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Academic Exception to the Work For Hire Doctrine

Faculty create many kinds of works that are directly related to their university employment and which might be considered as falling within the employee work for hire category. Although there is no specific provision in the copyright act exempting faculty from the work for hire provision, traditionally universities have not asserted copyright ownership in faculty works, such as journal articles and books.

NC State University also respects this tradition.  For more information on our regulation and implementation, please go to the "The NC State Answer" section.