Curriculum Property Rights Policy

PURPOSE
To clarify intellectual property rights for curricular materials used in the School of Medicine 

AUDIENCE
All medical students, staff and faculty

LCME STANDARD
Not Applicable

POLICY

  1. All educational materials posted or used for instructional purposes in the School of Medicine are for the purpose of personal study. 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 (for details refer to the University of California Copyright Policies). 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 an external website, broadcasting or supplying these materials to any other person for commercial gain or otherwise.
  2. With respect to reproduction and copying of educational materials, it is the policy of the School to comply with the United States copyright law (Title 17 of the United States Code), Public Law 94-533, 90 Stat. 2541. 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 photocopying. The doctrine of ’Fair Use’ permits the use of a copyrighted work without the copyright owner’s permission in limited situations. 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 Dean of Students; if confirmed, this could be considered a violation of the Code of Academic 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 the Office of Medical Education and the Academic Personnel Office, respectively, for investigation and determination of next steps.

RESPONSIBILITY
Committee on Educational Policy
Academic Personnel Office

REFERENCES
University of California Copyright

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

POLICY OWNER
Committee on Educational Policy

REVIEWED & APPROVED BY
Committee on Educational Policy*
Academic Personnel Office

REVIEWED DATE and REVIEW CYCLE
September 2020, 5-year review cycle