Kate Eldridge wrote:
> I have one department that refuses to provide
> copies of lecture notes on the basis that they are
> "intellectual property". Has anyone else come up against
> this argument? And if so, can you recommend any
> counter-arguments!?
I had a similar case and so I took it up directly with the Awards
Office in the DfEE who in turn took it up with the HE branch (which
ultimately pays lecturers' salaries). They refute totally the claim
that the content of a lecture has such exclusivity. Anything the
lecturer includes is, as a result, in the public domain. Ifs/he has
something to say they are afraid will be "stolen" before they have
chance to copywrite it, then they best keep it to themselves. This
is unlikely to be so with the vast majority of lectures which are
simply reworking well established knowledge. Let them put their
claim in writing but warn them you will be forwarding it to the
HEFCE and DfEE for a second opinion.
Dave Laycock
Head of CCPD
Computer Centre for People with Disabilities
University of Westminster
72 Great Portland Street
London W1N 5AL
tel. 0171-911-5161
fax. 0171-911-5162
WWW home page: http://www.wmin.ac.uk/ccpd/
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|