Intellectual Property
Great idea - now what?
Do you actually own the intellectual property rights to the idea?
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.
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.
1. Before you start your internship or research project, check your IPR position: what is laid down in your contract?
2. Read the IPR guideline for students (see below)
3. Conclude clear agreements and record them in writing
IPR guideline for students
The IPR rules that apply to academic start-ups are laid down in the IPR guideline. These have now been clarified for students in the Addendum to the IPR guideline for students.
• Read a summary of the Addendum
• Read the entire Addendum to the IPR guideline for students
• Refer to the flow chart for a visual representation of the Addendum to the IPR guideline
• Check the FAQ
More information per faculty
If you have any further questions about IPR, consult the contact person for your faculty. See link/info below.
- Architecture and the Built Environment (A+BE): Ernst Harting
- Civil Engineering and Geosciences (CEG): Loes Janssen
- Electrical Engineering, Mathematics & Computer Science (EEMCS): Margo Weerdenburg / Rianne Smits
- Industrial Design Engineering (IDE): Michelle Nahumury
- Aerospace Engineering (AE): Sander Barendrecht
- Technology, Policy and Management (TPM): Shila de Vries
- Applied Sciences (AS): Rogier van Loghem
- Mechanical Engineering (ME): John van Haare
Want to become an entrepreneur?
Take a look at Study & Career!