The Cobb County School District (District) recognizes that the District and its employees and students strive to adhere to copyright, patent and other intellectual property laws of the United States and related court decisions.

The use of copyrighted materials is separately addressed in Administrative Rule IJNDB (Use of Technology Resources in Instruction) and Administrative Rule IFAB (Media Programs and Supplementary Materials Selection). Neither the Cobb County Board of Education nor the District shall assume responsibility for actions of District employees or students in violation of the above-mentioned laws.

RULE:

A. COPYRIGHT:
    Under copyright law, any material prepared by an employee within the scope of his or
    her employment is called a "work made for hire." For District employees, this means that
    any materials an employee creates within the scope of employment at the District are
    "works made for hire" and belong to the District, unless ownership is transferred by the
    District to the employee in writing.

B. PATENT:
    Under patent law, the patent rights to an invention of a District employee created within
    the scope of employment may, depending upon the circumstances, belong to the District
    or may allow the District to obtain a non-exclusive, perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free
    license ("shop right") to use the invention.

Adopted: 8/12/81
Reclassified an Administrative Rule: 9/1/04
Reviewed: 8/28/02
Revised: 4/28/83; 8/8/84; 7/28/94; 1/24/02; 4/12/06; 5/25/06