University policy is set out in the Standing Orders of Council e.g. section 12.3 of the Standing Orders of Council governing the appointment of members of the Non-professorial Academic Staff. Normally, therefore, the University is the first owner of intellectual property and intellectual property rights generated by its employees. The University will not in normal circumstances seek to benefit from any rights it may have as employer in the academic publications of members of the Academic Staff.
All research is funded from one source or another.
The contractual terms and conditions associated with the funding of a research activity will determine the ownership of the intellectual property and intellectual property rights arising from the research. It is essential therefore to look at the contractual terms of research funding.