Intellectual Property

Intellectual Property in Defence

Intellectual Property (IP) is a major contributor to Australia’s national defence capability. In order to protect our national interests, Defence and Australian industry need access to some of the world’s most advanced technologies and creative developments.

The uncertain nature of the current strategic environment necessitates a greater role for IP in the development and sustainment of national defence capability. Defence recognises that IP is a valuable resource and will ensure that it manages IP in its control or custody in an effective, efficient and ethical manner.

Defence Intellectual Property Policy 2008

The Defence Intellectual Property Policy 2008 (Defence IP Policy 2008) has been drafted to align with the Australian Government’s Statement of Intellectual Property Principles for Australian Government agencies, which prescribed a whole-of-government approach to IP management.

The Defence IP Policy 2008 was approved by the Secretary of Defence and Chief of the Defence Force on 1 July 2008, and has replaced the 2003 policy, Developing and Sustaining Defence Capability: Defence Intellectual Property Policy 2003.

The 15 principles and 17 sub-principles that comprise the Defence IP Policy 2008 set out general responsibilities and procedures for managing IP within Defence, and seek to:

• ensure Defence and all its agencies comply with Australian Government policy and legislation;

• provide guidance on how Defence will secure and manage IP;

• emphasise the importance of IP in the development and sustainment of national Defence capability;

• recognise the broader contributions of industry and the various agencies within Defence to the generation of IP in the development and sustainment of Defence capability;

• recognise that IP is a valuable asset which should be managed in an effective, efficient and ethical manner; and

• promote continuous improvement of IP management practices within Defence.

A link to the new policy is available below:

Defence IP Policy 2008

Please refer any enquiries on the current Defence IP Policy to DMO Legal at intellectualproperty@defence.gov.au

Last updated: July 2009