Intellectual Property Protection

Working with a University such as Sheffield having international recognition for its research excellence means that many of the projects taken on by SUEL require intellectual property protection if they are to be successfully commercialised.

To achieve this, the IP and Licensing Team work closely with the academics and SUEL’s Business Exploitation Managers to identify patent potential and establish copyright as early as possible and take steps to protect appropriately. There are even trademark registrations for some elements of university generated research.

When protection is sought, the team work closely with professional patent agents and IP lawyers to ensure that the project has the strongest possible defence against competition.

Indeed it might be of interest to know that the University of Sheffield is one of few educational institutions, if not the only one, that has successfully fought for its intellectual property rights both in the High Court and the Court of Appeal.

The team is also responsive to academic requests to enhance group/departmental awareness of the opportunities, both academic and commercial, that can accrue from careful assessment of intellectual property rights.

email : For further details please contact Jennifer Hunter