To preserve its core mission, however, the University must respond to the changes in information technology that might alter the landscape of higher education. At the same time, changes in information technology are so rapid that we can address only some of the relevant principles. We must frankly recognize the need for ongoing review. Nevertheless, there is a set of basic principles that we can adopt. Neither new information technologies nor rules and procedures designed to accommodate them should interfere in any way with the ability of faculty members to pursue their research and freely present their ideas to their colleagues, their students, and the world at large.
Faculty currently enjoy royalties on their texts, whether disseminated in print or electronically.
This should not change. As a general matter, however, the University should own the intellectual property created under its auspices or with its resources. The University should not assert this interest in the case of a faculty member's noncommercial use of new information technologies or in the case of the commercial use of such technologies until the revenues generated are substantial. The University has an interest in how its name is used. Individual faculty cannot alone decide whether a program should be sponsored by the University.