STEMskiller: Skill Set Map for Mentors of Early Career Researchers

RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP: Academic reading and writing

[Grant proposals]

"Intellectual property" rights (IP or IPR) (includes: knowledge transfer, patenting, legal and business standardization)

Definition:

Intellectual property rights (IP or IPR) are derived primarily from legislation granting patent, copyright, trademark and similar protections. In some instances, distribution and commercialization of technology may be accomplished by the transfer or licensing of the intellectual property rights, such as patents and copyrights. In other instances, distribution and commercialization of technology may be aided by or depend upon access to the physical or tangible embodiment of the technology, as in the case of biological organisms, plant varieties, or computer software.^[1]

Rights can thus vary across legislative regions, and are subject as well to historical and current debates about what constitutes “property.”^[2] IP rights are far from being universally-accepted, as seen in the example of open science debates,^[3] and mentors should make early career researchers aware of “property” versus “open” debates and related issues in their fields of inquiry. Mentors should also make mentees aware of local IP policies and service offices, if these are available. 

[1] http://web.mit.edu/tlo/documents/MIT-TLO-ownership-guide.pdf, p. 3

[2] https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/intellectual-property/

[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_science

Useful resources on Intellectual property rights:

MIT Technology Licensing Office. (2019). Guide to the Ownership, Distribution, and Commercial Development of MIT Technology. http://web.mit.edu/tlo/documents/MIT-TLO-ownership-guide.pdf

In-depth guide (with MIT specifics not applicable to other situations) with definitions; sample policy statements; issues related to technology evaluation, protection, and dissemination; commercialization; and sample inventions and proprietary information agreements. Helpful model for institutions creating similar guides.

Moore, A. & Himma, K. (Winter 2018 Edition). Intellectual Property. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Edward N. Zalta (ed.). https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2018/entries/intellectual-property/

Guide to the History and Domain of Intellectual Property, Justifications and Critiques, and General Critiques.

Wikipedia. (2020). Open Science. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_science

Background, history, politics, advantages and disadvantages, as well as actions and initiatives.

Tags: IPS CreaT; IPS WC; IPS WC; IPS OC; IPS T; IPS PS; All PSR; CompTS; CompGS

Peer Review: None

Table of contents:

1.2. Academic reading and writing


1.2.1. Preparing to write

1.2.2. Writing specifics for different academic formats


1.2.3. Grant proposals


1.2.3.1. Grant application writing: why important/purpose, types (cross-border, national, regional), examples
1.2.3.2. Citizen science: definition, examples, why important and emphasized in grant funding activities


1.2.3.3. "Intellectual property" rights (IP) (includes: knowledge transfer, patenting, legal and business standardization)
1.2.3.4. Research utilization


1.2.4. Corresponding with others

Author: Stephanie Krueger

Peer Reviewer(s): None

Last Updated: October 22, 2021