I recently was offered funding to carry out research in a particular area that has not been covered before. I accepted the funding and then due to difficult and unforeseen life events had to say I couldn't do it. The Doctor with whom i was working on hearing the news sent me an email with condolences saying she was grateful for me for highlighting the lack of research in this area and that the department intended to develop the research themselves. Talk about putting salt in the wound. Can anyone tell me whether they can do this - it seems so unethical.

Ouch - very irritating and painful...Doesn't seem right but I'm not sure what you can do.

======= Date Modified 15 Dec 2011 10:16:03 =======
If you're not planning to go ahead and do it then yes, I think they can. Once you submit your proposal to them then I have a feeling the research becomes theirs... check your contract if you still have it and see what it says about intellectual property... mine has a clause about sections 11 and 15 of the copyright, designs and patents act 1988... I will have to look them up now!

Section 11 states that the work is yours (the authors) EXCEPT "Where a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work, or a film10, is made by an employee in the course of his employment, his employer is the first owner of any copyright in the work subject to any agreement to the contrary" so I think they may have the right according to law to continue to use your work. Not morally right, of course, but legal I'm afraid if your contract says the same.

Edited to include info on the Coyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988