About Intellectual Property

1. What is Intellectual Property (IP)?
   Intellectual property refers to the outputs of intellectual and creative activity and covers inventions, literary and artistic works, and symbols, names, images and designs used in commerce. The most common types of IP rights are patents, copyright, design rights, know-how and trademarks.

2. What is the NHS policy on ownership of IP?
   Generally speaking under UK law an employer would be expected to own IP generated by its employees during the course of their normal duties. In 2002 the Department of Health published a Framework and Guidance on the management of IP in the NHS, aimed at encouraging NHS trusts and Primary Care Trusts to capture and exploit new innovations generated by their staff. The Framework also provides advice on the status of independent providers of NHS services, such as general practitioners and dentists.
   All NHS bodies are expected to implement policies for the management of IP, including revenue sharing provisions with inventors, in due course. For details of your Trusts IP policy please consult with your innovation contact (e.g. R&D Manager) or contact us for advice.

3. If the Trust owns my IP what happens to any revenue generated from commercial exploitation?
   Revenue generated by the successful exploitation of innovations will normally be retained by the individual trust, and shared with the creators of the IP according to the Trusts IP policy.