Intellectual Property Specialist – Copyrights

The University of Texas at Austin•Austin, UT

8d•$90,000•Onsite

About The Position

Mission of Discovery to Impact: Discovery to Impact stands at the heart of transforming academic research into real-world solutions, serving as the pivotal bridge between campus innovators and the industry. Our mission is to harness the power of over 130 campus programs dedicated to entrepreneurship and intellectual property, guiding groundbreaking research from concept to commercial success. Through fostering strategic partnerships with corporations, investors, and entrepreneurs, we ensure that the University's innovations transition from labs and studios into services, solutions, and products that profoundly benefit society. Join us in our quest to change the world, one innovation at a time. What benefits do I receive with UT? The university offers an impressive benefits package including, but not limited to: Competitive health benefits (employee premiums covered at 100%, family premiums at 50%) Voluntary Vision, Dental, Life, and Disability insurance options Generous paid vacation (8 hours/month), paid holidays (10+/year), sick time (8 hours/month), and longevity pay Teachers Retirement System of Texas, a defined benefit retirement plan, with 8.25% employer matching funds Additional Voluntary Retirement Programs: Tax Sheltered Annuity 403(b) and a Deferred Compensation program 457(b) Flexible spending account options for medical and childcare expenses Robust free training access through LinkedIn Learning plus professional conference opportunities Tuition assistance Expansive employee discount program including athletic tickets Free access to UT Austin's libraries and museums with staff ID card Free rides on all UT Shuttle and Austin CapMetro buses with staff ID card For more details on benefits, please see: https://hr.utexas.edu/prospective/benefits and https://hr.utexas.edu/current/services/my-total-rewards . Purpose The IP Specialist for Copyrights is responsible for identifying, protecting, and managing innovation and creative expressions within the arts, humanities, education, communications, health care, and other areas across the University of Texas at Austin. The IP Specialist serves as a vital bridge between creators and the marketplace, educating the university community on copyright practices and policy, ensuring compliance with the University of Texas System’s Regents’ Rules, and developing strategic pathways that translate the University’s various creative output into services and products with high societal and commercial impact.

Requirements

Advanced or bachelor's degree (Master’s or PhD) in a science, engineering or a relevant field (e.g., Arts Administration, Education, Communications, Business, or Law).
Experience in copyright management, creative licensing, or tech transfer.
Knowledge of U.S. Copyright Law, including the Bundle of Rights, Fair Use, and the distinction between "idea" and "expression".
Ability to communicate with artists and scholars, translating their creative vision into commercially viable opportunities.
Capable of managing a broad portfolio of creative assets at different stages, from initial disclosure to public release or licensing.
A proactive professional with a strategic mindset for identifying high-priority creative assets in a fast-paced academic environment.
Available for occasional travel to visit labs or attend industry conferences, with the ability to work extended hours during peak filing or negotiation periods.

Nice To Haves

Experience registering copyright assets with the United States Copyright Office.
Experience with permission-based licensing, royalty structures for creative works, and contracts for digital or physical media.
Demonstrated ability to perform market validation for "soft-IP," such as assessing the demand for different markets, educational curricula or digital media assets.
A background in Intellectual Property of Technology Transfer is highly preferred.
Experience in Educational Technology (Ed-Tech), music publishing, or media production rights.
Copyright transaction and licensing experience
Working knowledge of Patent and Trademark Law and brand protection for university-born programs or initiatives.
Experience collaborating with business and research teams to determine optimal strategies for copyright registration.
Familiarity with Creative Commons licensing and the balance between open-access missions and revenue-generating commercialization.
Demonstrated ability to work with university creators to understand early-stage creative concepts and ensure clear communication between the artist, legal counsel, and the business team.
Working knowledge of policies/issues relating to commercialization of university science-based research.
Ability to articulate an innovation’s "social impact" or cultural value alongside its financial potential.

Responsibilities

Copyright & Creative Asset Management: Actively manage and grow a portfolio of copyright assets with the objective of advancing UT research and creative expression through strategic commercialization.
Proactively identify copyright protect-able assets from colleges, departments, organizations, and programs across the university for submission to the IP team.
Evaluate copyright disclosures for originality, marketability, and potential for social or commercial impact.
Assist in the development of protection strategies of select trademarks and trade dress.
Work with the Business Development team to draft and negotiate licenses for creative content, ranging from publishing agreements to media distribution and "ed-tech" licensing.
Assess third-party content within university creations to ensure "Fair Use" compliance and secure necessary permissions for commercialization when necessary.
Make determinations of whether to register copyright assets and manage the registration process of creative works with the U.S. Copyright Office.
Outreach and Relationship Management : Actively engage in outreach with UT Austin faculty to raise awareness of the services provided by the Discovery to Impact organization and promote a culture of innovation.
Serve as the primary relationship manager for faculty, artists, and authors, maintaining a deep understanding of their creative processes and long-term project goals.
Conduct workshops and outreach specifically for the arts and humanities to raise awareness of how creative works can be scaled for broader impact.
Advise on Intellectual Property: Advise University inventors regarding University intellectual property policies and related technology commercialization processes.
Other Duties: Perform additional responsibilities as assigned by the Director of Intellectual Property.

Benefits

Competitive health benefits (employee premiums covered at 100%, family premiums at 50%)
Voluntary Vision, Dental, Life, and Disability insurance options
Generous paid vacation (8 hours/month), paid holidays (10+/year), sick time (8 hours/month), and longevity pay
Teachers Retirement System of Texas, a defined benefit retirement plan, with 8.25% employer matching funds
Additional Voluntary Retirement Programs: Tax Sheltered Annuity 403(b) and a Deferred Compensation program 457(b)
Flexible spending account options for medical and childcare expenses
Robust free training access through LinkedIn Learning plus professional conference opportunities
Tuition assistance
Expansive employee discount program including athletic tickets
Free access to UT Austin's libraries and museums with staff ID card
Free rides on all UT Shuttle and Austin CapMetro buses with staff ID card