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
STM welcomes the adoption of the first-ever European framework for science diplomacy
Science diplomacy strengthens international research collaboration and promotes global trust in science. We applaud the European Union’s new framework on science diplomacy, which will foster global communication and cooperation. Scholarly publishers play a key role in supporting science diplomacy, and we look forward to working closely with our partners to help ensure that the EU’s science diplomacy meets…
EU COM group on generative AI use in science
STM participates in a working group that the EU COM runs on AI in science, which last month published the third version of ‘Living guidelines on the responsible use of generative AI in research’. Further thematic working groups have now been set up to consider updates on the use of AI in evaluation of proposals,…
APAC bimonthly seminar on Japan’s 7th 5 year plan
At STM’s May APAC seminar, Dr Shinichi Akaike of Japan’s Cabinet Office presented on the country’s Seventh Basic Plan for Science and Technology, released earlier in 2026. He set out the plan’s six pillars — including revitalising basic science, promoting open science, and enhancing international collaboration — against the backdrop of Japan’s declining share of…
STM China Chapter Meeting: Navigating the New Ecosystem of Academic Publishing
On 15 June, the STM China Chapter convened at Tsinghua University Press (TUP), Beijing, under the theme ‘The New Ecosystem of Academic Publishing: the World and China’. The meeting brought together more than 80 publishers and scholars on international publishing trends, AI-driven research integrity tools, and the development of Chinese STM journal clusters. STM CEO…