INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND PRIVACY POLICIES

Updated August 23, 2007

Intellectual Property

Copyright and Use of Applications
Copyright in material submitted with any application shall remain with the original owner. Applicants must ensure that any intellectual property owned by others and used in their submissions is approved for use and appropriately attributed. Successful Applicants must agree to provide a statement that will be made publicly available describing generally the nature of their proposed project and how it will further the purposes of the competition. The Competition may make other portions of a successful application publicly available consistent with the terms of the Competition. The University shall have no obligation to return any materials to Applicants.

Treatment of Copyright In Products Funded By The Competition
Copyright in the product produced as a result of the award shall remain with the successful Applicant subject to the terms of the Competition. Each Applicant must agree, however, that if it receives an award it will license the use of the product in accordance with a Creative Commons License (Creative Commons Attribution, Non-Commercial, ShareAlike) or be Open Source.

It is the strong preference of the administrators of the Competition, the University of California and the MacArthur Foundation that the product produced as a result of an award be made publicly available promptly upon the completion of the product for little or no cost to the public. Distribution to the public at little or no cost is most consistent with the charitable principles underlying the purposes of the Competition. In keeping with the spirit of the Competition, however, it is recognized that there could be circumstances where a different distribution model could serve effectively the underlying educational purpose of the Competition.

Use of Revenues Generated By Distribution of Product
If an Applicant believes that the success of its project is dependent upon or significantly furthered through a distribution process that will result in a revenue stream, the Applicant must also submit a statement explaining why revenue creation is necessary and its plan describing how any revenue will be used or shared in furtherance of the charitable objectives of the Competition. Applicable law and the policies of the MacArthur Foundation preclude the use of grant funds to further or benefit private interests in a manner that is more than incidental to a broader charitable purpose. Consequently, an applicant will need to demonstrate that the revenue derived from the project will primarily benefit public/charitable purposes rather than private interests. This could include sharing of revenues with the University or another charitable organization through the use of royalty or similar arrangements. The amount and duration of any royalty interest shall depend upon the facts and circumstances underlying the proposed project and the nature of the Applicant such as whether it is a not for profit organization, commercial for profit enterprise or individual.

In cases where the Applicant believe it is not feasible to separate a revenue stream from an enhancement or modification to an existing project, the Applicant should provide an explanation and rationale for why the project itself will serve charitable purposes and be consistent with the objectives of the Competition

Applicants are in the best position to provide an explanation and rationale for why the distribution of the product requires a particular cost structure, and how any revenues should be equitably shared and for how long. Applications will be reviewed in part in terms of how these issues are addressed consistent with the principles and requirements above.

Access To Usage Data
Award winners are encouraged to provide access to usage data to researchers studying award funded projects and their impact.

 

Privacy

Personal information will be collected when you register on the Digital Media and Learning Competition site. Registration requires that you supply your name, email address, home/work address, and professional status. A résumé or curriculum vitae in addition to specific proposal information will be required when completing the application. The information you submit will be used to confirm your eligibility, evaluate your application, and administer the awards. This information will be disclosed to the Competition judges and administrators for purposes of evaluation and selection.

Once registered, applicants may receive periodic communications relating to important Competition deadlines and information. Applicants will have the opportunity to opt-out of receiving such communications.

Additionally, HASTAC, which is administering the Competition, and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, which is supporting the Competition, may send certain communications to applicants relating to the field of digital media and learning. Applicants will have the opportunity to opt-out of receiving this information.

Information collected will not be sold, rented or provided to anyone for commercial or marketing purposes. Any use of the Competition website for commercial purposes is strictly prohibited.

Like all websites and web servers, the Digital Media and Learning Competition web server automatically receives and records information from web browsers, including IP addresses, browser types, referring URLs, session and cookie information, and pages visited on the website. This information will not be used to identify individuals. It will be used to enhance the site and inform decisions about possible future Digital Media and Learning competitions.

By submitting an application, all applicants recognize that they will be required to provide an abstract of their proposal that may be made public on the MacArthur Foundation Knowledge Network, a forum for sharing knowledge about digital media and learning initiatives. Applicants who do not receive awards will not be named or otherwise identified in the context of published abstracts.

Personal information received in connection with the Competition may be released as required by subpoena, law or a court of competent jurisdiction. Personal information may also be disclosed as noted on this website or in the event that an individual's safety or security is at risk or in order to protect the integrity, safety and security of this website.

Changes to the Privacy Policy

HASTAC reserves the right to modify this policy at any time without prior notification to users and registrants of the site. A notice will be posted on the website should significant policy changes take effect.

Disclaimers

The University of California, HASTAC, and the funders supporting this website are not liable for any claim, loss or injury based on errors, omissions, interruptions or other inaccuracies either in this site, or for any claim, loss or injury that results from your use of this site.

Questions

Questions about intellectual property and privacy policies should be submitted via email. Click here for contact information.