Statute XVI: Property, Contracts, and Trusts

GENERAL

1. Unless it is bound by the terms of an express trust in relation to any particular property, the University as a civil corporation

(1) holds all property belonging to it not on charitable trusts but as beneficial owner; and

(2) has all the powers of a natural person to manage, deal with, and dispose of its property, including the power to invest, borrow, and charge its property as security, as it thinks fit.

2. At its discretion, Council shall arrange for the investment of all funds, endowments, and capital money of the University which are not required for immediate use upon such securities, shares, stocks, funds, or other investments (including land) in any part of the world, and whether involving liability or not, as in its absolute discretion it shall think fit.

3. (1) Except in the cases referred to in sub-section (2) below, the powers conferred by section 2 of this statute shall extend to the investment (including the variation of the investment) of the funds of any specific trust administered or to be administered by or for purposes connected with the University.

(2) When less than sixty years have elapsed since the instrument creating a trust came into operation, the powers conferred by section 2 of this statute may not be exercised in the following circumstances:

(a) if the terms of that trust expressly provide to the contrary; or

(b) in the case of a trust of which the University is not sole trustee, without the consent of the trustees or governing body of that trust.

SITES AND BUILDINGS

4. No allocation for University purposes of a site the area of which exceeds 1,000 square metres, or of a building the overall floor area of which exceeds 600 square metres, shall be made unless approved by resolution of Congregation under section 1 of Statute IV.

5. (1) The University claims ownership of all intellectual property specified in section 6 of this statute which is devised, made, or created:

(a) by persons employed by the University in the course of their employment;

(b) by student members only in the circumstances specified in sub-section (3) below;

(c) by other persons engaged in study or research in the University who, as a condition of their being granted access to the University's premises or facilities, have agreed in writing that this Part shall apply to them; and

(d) by persons engaged by the University under contracts for services during the course of or incidentally to that engagement.

(2) The University's rights under sub-section (1) above in relation to any particular piece of intellectual property may be waived or modified by agreement in writing with the person concerned.

(3) The University does not claim ownership of any intellectual property which is devised, made, or created by University student members, unless that intellectual property was devised, made or created:

(a) jointly with anyone else subject to section 5 of this Part of Statute XVI;

(b) using University facilities or equipment (unless the terms of access for the facility or equipment provide otherwise);

(c) in circumstances where that intellectual property is subject to obligations (including obligations imposed by contracts or grants) that the University owes to a third party;

(d) using funding received from the University (unless the terms of that funding provide otherwise); or

(e) in the circumstances specified in Section 5(1)(a), (c) or (d) of this Part of Statute XVI.

6. The intellectual property of which ownership is claimed under section 5 (1) of this statute comprises:

(1) works generated by computer hardware or software owned or operated by the University;

(2) works created with the aid of university facilities including (by way of example only) films, videos, photographs, multimedia works, typographic arrangements, and field and laboratory notebooks;

(3) patentable and non-patentable inventions;

(4) registered and unregistered designs, plant varieties, and topographies;

(5) university-commissioned works not within (1), (2), (3), or (4);

(6) databases, computer software, firmware, courseware, and related material not within (1), (2), (3), (4), or (5), but only if they may reasonably be considered to possess commercial potential; and

(7) know-how and information associated with the above.

7. The University will not assert any claim to the ownership of copyright in:

(1) artistic works not listed in sub-section (2) of section 6 of this statute, books, articles, plays, lyrics, scores, or lectures, apart from those specifically commissioned by the University;

(2) audio or visual aids to the giving of lectures;

(3) student theses, exercises and answers to tests and examinations save to the extent that they contain intellectual property claimed by the University under subsection (6) of section 6 of this statute; or

(4) computer-related works other than those specified in section 6 of this statute.

8. For the purpose of sections 6 and 7 of this statute, 'commissioned works' are works which the University has specifically employed or requested the person concerned to produce, whether in return for special payment or not. 'Commissioned works' explicitly exclude (i) lectures delivered by University Lecturers, Departmental Lecturers and the holders of University Chairs in fulfilment of obligations in their contracts of employment and (ii) works commissioned by the University Press in the course of its publishing business (save as may be separately agreed between the University Press and the person concerned).

9. Council may make regulations:

(1) defining the classes of persons or naming individuals to whom section 5 (1) (c) of this statute shall apply;

(2) requiring student members and such other persons as may be specified in regulations to sign any documents necessary in order to give effect to the claim made by the University in this Part and to waive any rights in respect of the subject-matter of the claim which may be conferred on them by Chapter IV of Part 1 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988; and

(3) generally for the purposes of this Part.

10. This Part shall apply to all intellectual property devised, made, or created on or after 1 October 2000 and is subject to the provisions of the Patents Act 1977.

11. The Vice-Chancellor and the Registrar shall each have, and may delegate in writing, authority generally to sign contracts for the University.

12. (1) Council may by regulation give to classes of persons or individuals the authority to sign contracts for the University to the extent and in respect of the subject-matter specified in regulations.

(2) The authority given under sub-section (1) above may itself be delegated in writing, but no such delegation shall be operative until a copy of the instrument recording the delegation has been delivered to the Registrar.

13. The Seal of the University shall not be affixed to any document except by the Vice-Chancellor, the Registrar, or an officer or employee of the University deputed by the Registrar for this purpose (either generally or in relation to particular transactions).

14. (1) Except as stated in this statute and in sections 24 and 25 of Statute VIII (University Press), no officer of the University, or any other person employed by the University or working in or in connection with any department or body within or under the control of the University, shall have authority to make any representations on behalf of the University or to enter into any contract on behalf of the University, except with the express consent of Council.

(2) No such consent given by Council shall be operative until a copy of the resolution of Council, certified by the Registrar, has been delivered to such officer or other person.

15. (1) The Registrar shall keep a register of all delegations under this Part; and of all documents to which the Seal has been affixed.

(2) The Registrar shall on request from any member of Council open the register for inspection by that member.