The value of intellectual property education for creative entrepreneurs: a case study from University of the Arts, London (UAL)

Intellectual property (IP) rights are the legal rights that protect the financial and reputational interests of creative and innovative practice. IP rights play an active role in creative practice from generating new work and exchanging ideas, to planning showcases and building communities. The role of UAL’s IP Education team is to encourage students and graduates to recognise the agency they have as future change makers and understand the important role that IP plays in launching and growing their business as well as contribute to the creative economy.

IP Education workshops provide a safe space for individuals to self-reflect and the team support in helping creatives increase self-confidence and make their own informed decisions. With a focus on experiential learning, the team’s approach to empowering future entrepreneurs combines compassionate pedagogy with the lived experiences and of recent graduates as peer-to-peer learning. This considers IP ownership, representation and use in the context of collaboration from ideation through incubation to launch and growth.

This case study highlights the work of the IP Education team at UAL and their progressive approach with UALs aspiring entrepreneurs. As creatives consider their future selves, it is important for individuals to think about what IP means to them within wider social and economic contexts to help safeguard their reputation and establish sound business practice. The aim of the case study is to demonstrate the value of IP education in a creative context, the benefits for creative entrepreneurs to think strategically and to help consider how to best manage their working relationships within responsible business practices.