About IP Management
Background
IP is the tangible representation of intellect and creativity. There is wide diversity in the type of IP that is being generated in the State health system. For example, new treatments, data, software, training materials or business improvement processes are all innovations that can arise as a consequence of the activities of the health sector and, if value is to be added, require some form of protection.
In May 2003, the WA Government Intellectual Property Policy and Best Practice Guidelines was launched to guide State Government agencies in the protection, management and commercialisation of Intellectual Property (IP) in the public sector. The policy recognises that IP created within Government agencies is a major potential source of value to the Western Australian economy and community and is supported by Premier's Circular No. 2003/4 (14 April 2003). The Government's aim is to actively seek to optimise the economic, social and environmental benefits to Western Australians from the use and commercialisation of IP, in conjunction with the business community.
In accordance with this policy, Government agencies should ensure that:
- IP created with Government resources is identified, captured, suitably protected and responsibly managed.
- Rights to IP are allocated to optimise the benefit to Western Australia from the use and commercialisation of the IP.
- Creativity and innovation resulting in valuable or useful IP is encouraged and incentives are provided to Government employees where appropriate, noting that monetary rewards should only be paid from revenue received from the commercialisation of the IP and with Executive Council approval.1
1 This aspect of the policy is given further consideration in the document Encouraging Innovation by Government employees: Procedures for the payment of monetary rewards to innovative Government employees, at the above site.
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