IPR policy – comments

October 30, 2009 in update
Tags: ipr, policy

In light of our investigation into the University’s IPR policy we have noted a few things that we need to consider. In brief summary, the policy indicates that work derived from scholarly activities is the intellectual property of the author. Copyright of materials produced as curriculum design and development, including e-learning, resides with the University. All this is clearly articulated in staff contracts. Students and staff are treated equally by the policy, and so it would seem that this is a fairly straightforward clarification.

However, it might not be quite as simple as all that. In the supporting IPR guidance document, the term ‘safeguard potential for exploitation’ is used in reference to the commercial value of IP. In fact, on several occasions the IP of the University is mentioned as needing to be safeguarded, implying a protective stance towards content. Clearly there are no direct commercial benefits to the open release of learning materials, but there is long-term value.

The most recently updated IPR policy (April 09) does articulate the need to widely disseminate IP, describing it as ‘fundamental to the work and idea of a Higher Education Institution’. We feel, therefore, that the idea of OER does fit into the existing policy, but it raises a couple of key things:

1) Does the policy need to be explicit about the use of open content for commercial exploitation (and does it need to acknowledge the inherent myriad values of OER)?

2) How can we raise awareness of these values needs in order to permeate our teaching staff body, and ensure the support of policy-makers and management that can drive sharing.

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