My top 3 academic (and 1 personal) takeaways from the Melanie Wrobel collaborate session are:

  • Satisfying every side of the copyright issue is impossible. Copyright is, by nature, a system of compromises. It will be valuable to remember this as we proceed, as we will surely see frustration at times with the way it is structured (or not!).
  • When in doubt: Ask! As I (and I’m sure a few of my cohort) tread into this academic area for the first time, it will be valuable to seek advice early and often. It would be a shame to build a lengthy section of a work, only to find that the foundational reference cannot be used due to the copyright that exists on it.
  • As I listened to this for the first time, I smugly decided that I would avoid the entire issue by only using images, graphics, and research I have created myself. This would be impossible, so I am charged with respecting the domain as I continue in this program, and beyond.

Leaving the academic domain, what really impressed me, as a person who seeks to innovate professionally, was the notion that Ideas are not protected but expressed ideas are. As a result, it behooves anyone who has compelling ideas to express them appropriately to ensure the ideas, their use, and any potential compensation, remain under your control.