Understand intellectual property and how it affects you.
As a graduate student, you may engage in activities through work-integrated learning, research, or coursework, that have intellectual property (IP) implications. On this page, you will find information about resources to help you understand what intellectual property is, how it applies to activities you’re engaged in during graduate studies, and supports to navigate IP related questions.
Understanding intellectual property
The following resources will support you in broadening your general understanding of IP, and the University’s official policy regarding IP:
- Policy 73 – Intellectual Property Rights: This is the University’s official policy regarding IP. Graduate students are encouraged to review this policy, which also includes a specific statement about graduate student theses.
- Waterloo Commercialization Office (WatCo): WatCo provides IP-related advice to the campus community, including IP educational and awareness programs. Topics covered by WatCo include: IP protection and patents, Generating and commercializing IP, Copyright and trademark protections, Licensing and IP in research data management, and Rights and responsibilities around IP. Contact WatCo to learn more about upcoming program offerings.
- Intellectual Property Ontario (IPON): If you’re looking for more immediate resources about what IP is, IPON offers Foundations of IP Strategy, a free self-guided course that is available to anyone interested in learning how IP can be strategically leveraged to advance business objectives
Commercializing intellectual property
The Intellectual Property Literacy course in LEARN helps prepare you with the foundational knowledge required to understand the basics of intellectual property and commercialization. You will learn about the different types of IP (patent, trademark, copyright etc.) that could help protect inventions, gain a competitive advantage over the competition, monetize creations, and attract investors. The course will also touch on what to consider when working with confidential information and how to navigate collaborations.
To add the Intellectual Property Literacy course in LEARN:
- Log in to Waterloo LEARN
- Click on the "Self Registration" link along the top of the system-level navigation bar
- Locate the Intellectual Property Literacy course and select it
- Confirm that you want to register for the course
- You now have access to the Intellectual Property Literacy LEARN course and can access it from your class list under "ongoing courses"
Graduate research and intellectual property
As a graduate researcher, you may have questions about how IP relates specifically to your work at research at the University of Waterloo. Here are some resources and information specific to graduate student researchers:
- Ownership of Student’s Work: Within the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar, the University provides clear guidance on ownership of student’s work, including copyright. If you have additional questions about copyright, the Library Copyright team is available to help.
- Protecting your IP: Graduate students share about their research and work through many different channels, including journal publications, conference presentations, and the oral dissertation defence. The Office of Research provides information on Protecting your IP, which is important to review before sharing your research through public channels. GSPA also provides guidelines for thesis examination without public disclosure.
- IP and Supervisors: The Guide for Graduate Research and Supervision provides guidance and best practices for graduate students and supervisors who may enter into relationships with previously established IP, or where there is an expectation that collective work will produce new IP.
Intellectual property and work-integrated learning
Industry-sponsored research
As a graduate student, you may participate in industry-sponsored research projects. If you are working on an industry-sponsored project, you should be informed of the terms and conditions of the agreement by the Principal Investigator (PI), who is generally your supervisor. If you have questions about these research agreements, you can talk to the PI or contact the Office of Research.
Co-op and internships
If you are being employed by an off-campus employer, it’s important to understand your contract and your employer’s IP policy. Co-operative and Experiential Education has information on IP, as it relates to off-campus employment.
Commercializing your research
As a graduate student, you may be interested in commercializing your research! The University has long been known for researchers who are entrepreneurial thinkers and is keen to support these endeavors. The following units, in particular, can provide support for commercializing your research and IP:
- Velocity: Velocity offers one-on-one coaching with experienced coaches, several of whom have expertise related to IP.
- Waterloo Commercialization Office (WatCo): WatCo provides IP management and commercialization support to clients under pre-arranged terms – learn more about commercializing with WatCo.