The growth and competitiveness of any business, especially micro and SMEs, will increasingly depend on the ability to apply new knowledge, organisation and working methods, as well as the capacity to engage in the commercialisation of research and development to develop new products, services, or processes. In the information society, the…

This article focuses on the legal rules of intellectual property rights (IPR) in networked e-learning. Its purpose is to act as an awareness-raising device about IPR, especially in the public-sector e-learning community in the UK, by describing the relevant aspects of IPR, providing legal guidance on IPR in e-learning, especially on the use of…

Recent efforts to change the teaching profession and teacher preparation include a number of innovations to use portfolio assessment, value added measures (VAM), accountability metrics and other corporate education reform ideas. These approaches may provoke considerable potential legal consequences. Traditional constitutional and civil rights…

Electronic data interchange (EDI) permits two parties to enter into a contract without the use of paper and human signatures, which are historically associated with commerce in goods and services. As federal legislation governing contractual information changes to accommodate electronic formats, provisions must be crafted in a technology-neutral…

This pamphlet begins by discussing two legal issues to be considered when negotiating and formalizing the production of computer programs for distribution within ECC (European Economic Community) countries: protection of the program against unauthorized copying, and the nature of the contracts to be prepared. It is noted that all member states of…

Provided are several legal opinions on the parameters for using rented programing. The opinions (pertaining to one specific rental/lease agreement in one school district) focus on distribution of rented materials, use for in-class instruction, and issues concerning home/school use. (JN)

Provides an overview of legal issues related to licensing entertainment rights for multimedia source materials, including the grant of rights clause, copyright ownership, territory and languages, term provision, specifications, approvals/controls, royalties, guilds, bankruptcies, termination of the license, and confidentiality. Common mistakes…

Ownership rights in a law review article, possibilities for contractual modification, and limitations on copyright ownership are examined. It is concluded that reviewer and writer should both register at the Copyright Office and place notice of copyright in the journal. (Journal availability: William S. Hein & Co., 1285 Main St., Buffalo, NY…

The proliferation of computer processing applications on college campuses has created new legal risks for higher education institutions. The history of computer use on campuses, an overview of computer law, and a discussion of the role of the university attorney are presented. (SF)

Three categories of legal issues generated by computers on campus are examined: copyrights on programs developed by students, faculty, or staff; contracts in purchasing computers and torts concerning wrongful use; and the expectation that schools will respond to legal/ethical issues differently than commercial organizations. Suggestions for…

The advent of computer programming by faculty members on college and university campuses and the potential value of the product of this effort in the commercial marketplace have caused some college and university administrators to examine the potential benefits and problems associated with developing policy surrounding the issues of property…

Dental educators, it is suggested, become vulnerable to student lawsuits if they ignore legislative changes and judicial decisions that affect all academic units in higher education. Issues involving contractual considerations, privacy and grading, and recent copyright revisions are reviewed. Knowledge of these issues will better prepare the…

The increasing popularity of digital information has brought great convenience to library patrons. It has, however, posed challenges to libraries in achieving their major missions, i.e., preservation and dissemination of information. The underlying reasons for this phenomenon are dichotomous: the restrictions imposed by electronic information…

Discusses the allocation of copyright ownership of electronic course materials between faculty member and the sponsoring institution. Reviews relevant copyright basics, the work-made-for-hire doctrine, and options for contractual allocations of copyrights. Outlines a series of criteria that should be considered in formulating an institution's…

This instructor guide for a unit on legal issues in the PACE (Program for Acquiring Competence in Entrepreneurship) curriculum includes the full text of the student module and lesson plans, instructional suggestions, and other teacher resources. The competencies that are incorporated into this module are at Level 1 of learning--understanding the…