Undergraduate Course Handbook - University of Oxford Department ...

Appendix JUniversity Policy on Intellectual Property RightsThe University in its Statutes claims ownership of certain forms of intellectual property which students create in thecourse of, or incidentally to, their studies. There are other arrangements in the University’s regulations for protecting andexploiting this property, and sharing the commercial exploitation revenues with the student originators. By accepting aplace at Oxford as a student, you agree to be legally bound by these provisions.Here is the extract of the text of the Statute relating to intellectual property. The procedures for the administration of theUniversity’s policy, as set out in the relevant regulations, are available at http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/rso/integrity/ip.shtmlthese explain the approved arrangements for revenue-sharing. Further information may be obtained from ResearchServices, University Offices (tel. (2)70143).Statute XVI: Property, Contracts, and TrustsPART B: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY5. (1) The University claims ownership of all intellectual property specified in section 6 of this statute which is devised,made, or created:(a) by persons employed by the University in the course of their employment;(b) by student members in the course of or incidentally to their studies;(c) by other persons engaged in study or research in the University who, as a condition of their being granted access to theUniversity's premises or facilities, have agreed in writing that this Part shall apply to them; and(d) by persons engaged by the University under contracts for services during the course of or incidentally to thatengagement.(2) The University's rights under sub-section (1) above in relation to any particular piece of intellectual property may bewaived or modified by agreement in writing with the person concerned.6. The intellectual property of which ownership is claimed under section 5 (1) of this statute comprises:(1) works generated by computer hardware or software owned or operated by the University;(2) works created with the aid of university facilities including (by way of example only) films, videos, photographs,multimedia works, typographic arrangements, and field and laboratory notebooks;(3) patentable and non-patentable inventions;(4) registered and unregistered designs, plant varieties, and topographies;(5) university-commissioned works not within (1), (2), (3), or (4);(6) databases, computer software, firmware, courseware, and related material not within (1), (2), (3), (4), or (5), but onlyif they may reasonably be considered to possess commercial potential; and(7) know-how and information associated with the above.7. The University will not assert any claim to the ownership of copyright in:(1) artistic works not listed in sub-section (2) of section 6 of this statute, books, articles, plays, lyrics, scores, or lectures,apart from those specifically commissioned by the University;(2) audio or visual aids to the giving of lectures;(3) student theses, exercises and answers to tests and examinations save to the extent that they contain intellectualproperty claimed by the University under subsection (6) of section 6 of this statute; or(4) computer-related works other than those specified in section 6 of this statute.8. For the purpose of sections 6 and 7 of this statute, 'commissioned works' are works which the University hasspecifically employed or requested the person concerned to produce, whether in return for special payment or not, but,save as may be separately agreed between the University Press and the person concerned, works commissioned by theUniversity Press in the course of its publishing business shall not be regarded as 'works commissioned by the University'.9. Council may make regulations:(1) defining the classes of persons or naming individuals to whom section 5 (1) (c) of this statute shall apply;(2) requiring student members and such other persons as may be specified in regulations to sign any documents necessaryin order to give effect to the claim made by the University in this Part and to waive any rights in respect of the subjectmatterof the claim which may be conferred on them by Chapter IV of Part 1 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act1988; and(3) generally for the purposes of this Part.10. This Part shall apply to all intellectual property devised, made, or created on or after 1 October 2000 and is subject tothe provisions of the Patents Act 1977.53