Policy 421 - Employee Publications, Instructional Materials, Copyright and Patent Ownership

The purpose of this policy is to set forth the rights and responsibilities of both the school district and district employees with respect to employee publications, instructional materials, software applications, materials posted in websites, inventions and creations.

A.  The district reserves the proprietary rights to certain publications, instructions materials, instruction for pay, inventions and creations that employees develop or create, or assist in developing or creating, while employed by the district. Nothing in this policy limits any right granted to the district by law that is not specifically described herein.

B.  The district may copyright or patent materials that are prepared and developed under the auspices of the district which have totally original content and which have potential application outside the district.

C.  Employees shall immediately disclose and, on demand of the school district, assign the district any rights to publications, instructional materials, software applications, materials posted on websites, inventions or creations that the employee develops or creates or assists in developing or creating during the term  of the employee’s employment and for 12 months after employment with Wayzata Public Schools.

D.  Employees must sign necessary documents and perform necessary acts to secure the school district’s rights relating to such publications, instructional materials, software applications, material on websites, inventions or creations, including domestic and foreign patents and copyrights. Employees must contact the Executive Director of Human Resources for completion of the above mentioned paperwork.

E.  The district reserves the right to all or a portion of any financial gains by the employee as a result of the above-mentioned activities.

F.  The school district will not retain proprietary rights when the employee develops, creates, or assists in developing or creating a publication, instructional material, software applications, material on websites, inventions or creations entirely on the employee’s own time and without the use of any school district facilities or equipment.

• 17 U.S.C. § 101 et seq. (Copyrights) - Minnesota Statute 181.78

• Adopted: May 9, 2016
• Amended: October 14, 2024
• Last Reviewed: October 14, 2024