Terminology

Information is research data that:

• Has been organised and exposes relationships (ie authorship is applied to the data).
• Has been processed in a way that makes it easier to measure, visualize and analysed for a specific purpose.
• Is sometimes referred to as derived data or primary material.

Refer also to the DIKW Model for an explanation of the transformation of data to information.

'Intellectual property' is a broad term that describes the laws which protect products of people’s imagination and creativity.

The main forms of intellectual property include:

• Copyright
• Patents
• Designs
• Trademarks
• Circuit layouts
• New plant varieties
• Confidential information.

Under the Australian Copyright Act 1968, the owner of literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works, sound recordings, films and broadcasts have exclusive rights which allow them to:

• Reproduce/copy a work
• Publish
• Perform in public
• Communicate the work to the public via electronic means – including making it available online or sending via email.

Intellectual property rights at JCU are managed in accordance with the Intellectual Property Policy and Procedure; see the Research and Innovation Services website for further information about intellectual property in research.