Intellectual Property Rights
This policy covers the ownership of intellectual property generated by faculty, staff, or students with University resources.
All faculty, staff, and students engaged in research that may lead to intellectual property.
| Policy Number: | 1.3.2.02 |
| Effective Date: | 06/30/2024 |
| Date Reviewed: | 03/08/2021 |
| Last Review Date: | 01/01/2003; 09/01/2018; 03/08/2021; 06/30/2024 |
| Responsible Official: | Intellectual Property Rights Committee |
| Responsible Office: | |
| Contact Information: |
115 Tillman Hall Rock Hill, SC 29733 803/323-2220 academicaffairs@winthrop.edu |
1.0 Specific meanings of bold terms seen throughout this policy can be found within the University's policy definition glossary by following the link below.
The fundamental mission of Winthrop University embraces teaching, research, and service, both to enhance and advance knowledge and to serve the public good. To do so, Winthrop University recruits and maintains a diverse faculty of national caliber.
It “supports its faculty as they enhance their abilities as effective teachers and as they develop and enrich their knowledge and skills as scholars, researchers, practitioners and creative artists in their disciplines. Moreover, Winthrop … support[s] high quality instruction and research in every field of study offered by developing and maintaining at an appropriate level its classrooms, studios and performance spaces, as well as its informational and instructional technology resources.”
Thus, it is in the interest of all members of the university community to foster the creation of the highest quality intellectual properties that further the academic mission of the University; foster the dissemination of new knowledge and the maintenance of high academic standards to improve the education we provide our students and the service we provide to the citizens of the State of South Carolina; and to provide incentives for university faculty, staff , and students to participate fully in the use and creation of intellectual properties. Strong mutual interests are shared among the university, the faculty, the staff, and the students in the appropriate allocation of the ownership rights associated with such intellectual properties; and the rights that belong to the owners of intellectual properties should be allocated so to optimally support the mutual interests of the university, faculty, staff, and students.
The Intellectual Property Rights Policy applies to students, and it can be reviewed, including the citations referenced above, at:
https://apps.winthrop.edu/policyrepository/Policy/FullPolicy?PID=5
Disclose to appropriate University or College officials the creation of intellectual property by filling out the INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS POLICY FORM; Conduct intellectual property transfer activities consistent with University and College policies and procedures, including those governing conflicts of commitment and conflicts of interest; and, Cooperate with the University in defending and prosecuting patents and in legal actions taken in response to copyright infringement.
