Ross Anderson has raised alarm that is without foundation (Letters, THES , September 20). He claims that the proposal to bring intellectual property policy in Cambridge in line with other universities in the UK and North America "will grab the lion's share of royalties from books such as A Brief History of Time written by staff".
The Cambridge proposal says: "The university will not claim ownership of copyright in normal academic forms of publication including books, articles and lectures,or other similar works generated by staff, unless those works have been commissioned by a sponsor or by the university."
Royalties on books by staff will still belong to the author.
David Secher
Director of research services
University of Cambridge