Awareness and Understanding of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Among Research Scholars: A Study at Kuvempu University
Anvitha H K, B S Biradar
International Journal of Information Studies, Vol. 18, No. 4, 2026.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.6025/ijis/2026/18/4/184-204
Link: https://www.dline.info/ijis/fulltext/v18n4/ijisv18n4_2.pdf
Abstract:
In today's knowledge driven economy, Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) are critical to safeguarding
innovations and ensuring academic integrity. This study examines research scholars' awareness,
understanding, and practices regarding IPR at Kuvempu University. Utilizing a descriptive survey design,
data were collected from 135 research scholars across various disciplines using a structured questionnaire.
The findings reveal a significant "awareness competence disparity": while nominal awareness of IPR is
exceptionally high (98.5%), deep conceptual mastery remains limited, with only 17.78% of scholars reporting
substantive proficiency. A two-tier knowledge structure emerged; scholars demonstrated high awareness
of academic ethics (Copyright: 74.8%, Plagiarism: 72.5%) but alarmingly low awareness of commercial and
legal nuances (Fair Use: 24.4%, Trade Secrets: 26.6%). Furthermore, while university courses (35.5%) and
online platforms (20%) are the primary sources of IPR knowledge, faculty mentorship (2.2%) and peer
learning (1.4%) play a negligible role. Although 71.2% of scholars utilize plagiarism detection tools, nearly
a third do not, indicating gaps in institutional consistency. The study concludes that while foundational IPR
recognition is established, there is an urgent need for targeted interventions focusing on applied IP landscape
analysis, commercialization, and legal exceptions. Recommendations include integrating advanced IPR
modules into research curricula, training faculty to mentor scholars on IP commercialization, and enhancing
library led workshops to bridge the gap between basic awareness and applied proficiency.