The purpose of this Intellectual Property Policy is to provide the necessary protections and incentives to encourage and guide the development of resources, art, and teachings that promote the mission of Northview Church.
Northview Church will own intellectual property work created by its employees within the scope of his or her employment duties, and may use, adapt or alter that material at the church’s discretion.
Employees shall make full and prompt disclosure to Northview of all inventions, discoveries, designs, developments, know-how, concepts, ideas, designs, methods, research, graphics or images, audio or visual works, sermons, sermon messages, books, pamphlets, lectures, teachings, curriculum, videos, podcasts, other works of authorship, and other intellectual property, including works-in-process (collectively “Developments”) whether or not patentable, copyrightable or otherwise legally protected, that are created, made, conceived or reduced to practice by an employee (alone or jointly with others) or under an employee’s direction during the period of their employment. Because all work performed by employees is performed on a “work for hire” basis, all Developments that (a) relate to the mission of Northview; or (b) result from tasks assigned to employees by Northview; or (c) result from the use of premises or personal property (whether tangible or intangible) owned, leased or contracted for by Northview, and all related intellectual property rights in all countries and territories worldwide and under any international conventions (“Intellectual Property Rights”) belong to the Church.
Employees shall execute the appropriate assignment, license, and/or other documents as required from time-to-time to effectively set forth ownership and rights. The absence of any formal agreements or assignments shall not invalidate the applicability of this Policy.
This Policy does not obligate employees to assign to Northview any Development that, in the sole judgment of Northview, reasonably exercised, is developed entirely on an employee’s own time, on his/her own devices or equipment, and does not relate to the Mission of Northview. However, once right of usage (conveyed verbally or in writing) has been granted to the church for use of the work, that right of usage remains permanently in effect. Northview may not extend permission to other users for work owned by an employee or contractor without permission.
Cultural Exporters are individuals who have been designated as such by the Elder Board, with the role and responsibility to advance Northview’s platform beyond the four-walls of the Church. The Executive Leadership Team and the Elder Board shall all be designated Cultural Exporters. This policy shall be modified for Cultural Exporters and the Executive Team subject to the Modification of Intellectual Property Agreement for Cultural Exporters and Executive Leadership Team, APPENDIX 3.
Employees may seek to become a Cultural Exporter by submitting an application pursuant to APPENDIX 1 or APPENDIX 2. This Application must be approved by the Executive Leadership Team and the Elder Board. The denotation for a Cultural Exporter shall be reserved for employees that meet the approved criteria, and their designation as a Cultural Exporter shall be documented in their personnel file along with a signed acknowledgment.
Northview may extend right of usage at-will to any other potential user. Northview Church may elect to waive its rights of ownership on a case-by-case basis, at the church’s discretion. Northview will also own all rights to any intellectual property work created by contractors for the church, unless there is a specific written contract to the contrary.