New post addresses intellectual property rights

By Jodie Kaufman

Daily Staff Reporter

Members of the Senate Advisory Committee for University Affairs welcomed James Hilton, the recently appointed media rights special assistant to the University provost, to its meeting yesterday for a discussion on intellectual property rights.

Hilton described his new job as a result of his "whining."

"My whining was rewarded," he said. "As a teacher I kept running into obstacles in every role I played, for example the secretarial staff could not copy materials for me because they were worried about infringement of the copyright law, which would result in a fine of $100,000 per instance."

When faculty members publish their articles in journals they give up their copyright to the publisher, Hilton said.

SACUA member Barbara MacAdam was concerned that this is going to prohibit professors from using the materials they need.

"Faculty members need to be able to use a wide range of new materials for their courses," MacAdam said.

SACUA Chairwoman Sherrie Kossoudji attributes many of the copyright issues with the influx of new technology.

"The single problem is that technology and events are moving faster than the laws," Kossoudji said.

Hilton said that through the post, he has learned a great deal about copyright laws.

"Copyright issues are pervasive, not impenetrable and there are a lot of surprises," Hilton said.

Most professors run into trouble with their ideas as being copyrighted, Hilton said.

"Copyright has little if anything to do with professors' ideas," he said.

SACUA members shared concern about the University's stance on these issues.

"People in this institution are so conservative in setting practice and policy, they are creating barriers that fair use (policies) absolutely allows you to do," MacAdam said.

Hilton said his goals are "to find ways to engage the University community in conversations about copyright and intellectual properties issues - to help the University navigate through the swirl with an eye toward some basic guiding principles, and to listen to the different needs and concerns of the University."

Hilton said he is taking immediate steps to help the University community with intellectual properties and copyright issues.

Hilton's immediate steps include "beginning work on a Website which will serve as a discussion, education and answer destination ... working with units to better understand current practices, tensions and desires around use, ownership and deployment."

Jackie Lawson, who will take over as SACUA's chairwoman May 1 at the University said she is concerned about distance learning. Lawson and Moji Navvab, incoming SACUA vice chairman will lead SACUA for the 2000-2001 term.

"Pretty soon chalk and talk will be obsolete and so will bricks and mortar rendering us as faculty obsolete except for being the creators behind terminals," Lawson said.

As for being on top of policies regarding intellectual properties and copyright issues, Hilton said the University could be a leader.

Also visiting the meeting was Research Policy Committee Chairman Richard Ford.

Ford said a real concern the "University should have is who is in control and what they are presenting in lecture."

Ford also expressed concern that an intellectual properties lawyer is needed to help the University investigate these issues.

"So many of the issues need someone to be on the legal side," Ford said.

Hilton said the University is in the process of searching for an intellectual properties general counsel.