Intellectual Property Policy

Purpose
This policy defines how intellectual property (IP) that is created by Canadian College of Traditional Chinese Medicine (CCTCM) faculty and students is owned and used. It protects faculty and student rights while supporting innovation and providing guidance for commercialization.
Scope
This policy applies to all faculty and current students of CCTCM

Definitions
Intellectual Property: Original creations eligible for legal protection, including research, inventions, written works, artistic creations, and software.
Substantial College Support: Use of specialized equipment, dedicated space, significant funding, or extensive faculty assistance beyond what is normally available to all students.
Employment-Related Work: IP created while performing duties as a research assistant, teaching assistant, or other college employee.

Faculty

–Faculty retain full ownership of:

• Scholarly works (journal articles, books, conference presentations)
• Independent research conducted outside employment duties and without substantial college support
• Professional development materials for external use
• Teaching materials developed independently without substantial college support
• Teaching materials created before employment at CCTCM and brought to the position

-College-Owned Course Materials:

• Materials created as part of the assigned curriculum development projects
• Materials commissioned by CCTCM for specific programs or courses
• Materials developed with substantial college support (significant funding, release time, dedicated staff assistance)
• Standardized program materials intended for use by multiple instructors
• Materials created with the expectation of institutional ownership (specified in employment contract or project agreement)

Students

-Students retain full ownership of:

• Independent research conducted without substantial college support
• Course assignments, papers, projects, and presentations
• Thesis, capstone, and dissertation work (primary ownership)
• Datasets they personally collect through their research

-Note: Patient health information is governed by the Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA). Students do not own patient data collected during clinical placements or practice. Any research or publications using patient information requires appropriate consent, ethics approval, and de-identification in accordance with PHIPA research ethics policies.

–Ownership may be shared when:

• Multiple parties make significant contributions to the work
• Faculty provide substantial guidance or resources beyond normal advising
• Collaborative research involves joint intellectual contributions

-CCTCM retains ownership of:

• Work created as part of employment duties (e.g., research or teaching assistant roles)
• Projects specifically commissioned and funded by the college
• Technology infrastructure developed for college operations

-College Rights to Student Work

Students grant CCTCM a non-exclusive license to use their work for internal educational purposes, including teaching, program development, and institutional research. The college may also reference student work in promotional materials with proper attribution.

Provisions Applicable to Faculty and Students

-Commercialization and Revenue
Faculty and students may independently commercialize their IP without college involvement or revenue sharing. When substantial college support is used, commercialization revenue will be split 50% to the student(s) and 50% to CCTCM, after deducting reasonable expenses (patent costs, legal fees, etc.).

-Dispute Resolution
IP disputes should be addressed through:
1. Initial consultation with Academic Dean.
2. Appeal to CCTCM President if the initial consultation with the Academic Dean does not result in a satisfactory resolution of the issue.

-Policy Review
This policy will be reviewed every five years to ensure it remains current and effective.

-Questions
Direct questions about this policy to info@cctcm.ca / 905-606-0062