Universities need IP strategy

More attention needs to be paid to intellectual property, especially in Universities and institutions, is the message from Melbourne patent attorney Dr Neil Ireland.

"It's important so that you don't miss any opportunities," said Ireland, explaining that potential users of an IP system might be doing themselves a disservice if they don't check it out.

Ireland is a partner at patent and trademark firm Phillips, Ormonde Fitzpatrick.

He said that while researchers at universities and institutes were often under pressure to publish their results, sometimes it was a case of publish and perish, rather than publish or perish.

According to Ireland, some universities were not doing enough to encourage patent protection.

"I think some universities are far more proactive than others," he said.

Some biotech companies are very good at protecting their IP, said Ireland.

"Melbourne University has a fairly laissez-faire approach to IP," said Bruce Bayley, the general manager for the Ventures Division at Melbourne University Private.

Melbourne University Private does not handle IP at Melbourne University, but it is involved in commercialisation of research from the university.

Dr Thomas Cocks, an NHMRC Principal Research Fellow in Melbourne University's pharmacology department was critical of the university's approach to IP.

"The university has only a small financial commitment to protecting IP," he said.

"There is no one looking at it on an ongoing basis."

Cocks said that more oversight is necessary to make sure that IP is being adequately protected.

Ireland spoke at the Research Linkage Seminar held recently by the Monash Research Cluster for Biomedicine about the need for researchers to have strategies in place for identifying patent opportunities.