Brock University follows an “inventor-owned” intellectual property (IP) model. This means that, in most cases, faculty and students retain ownership of the intellectual property they create during the normal course of their employment or studies at Brock. However, there are specific circumstances where the university may have rights to or ownership of IP. Brock’s IP policies aim to foster innovation, support entrepreneurship, and attract talented inventors while also protecting the researchers’ and the University’s interests.

Collaborative Commercialization

When creators decide to partner with Brock University for commercialization, the intellectual property (IP) is assigned to the university. Brock takes on the financial responsibility for IP protection and handles the associated legal, financial, and ethical risks. After covering the costs, Brock shares the revenue generated from the IP with the creators, inventors, and contributors. This collaborative approach ensures that the innovations are effectively managed and brought to market while fairly compensating those involved.

Retention of Academic Rights

Importantly, while commercializing IP, Brock ensures that the creators retain their academic rights to their IP. This means that creators can continue their research and academic pursuits without hindrance, even as their inventions or discoveries are being commercialized.