Nearly all countries world-wide have mechanisms in place to provide intellectual property protection. This provides businesses with the confidence to invest money in developing new products or services for the healthcare market secure in the knowledge that they have an exclusive IP position.

The NHS recognises that IP generated by its staff is an asset of value which needs to be managed for the benefit of staff, patients and society as a whole. Each Trust should have in place an IP policy that will ensure that any revenues earned from commercialising innovations developed by their staff are shared with those individuals.

For more information on the different types of intellectual property please download our IP Factsheet.

Further IP Policy Reference Documents can be downloaded here:

• DH Framework & Guidance on IP 2002
• Handling Inventions & other Intellectual Property 1998
• Health Service Circular 1998
• Management of Intellectual Property & Related Matters 1998