Patents and Copyrights

The UNC Charlotte Board of Trustees has issued Policy Statement #113, “Copyright Policy,” (www.legal.uncc.edu/policies/ps-113.html), which (1) establishes the Faculty Copyright Education and Policy Committee, which provides an educational resource to faculty and staff members and gives faculty members the opportunity to advise the Chancellor on implementation of the Copyright Policy; (2) vests ownership of “Traditional Works or Non-Directed Works” in faculty members or EPA non-faculty creators, with the University’s retention of only a limited license in such works for the University’s own non-commercial educational or research use; (3) requires department chairs or heads of administrative units to inform a faculty member in writing before University resources are allocated if such use is “exceptional,” in order for the University to claim ownership rights in the resulting work; (4) establishes a mechanism for the University to release or transfer ownership rights in a Traditional Work or Non-Directed Work created through exceptional use of University resources to the work’s creator through an appropriate written agreement; (5) requires department chairs and heads of administrative units to affirmatively establish that a work is a “Directed Work” prior to its creation in order for the University to claim ownership rights in that work; and (6) establishes a mechanism for the University to release or transfer ownership rights in a Directed Work to the work’s creator through an appropriate written agreement.

The Faculty Copyright Education and Policy Committee, together with the Office of the University Attorney, shall issue and as necessary revise guidelines to assist University faculty, staff, and students in making fair use evaluations.  Faculty, staff or students who require assistance with fair use questions should consult the Office of the University Attorney (515-A Reese, 704-687-2553).