Every invention, discovery, material, work, product, or any part thereof, that results from the efforts of a full or part-time employee, student, or outside consultant carried out while in the employment of, or under contract or agreement of any kind with, the College and that is produced or brought about in any fashion with the aid of the College’s facilities, staff, or through funds administered by the College shall, as between the College and the full or part-time employee, student, or outside consultant, be the property of the College.  Any patents, trademarks, trade names, and/or trade secrets shall belong to the College and any legal protection applied for shall be applied for by the College or through an authorized agent, assignee, or licensee in the name of the College.

As a general rule, all rights to copyrightable material are the property of the creator.  The creator shall be deemed to be the College where a specific contract so provides, where a full or part-time employee, student, or outside consultant is employed for the purpose of producing a specific copyrightable work, or where necessary to reflect the contribution of the College to the work, as in the case of software or audiovisual material of any kind.

As between the College and The State Board of Community Colleges, ownership of any of the above-described items shall be determined in accordance with applicable regulations of the State Board of Community Colleges.

The College may charge a reasonable rental fee for use of any of the above-described items and, further, if such item is a learned journal, work of art, book, publication, textbook, library book, form bulletin, or instructional supply, then it may, as allowed by the Umstead Act, be offered for sale by the College.

This policy shall be deemed to be a part of any existing and/or future employment or consulting agreements of the College.

Employee Handbook