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| Patent Group | |
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| Computer Software and Intellectual Property Law | ||
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Computer Software and Copyright16. What You Should Know If You Write Software As an LBNL EmployeeUnder the contract between the University of California and the Department of Energy, the University of California must ask for permission from DOE if it wants to assert a copyright for a computer program, that is, register a copyright with the U.S. Copyright Office. Therefore, if a program written by a Berkeley Lab employee is to be distributed to others or marketed in any way, that employee or his/her superiors must contact the Patent Department to request consideration for registration of the computer program with the Copyright Office.Once DOE grants approval, the programmer will be asked to submit paper copies of the source code, tape or disk copies of the object code, and appropriate manuals. At that time the programmer will also be asked to ensure that proper notice appears in the program and manuals. Any computer program license must be negotiated and drafted by the Technology Transfer Department. Under no circumstances may a programmer pursue licensing opportunities without first contacting the Patent and Technology Transfer Departments and obtaining approval. See also the answer to the question,
"I wrote
a computer program; what do I do now?"
* Written by John E. Wehrli, formerly of the Patent Department, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Available as LBL Report No. 38995. |
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