Curriculum Property Rights Policy

PURPOSE
To clarify intellectual property rights for curricular materials used in the School of Medicine (i.e., the School).

AUDIENCE
All medical students, staff and faculty

LCME STANDARD
Not Applicable

POLICY

  1. All educational materials created, posted, or used for instructional purposes in the School are for the purpose of personal study. 
    1. The content of the material may be the intellectual property of the University or individual lecturers/tutors, depending in each case on circumstances and interpretation of law. (See the University of California Copyright Policies linked in the References).
    2. The university may continue to use materials created for educational purposes after a faculty member leaves the institution.
  2. Students, staff and faculty, who were not the creators of the educational materials, shall acquire no intellectual property rights whatsoever to materials and are prohibited from posting these materials to a publicly accessible website, application, or social media, nor broadcasting or supplying these materials to any other person or entity, including for commercial gain. 
  3. With respect to reproduction and copying of educational materials, the School complies with the United States copyright law (see References).
    1. Understanding this law, including the doctrine of ’Fair Use’ and its application and limitations in the business/educational setting by faculty members, staff, students, copy centers, and the University may help eliminate the risk of engaging in illegal reproduction. 
    2. The doctrine of ’Fair Use’ permits the use of a copyrighted work without the copyright owner’s permission in limited situations; see Section 107 of the Copyright Act.  

PROCEDURE

  1. Anyone becoming aware of a possible violation of this policy should report the matter for investigation.
  2. Potential violation by students should be reported to the Associate Dean for Students.
    • If confirmed, this could be considered a violation of the Student Code of Academic and Social Conduct and could lead to a recommendation for dismissal by the Committee on Student Promotions.
  3. Potential violations by staff or faculty, should be reported to both the Office of Medical Education, Assistant Dean for Medical Education, and the Office of Academic Personnel Office, Assistant Dean for Academic Personnel, respectively, for investigation and determination of next steps.

RESPONSIBILITY
Committee on Educational Policy
Academic Personnel Office

REFERENCES
Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17)
University of California Copyright Policies
UC Davis Copyright and Teaching

RELATED POLICIES
Code of Academic & Social Conduct
Pre-Clerkship Classroom Policy

POLICY OWNER
Committee on Educational Policy

REVIEWED & APPROVED BY
Academic Personnel Office
Assistant Dean for Medical Education
Associate Dean for Students
Committee on Educational Policy*
UC Davis Scholarly Communications Officer
Vice Dean/Senior Associate Dean for Undergraduate Medical Education

REVIEWED DATE and REVIEW CYCLE
September 2025, 5-year review cycle

* indicates the Policy Owner