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Copyright Law Basics for the Nursing Professional: Part 2: Protecting Your Work
Meghan B LaVelle1, Beth Elchek LaVelle, Kenneth L Port
1Meghan B. LaVelle, DNP, RN, CEN, ACNS-BC, is a Staff Nurse and Independent Researcher in the Twin Cities, Minnesota and Western Wisconsin. Beth Elchek LaVelle, PhD, RN-BC, CEN, CPPS, is an Educator and Independent Researcher in the Twin Cities, Minnesota and Western Wisconsin. Kenneth L. Port, JD, BA, is a Professor of Law and former Director of the Intellectual Property Institute at William Mitchell College of Law, St. Paul, Minnesota. Jacob T. Sherlock, JD, BA, is a Law Clerk in the Third Judicial District of the Minnesota District Court.
Abstract:
This article is a continuation of the discussion of Copyright Law (found in JNPD 31:5) as it applies to nursing professionals. This part focuses on the definition of "work made for hire" and how nursing professional development specialists can both protect and share their own work. Many nurses assume that they own the works they create, but authorship is not necessarily the same as ownership. Misunderstanding copyrights could put one's job and hard work at risk!
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