Awareness and Understanding of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Among Research Scholars: A Study at Kuvempu University

Anvitha H K; B S Biradar

Anvitha H K Research Scholar Department of Library and Information Science Kuvempu University Shankaraghatta 577451, Karnataka. India anvithahosalli@gmail.com
B S Biradar Vice Chancellor Bidar University Bidar 584541, Karnataka. India bsbiradar62@gmail.com

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.

References

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