Re: joint work/U.S. govt.

Robin W. Edwards <r.w.edwards[_at_]larc.nasa.gov> wrote:
>
> Has anyone addressed the issue (or just have an off-the-top-of-your-
> head opinion) of the copyrightability status of an inseparable joint
> work where there is contribution (other than 17 USC 105, contribution
> of each person is copyrightable) by a nongovernment employee and
> contribution by a government employee (assuming nothing contractual
> which establishes, for example, a work for hire, arrangement)??

The transfer of copyright agreements I have seen and signed from scientific journals all have some statement concerning U.S. Governement employees. If there are several authors, including both U.S. Gov't employees and non-gov't employees, at least one of the non-employees is asked to sign. This implies, to me at least, that those works with both gov't and non-gov't employees either share copyright (is that possible if part of it would have to be in the public domain?) or the copyright is owned by the non-gov't employee.

                                    Angela Putney, Ph.D.
                                    Physics Management Fellow
                                    American Institute of Physics
                                    One Physics Ellipse
                                    College Park, MD 20740

                                    Phone: (301) 209-3135
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                                    E-mail: aputney[_at_]aip.org