JOINIntellectual property
Intellectual property (IP) refers to creations of the mind, such as inventions; literary and artistic works; designs; and symbols, names and images used in commerce.
IP is protected in law by patent, copyright, and trademark law. These laws enable people to earn recognition and/or financial benefit from what they invent or create.
The IP system aims to foster an environment in which creativity and innovation can flourish by striking a balance between the interests of creators and the public.
Copyright law
Copyright law (sometimes referred to as authors’ rights in continental legal regimes) is a legal discipline that describes the rights that creators have over their literary and artistic works.
Works covered by copyright range from books, journals, articles, music, paintings, sculpture, and films, to computer programs, maps, and technical drawings. The selection and arrangement of data may also be eligible for copyright protection.
Copyright law is the mechanism through which publishing houses are able to manage the content they own and license, and the bundle of rights can be divvied to achieve an appropriate balance of protection (e.g., so that publishers can recover their investment), openness (e.g., for public access), and responsible stewardship of the scientific record (e.g., by enabling right holders to pursue legal remedies for pirated and compromised content.
The Latest from STM
Public Access, Copyright, and Publications Reporting Federally Funded Research
When the government funds research, it also has a fundamental interest in seeing it published; ensuring that research arising from federal funding is disseminated as widely as possible, with appropriate quality and integrity. It has long recognised this interest by encouraging researchers to publish in peer‑reviewed journals. At the same time, longstanding policy and legal…
OMB grant regulation paused by Congress
The US Senate has taken a significant step to prevent implementation of the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) proposed revisions to federal grant regulations. On 2 August, the Senate released the text of a Continuing Resolution to fund the federal government through mid-December. On the last page of the bill, Congress forbids the Administration…
STM explores publisher support for trusted research in emergencies
STM recently convened exploratory workshops in London and Brussels to examine how scholarly publishers can support access to trusted research and evidence during emergencies. Discussions brought together a wide range of organisations with direct experience across science advice, humanitarian response, policy, public communication and research infrastructure, including DG ECHO, the European Commission’s Scientific Advice Mechanism,…
Research4Life looks beyond access at 25th anniversary gathering
More than 150 partners from across the scholarly communications ecosystem gathered in July for the Research4Life Global Partners Meeting (GPM) in Geneva, celebrating 25 years of collaboration to expand access to research and strengthen global participation in knowledge creation. Hosted by WHO, WIPO and ILO and attended by representatives from FAO and UNEP, publishers, librarians…