intellectual property
Overview
Before speaking to a third party about the development or commercialisation of your project you 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 you produce during the course of your studies here, but you do automatically have these rights transferred to you (unless the work is chosen under the College's Selected Works scheme) when you cease to be a student at the RCA - usually the 31 July following your graduation (with the exception of rights in films produced by Animation students whose rights remain the property of the College in perpetuity)
If your work has the potential for being exploited commercially you must not disclose details of your 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 your project could legally have a right to be cited as a joint-inventor on your patent. Make sure you agree on the allocation of rights 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 your 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 your 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 you reveal your invention before you file, patenting will be impossible |
| Trade Mark | The reputation of a business | By registration or by use |