With campuses remaining in an emergency context this Spring in response to COVID-19, many faculty members are teaching online, “virtually,” or though self-directed study. Taking on this work may not always be possible, but when it is, some faculty are concerned about their intellectual property rights as we share our work electronically and in online, electronic platforms. 

Article 39 of our Collective Bargaining Agreement covers faculty intellectual property rights. The article assures that faculty retain the rights to materials they create, as long as there is no “extraordinary University support” in creating those materials.

Article 39.3 further stipulates that: “…Unless there is a separate agreement to the contrary, consistent with this Article, neither the CSU nor third party providers are entitled to grant licenses or make assignments with respect to such materials to publishers and publishing agents, or any third party.”

We urge you to be in touch with your faculty rights chairs and CFA field staff representatives if you have any questions or concerns about your rights under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, especially as pandemic-era conditions continue to unfold in our communities and on our campuses.

Want to learn more? Become active with your local CFA chapter Faculty Rights team. Find your representative here.

  • Browse the faculty contract.
  • See an archive of Faculty Rights Tips.
  • If you have questions about a faculty rights tip or would like to suggest a tip, please write us with the subject line “Faculty Rights Tip.”
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