Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I want to return to the point I was making in regard to knowledge that is generated within universities. Obviously, to build up their curriculum vitae students will want to publish articles. Publication of articles is very often a requirement for employment. They will typically sign a copyright agreement and their materials will be generated through their activities in the universities and the public funding of universities but the universities will have only limited access to that material or may well have to pay for it. I have with me a copy of a copyright agreement, which provides that any losses, damage or expenses for legal or professional fees shall be the responsibility of the person who signs that agreement. It seems to me that is a fairly one-sided effort. Am I correct that the universities develop the knowledge and the students, and, perhaps, the universities themselves then have to pay to acquire that knowledge?