Research software and code developed within NTU is automatically protected by copyright under Singapore’s Copyright Act. Under Singapore copyright laws, NTU, as the copyright owner, has the exclusive right to certain acts (including copying, distributing, publishing, reproducing or adapting the code or software), and to prevent others from doing so without permission.
In most cases, code and software are preferably retained under copyright, as this provides automatic protection and greater flexibility in licensing. However, where codes and software exhibit strong commercial potential and support reasonably broad claims, NTU may consider pursuing patent protection to secure additional rights and exclusivity.
Software-related inventions may be patentable in Singapore if they meet the patentability requirements. If your research software and code have commercial viability, NTUitive should be informed as soon as possible to capture value and to enable downstream applications.
A Technology Disclosure (TD) should be submitted to NTUitive for NTU to consider pursuing patent protection to secure additional rights and exclusivity for research software and code that exhibit strong commercial potential and support reasonably broad claims.
Faculty and staff are to note that publications should be withheld pending patent protection.
Please contact NTUitive for more information on Info-Comm Tech (ICT) Commercialisation.
Please contact NTU Research Data Management if you have any questions on licensing research software and code or suggestions for this LibGuide.
You are expected to comply with University policies and guidelines namely, Appropriate Use of Information Resources Policy, IT Usage Policy and Social Media Policy. Users will be personally liable for any infringement of Copyright and Licensing laws. Unless otherwise stated, all guide content is licensed by CC BY-NC 4.0.