Victoria implements new intellectual property policy
The Victorian Coalition Government has established a new policy for the management of the state’s intellectual property (IP).
Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Technology Gordon Rich-Phillips said the policy, the first in its kind in Victoria, set out the intent and principles for use of intellectual property across the Victorian Government.
“The Victorian public sector needs a more streamlined, consistent approach to its management of intellectual property,” Mr Rich-Phillips said.
The policy sets out 12 core principles for the management of intellectual property relating to ownership and licensing, procurement, commercialisation, grants and funding for intellectual property development and the use of third party intellectual property.
“The Victorian public sector creates, commissions, funds, owns, uses and manages a significant amount of intellectual property,” Mr Rich-Phillips said.
“The majority of intellectual property generated by the state is protected by copyright which is why there is a need for a whole of government policy.
“This new policy will see Victoria grant rights to its IP in a manner that maximises its impact, value, accessibility, benefit and is consistent with the public interest.”
The policy was developed following extensive consultation with government departments, and other Australian jurisdictions, universities, research organisations and professional bodies.
The policy complements the new DataVic Access policy, which is designed to enable greater access to Victorian Government data.
“The Coalition Government’s DataVic Access and IP policies will make is easier to identify and reuse Victorian Government intellectual property and data and to access it, in most cases, at no cost,” Mr Rich-Phillips said.
“This policy delivers on a recommendation made by the Auditor-General in his report Managing intellectual property in government agencies in 2005,” Mr Rich-Phillips said.
More information about the Intellectual Property Policy Intent and Principles and copy of the policy is available at www.vic.gov.au/ippolicy
