PhD scholars should be particularly cautious about intellectual property (IP) violations and infringements, as their research often involves creating new knowledge or building upon existing ideas. Here are some key areas where they should be careful:
By staying informed about these issues and seeking guidance from mentors, advisors, or legal experts when needed, PhD scholars can navigate the complex landscape of intellectual property rights and avoid potential violations or infringements.
PhD scholars can protect their intellectual property by documenting their research process, keeping detailed records, and using confidentiality agreements when sharing information. They should consider filing for patents, copyrights, or trademarks to legally protect their work. Collaborating with legal experts and seeking advice from their academic institutions can also help in understanding and implementing effective IP protection strategies.
All very sensible, but in addition to being cautious about what they do, researchers should also remain alert to the risk of third parties infringing the researcher's IP rights. In most countries, copyright is automatic and doesn't need to be applied for.
It is an important issue as many people do not realise that their IP has financial value to themselves and can be used by others. Although there is copyright on anything published, it's often 'ideas' that are used by others which may need a patent. At universities perhaps we need more short courses/workshopos on these issues. See: World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) https://www.wipo.int/portal/en/
It's worth noting that copyright applies to unpublished works, such as drafts, lab notebooks and the like, as well.