Copywrite

[treacle]

Hi guys

Looking for a bit of advice.

I work for the NHS as a community nurse and have developed a new tool which was piloted and is now used in our locality. The tool has been incorporated into our regional integrated care pathway and is currently being rolled out across the region by our psychology department (the nurses in our team couldn't be spared to do the roll out due to pressure of work)

I heard 2 days ago that the Scottish Executive are interested in it and the psychologists have been asked to write this up for them but that they are putting this forward as their work! I'm so bloody angry!!!! :angry:

So has anyone been through anything similar?

[benc]

Im no expert, in fact i dont know much...

But, did you create your tool as part of your job that you are paid for? if so then maybe the nhs own it

Bit of info 'ere

Edited November 14, 2010 by benc

[treacle]

Im no expert, in fact i dont know much...

But, did you create your tool as part of your job that you are paid for? if so then maybe the nhs own it

Bit of info 'ere

[Paul ™]

Did you patent it?

If not, then think you might be on to plums.

When I worked at Dell, we had certain clauses in our contracts that if any idea/tools etc were designed or used within the business, then they owned the rights.

One of my team mates introduced a tool in his own time, patented it before telling Dell about it and this tool was rolled out across several sites.. he got a payment from Dell to handover the intellectual property rights to them. It was a useful tool, but useless outwith the business.

Edited November 14, 2010 by Paul ™

[benc]

Doesn't sound too promsing

I'd probably get the sack if I tried selling a tool that I create during work hours to my employers.

[Ed209]

The NHS almost definitely own the IP on it unfortunately. When I worked at QinetiQ it didn't matter whether I came with the idea at work, or at home, or wherever, they owned every idea that popped into my head.

The NHS will have an Intellectual Property department. Phone them.

[dakyras]

Copyright.

And the most basic employment contracts have a "if you think of anything good, we own all the intellectual property to your ideas" clause.

[treacle]

Cheers Guys,

Looks like a non starter, which is fair enough.

I haven't been precious about anyone using it but now that others are trying to take all the credit for it it's pissing me off! Having slept on it I've decided to get it written up more formally and look to publish in some of the nursing journals.

[mikeb]

When I worked at QinetiQ it didn't matter whether I came with the idea at work, or at home, or wherever, they owned every idea that popped into my head.

Edited November 15, 2010 by mikeb

[rabid]

I heard 2 days ago that the Scottish Executive are interested in it and the psychologists have been asked to write this up for them but that they are putting this forward as their work! I'm so bloody angry!!!! :angry:

[krisskross]

Get in contact with your local nhs innovations people. It should be a good start. NHS Innovations

Then either contact your local R&D dept / PCT R&D manager and hopefully they'll be able to help you. Did it go through NRES / IRAS etc for the pilot? Kinda belongs to whoever was named on the submission as CI.

I can't see you getting too much credit sadly... Consultants usually manage to get their names on things no matter whos done what.