Online Teaching, Copyrights, and the Need for Concerted Solutions

Abstract

Most higher education institutions with online learning programs in the U.S. face similar challenges when it comes to establishing intellectual property (IP) policies that balance adequate stimulus for authors and appropriate investment return for the organization supporting their creative production. However, no university has yet been able to come up with a “golden standard” in this regard. While, by the time of writing this, Temple University was still in the process of discussing elements of a new IP policy for online contents, its preliminary experience on the matter reveals the benefits of proactive attempts at achieving consensus among all stakeholders, as opposed to adopting reactive or remedial stances.