Trademark, Copyright or Patents

The college's board of trustees may develop and produce work products relating to educational endeavors that are subject to trademark, copyright, or patent statutes. To this end, the board of trustees shall consider the relative contribution by the personnel employed in the development of such work products and shall enter into binding agreements with such personnel, organizations, corporations, or government entities, which agreements shall establish the percentage of ownership of such trademarks, copyrights, or patents. Any other law to the contrary notwithstanding, the board of trustees may in its own name:

Perform all things necessary to secure letters of patent, copyrights, and trademarks on any such work products and enforce its rights therein.
License, lease, assign, or otherwise give written consent to any person, firm, or corporation for the manufacture or use of its work products on a royalty basis or for such other consideration as the board of trustees deems proper.
Take any action necessary, including legal action, to protect its work products against improper or unlawful use of infringement.
Enforce the collection of any sums due the board of trustees for the manufacture or use of its work products by any other party.
Sell any of its work products and execute all instruments necessary to consummate any such sale.
Do all other acts necessary and proper for the execution of powers and duties provided by this section.

The college copyright policy is that all personnel and students shall comply with U.S. Copyright Law which is displayed on photocopiers at all locations. Employees and students may use, perform, or reproduce copyrighted works when authorized by licenses or written permission from the copyright owner, the fair-use guidelines, the principle of fair use, and/or specific documented exemptions in the copyright law. Copyright items include print, video, electronic data, performances, music, and computer software. Employees and students who willfully disregard the college copyright policy are subject to state and federal penalties as well as college disciplinary action. The college will refuse to grant a request to copy material if fulfillment of the request might lead to a violation of the copyright law. The College Copyright Committee implements the copyright policy, conducts training programs, and answers questions about the copyright law.

The college president shall appoint a Copyright Committee consisting of the Director of the Learning Resources Center (LRC), the LRC Media Services Manager, the Information Technology Computer/Telephone Technician. The committee will
1. prepare and distribute a Faculty Copyright Manual with suggestions for faculty communication with student in their classes,
2. conduct training programs to assure that employees are aware of the copyright law,
3. answer questions about the copyright law,
4. maintain appropriate records of permissions, agreements, and licenses,
5. place appropriate copyright warning notices on or near copying equipment, and,
6. perform other related duties, as needed.
If the Copyright Committee is aware of copyright infringements by an employee and/or student, it will inform the individual of the infringement. If the employee and/or student continues to infringe the copyright law, the Copyright Committee shall inform the college President of the continuing infringements. The college President may take appropriate steps to stop the illegal actions.
The college reserves the right to refuse to fulfill a request to copy material if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the request would lead to violation of the copyright law.