CWU Approves New Intellectual Property Policy

January 18, 2006

ELLENSBURG, Wash. - The concept of protection of "intellectual property" has been a frequent topic of discussion in recent years, particularly on college and university campuses. Intellectual property is generally defined as an invention, discovery, trade secret, technology, scientific or technological development, computer software, or something akin to them.

During a special telephonic session meeting yesterday (Tuesday, Jan. 17) the Central Washington University board of trustees (BOT) unanimously approved the university's first "Intellectual Properties Policy."

It was developed to provide uniform policies and procedures for regulating and administering intellectual property rights generated by the activities of CWU faculty, employees and others associated with the university, such as visiting scholars.

Previous university policy had dealt with copyright issues alone, according to Dr. Wayne Quirk, CWU associate vice president of the office of graduate studies and research.

"So this is a more full-blown policy that addresses many more issues," he adds. "It is a nice mechanism of protection for the university and for our faculty. It allows -- and encourages -- these types of activities and then protects us in terms of how we negotiate and deal with establishing ownership and provides guidelines for the royalties, dividends and revenue generated by such activities."

Quirk chaired an ad hoc university committee of faculty and administrators that spent about 18 months developing the new policy.

"This is such an important piece of what's going on right now with universities that a lot of folks have spent a lot of time going down this road already," Quirk says, "so we've borrowed from the collective wisdom around the country."

CWU President Jerilyn S. McIntyre points out, "All universities are struggling with trying to expand beyond 'copyright' as the definition of intellectual property to be protected both for those who are creating it and for the university. So this, I think, takes into account the kind of work and the kind of intellectual property that's going to be originated in the 21st century."

Contact: Judy Miller (509-963-2156/fax 509-963-3206/e-mail: miller@cwu.edu)

Public Relations and Marketing: (509) 963-1493

Central Washington University is a master's degree-granting institution with approximately 10,000 students and 1,500 faculty and staff. More than 160 undergraduate and master's degrees are offered. Founded in 1891, the Ellensburg campus is located in the heart of Washington State, nestled between the Cascade Mountains and the Columbia River. Since 1975, CWU has served the needs of placebound students at six university centers throughout the state. CWU is an AA/EEO Title IX Institution.