As a part of POST’s mission of setting selection and training standards for California law enforcement personnel, POST researches, develops, and produces original training and resource materials.  To do this POST utilizes subject matter experts (SMEs) from all disciplines to ensure the most contemporary and accurate information is obtained.

POST was advised by legal counsel that in order to preserve and protect POST-developed materials it is imperative that all subject matter experts be required to sign an Intellectual Property Agreement relinquishing any right of ownership.  This will support POST’s ability to protect the material from inappropriate modification or use, and allow POST to copyright any material.

POST’s Deputy Attorney General developed an agreement that POST will use at all meetings where subject matter experts assist in developing curricula, guidelines, videos, self-paced courses and any other resources designed to be made available to the field.  A copy of the Intellectual Property Agreement is Attachment A. 

Beginning in March 2016, the Intellectual Property Agreement will be sent to the subject matter experts with the invitation packet when they are requested to attend development meetings.  The instructions with the agreement will advise the SMEs that they must be willing to sign this document relinquishing any right to ownership in order to participate in the meetings.

POST staff will collect the signed agreements at the beginning of the first meeting.  The Intellectual Property Agreements will be kept on file in compliance with the state records retention requirements.

POST staff is exploring a method to automate this process in the future.