Quitting a PhD program and starting another one: who is the legal owner of my research? I am at the late stage of a PhD program. For some personal reasons, I have decided to quit this program and apply for a new PhD program in a different country. 

I have presented one part of my research in an international conference, and I am about to submit it to a journal. Beside this paper, I have prepared 3 other papers but I have not presented them anywhere. I am the sole author of these three un-published works. 

Now my question is whether it is possible to bring these researches to the next university and publish them afterwards? I am the legal owner of these researches? copyright-wise I mean. 

I would be more than glad if anyone helps me in this tough situation. 

PS: I would have no problem for getting recommendation letters.
Within limits, you most definitely can bring the old research with you and publish it. Unregulated digital data stored on a standard computer should be fine, but for example, there may be limitations on moving human subject data (even de-identified data) depending on what the IRB protocol said. If the research involved samples (e.g., chemical compounds) moving these may also be regulated.

You may or may not be able to use this previous work towards your dissertation. You will have to check with your new department.