Works Created at UConn
The U.S. Copyright Office states that "though the general rule is that the person who creates a work is the author of that work, there is an exception to that principle: the copyright law defines a category of works called “works made for hire.” If a work is “made for hire,” the employer, and not the employee, is considered the author. The employer may be a firm, an organization, or an individual." (See Works Made for Hire under the 1976 Copyright Act.)That said, many academic institutions grant an exception to work for hire rules, allowing faculty members (and perhaps others) to retain their individual copyrights in most traditional circumstances.
UConn's Policy Statement
The policy entitled Research Collaborations with Industrial Partners addresses research-related agreements and inventions. It applies to all faculty, employees, and students at all of UConn's campuses. It also includes a statement on copyright:
Copyright Ownership: The University's copyright policy is . . . based on Connecticut law (C.G.S., Sec. 10a-110g) which specifies that any literary, artistic, musical or other product of authorship covered by actual or potential copyright belongs to the author(s). In those instances where such works have been produced at the direct request of the university with specific financial support from the institution or with "substantial use" of university resources (equipment, facilities and support staff), the university should seek a reasonable return upon commercialization. To do so, the author may be required to assign rights to such copyright to the university. Such works also include software. Also, if copyrightable material is produced under a grant or sponsored research agreement awarded to the university and the university needs to fulfill a contractual obligation, the author is required to assign rights to such copyright to the university. (See University Policies e-Library.
Student Organizations
According to the Article XVI, Section J of the current Laws, By-Laws and Rules of the University of Connecticut "Registered organizations are considered to be 'not duly organized as part of the University.'" Copyright is held by the registered student organization.
Content in this page was used or adapted with permission from one or more institutions. Please see acknowledgements.