Intellectual Property Specialist – Copyrights

Overview

Job Posting

Title:

Intellectual Property Specialist – Copyrights

Hiring Department: Discovery to Impact

Position Open To: All Applicants

Weekly Scheduled

Hours:

40

FLSA Status: Exempt

Earliest

Start Date:

Immediately

Position Duration: Expected to Continue

Location: UT MAIN CAMPUS

Mission of 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.

Benefits: The university offers a comprehensive 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 Linked In 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

• Free rides on all UT Shuttle and Austin Cap Metro buses with staff

For more details on benefits, please see: UT Austin HR benefits pages.

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  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  Regents  Rules, and developing strategic pathways that translate the University  various creative output into services and products with high societal and commercial impact.

• 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.

• Advanced or bachelor s degree (Master  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…