Copyright theft

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to help educate and advise the learning and development (L&D) or training community about the common and statute laws they must follow when selling, storing and publishing and delivering their training material.Design/methodology/approachThe paper has been assembled by desk top research reviewing current statute legislation and Regulations that are enforceable within the UK. In addition key authors of popular HR models have been contacted for their views and opinions as to how they want to retain and protect their intellectual property rights. In addition legal experts who specialize in the litigation of cases involving copyright theft, intellectual property storage and the “passing of material”.FindingsThe findings conclude L&D Training Managers do not fully understand their liability and responsibility for complying with Copyright Legislation. Blatant “passing off” plagiarised training material as their own is commonplace. Course hand books sold commerically that include reproduced models without the original author's permission, no bibliography or list of references appear to be quite commonplace. In addition these training companies believe they can electronically store these models on their intranet and then call it their own intellectual property.Originality/valueThis paper has brought several key authors together to review the problem and to take more assertive action. It has helped HR directors and chief executives realize that their training departments could be exposing their share holders to undesirable litigation. For commercial training companies it has raised the fact that ignorance of copyright law is no defense and it is only a matter of time before these transgressors are caught and prosecuted.