DELETE
Overview
Before speaking to a third party about the development or commercialisation of the project RCA students, graduate or staff must
inform InnovationRCA
always make clear to the third party that the College owns the rights.
Who owns the Rights?
The College owns the rights in any work produced during the course of studies at the RCA, but rights are transferred automatically (unless the work is chosen under the College's Selected Works scheme) when students leave the RCA - usually the 31 July following graduation (with the exception of rights in films produced by Animation students whose rights remain the property of the College in perpetuity)
If the work has the potential for being exploited commercially they must not disclose details of the work to anyone outside of College unless they have signed a confidentiality agreement form.
Working with others
Any person or company that has substantial input in the project could legally have a right to be cited as a joint-inventor on the patent. Make sure the allocation of rights is agreed before work starts.
| Type of IP | What is Covered | How to Protect it | Warnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copyright | Writings, works of Art, Computer Programmes Drawings etc. | Automatic Right | Be able to prove Authorship © date, name is helpful but not essential |
| Design Right | Internal or external shape or con-figuration | Automatic Right Across Europe | Be able to prove Ownership |
| Registered Design | External shape or configuration, surface finish and pattern | Register at the Design Registry at Patent Office for UK protection or at OHIM for EU protection | |
| Patent | An invention capable of Industrial appli-cation | File at Patent Office | If invention is revealed before filing, patenting will be impossible |
| Trade Mark | The reputation of a business | By registration or by use |