Campus intellectual property policy development

The evolution of the Internet and information technology in the last 20 years has been breathtakingly rapid, and promises to continue so. Faculty members in academic health centers have struggled to incorporate the new technology into the classroom and the laboratory but, in so doing, many questions arise regarding ownership and control of these new digital creations. These questions have led institutions to revisit their intellectual property (IP) policies. Librarians can play an important role in any effort to review IP policy. They already have a basic and applied understanding of copyright law and are often more knowledgeable than many of their colleagues. By taking the lead in updating or developing an IP policy, such as by chairing the committee, librarians can contribute to the institution in a way that cannot be done from inside the library, and can also provide a new context for measuring the librarian’s contribution to the institution.