Curriculum/Educational/Institutional Materials Created within the College Policy
Context and Purpose
To establish ownership of copyright and/or patent rights for curriculum, educational, institutional, creative and other materials created by employees of Vancouver Community College (VCC; the College).
Scope and Limits
This policy applies to all employees of VCC, and is subject to all applicable federal and international copyright and patent laws.
Principles
- The College owns copyright and patent for curriculum, educational, institutional, creative and other materials, in any format, that are produced using College time, services or materials, and/or in the course of employment, unless one of the following exceptions applies:
- A written agreement has been entered into with the College which vests copyright or patent with the employee or a third party.
- Where there are collective agreement provisions contrary to this Policy.
- With regard to the respectful use and protection of Indigenous knowledge, the College will honour the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Article 31 (Appendix I).
Definitions
- Copyright
- The sole right of the copyright owner of a work to produce, copy, perform, publish, adapt, translate or telecommunicate that work and to authorize others to do the same.
- Curriculum, educational, institutional, creative and other materials
- Includes physical and digital versions of all materials created by College employees for instructional and College purposes, and includes books, laboratory manuals, exercises, audio and video materials, images, photos, computer software, instructional strategies, PowerPoint presentations, creative work, annual reports, strategic plans, information/decision notes, and other materials.
- Patent
- Defined in the Patent Act as “letters patent for an invention”.
Related Resources
VCC Policies
Other Resources
- Copyright Act, RSC 1985, c C-42
- Patent Act, RSC 1985, c C-4
Appendices
Generated at: 8:49 am on September 18, 2026