Study on the Practical Application of Intellectual Property Protection in University Industrial Design Competitions

This study explores the practical application of intellectual property protection in university industrial design competitions and analyzes the key challenges currently faced, offering potential solutions. Through an in-depth examination of the competition process, several critical issues in intellectual property protection were identified, including the crisis of originality in design innovations, insufficient protection awareness among design participants, and systemic flaws in the competition mechanisms. To address these challenges effectively, this paper proposes a series of optimization strategies targeting universities, student designers, and competition organizers, aiming to strengthen responsibility enforcement through the establishment of a multi-stakeholder collaborative system. Additionally, the paper introduces an actionable intellectual property protection verification process to ensure its effectiveness in actual competitions. Ultimately, the objective of this paper is to create a fair and equitable innovative environment for university students, promoting the healthy development and commercialization of design outcomes, while providing valuable insights for the further advancement of related fields.