that apply to academic start-ups are laid down in the so-called 'Set of guidelines dealing with Intellectual Property Rights'. These have now been clarified for students in the 'Addendum to the Set of Guidelines Dealing with IPR and Students'.
If you have any further questions regarding intellectual property rights (IPR) for students, please contact the Utrecht University Centre for Entrepreneurship (UtrechtCE).