The eLearning Center for Gatlin Education Services

Overview

You've no doubt seen them many times. Those little © symbols at the bottom of the page in books, magazines and even on websites. But, have you ever thought about whether your engineering drawings can be copyrighted? What about your designs? If so, do you have to do anything to obtain a copyright? And just what kind of protection can you get by obtaining a copyright? Can another engineer copy your work if you don't obtain copyright protection?

In this course, you will learn about the copyrightable aspects of engineering drawings, plans and designs. You will learn what you can and cannot copyright. You will learn why copyright protection is desirable, as well as how to go about doing it. And you will learn about the respective rights of the design engineer and the client in the work product.

The student must take a multiple-choice quiz consisting of fifteen (15) questions at the end of this course to obtain PDH credits.

This course cannot be taken to fulfill your continuing education requirements in the state of New York since the course does not fall under the category of "Areas of Practice" or "Law/Ethics".

Specific Knowledge or Skill Attained

This course teaches the following specific knowledge and skills:

  · How to identify copyrightable aspects of building plans and buildings
  · The respective rights of client and design engineer in the work product
  · How to transfer copyright properly
  · How to protect copyright properly
  · Identify when a copyright is created in an engineer's work product
  · How long a copyright lasts
  · How and why to give proper copyright notice
  · Foreign copyright protection
  · How to register a copyright in engineering drawings and plans
  · How to register copyright in an architectural work
  · Derivative works and a copyright owner's rights in such works
  · What "fair use" means
  · Implications of copyright ownership
  · Things to consider and include in professional engineering service contracts
  · What "works for hire" are and their copyright ownership implications

State Board Acceptance

This course can be used by professional engineers to fulfill PDH requirements mandated by state and provincial licensing boards. Decatur Professional Development is an approved provider of continuing education in all states that pre-approve course providers. In all other states that mandate continuing education for engineers, it is the individual engineer's responsibility to determine the suitability of activities for PDH credit. The state boards typically accept online* courses that cover technical, managerial** or ethical content and which are relevant to the practice of engineering. The course must have a clear purpose or objective with a content that will maintain, improve or expand the skills and knowledge of the licensee's field of practice. For questions about your mandatory PDH requirements, visit the website of your state licensing board.

This course cannot be taken to fulfill your continuing education requirements in the state of New York since the course does not fall under the category of "Areas of Practice" or "Law/Ethics".

*Online courses are accepted by all state licensing boards that mandate continuing education. Other than New York (which limits online courses to 18 PDH) and Iowa (which limits online courses to 6 PDH), there are no limits placed by other states on the number of hours that can be earned through online continuing education. Consult with your state licensing board if you have any questions about the acceptability of online courses.

**The New York State Board of Engineers does not accept general office management courses, but will accept project management courses that are offered by an approved provider and that are technical in nature and contribute to the engineer's professional practice.