The architect’s ability to restrict the right of others to use the drawings and specifications and other intellectual property created by the architect is one of the most powerful tools the architect has. This workshop describes the various ways in which the Copyright Act, common law principles, and contract provisions empower the architect to protect his or her work product from unauthorized use, misuse, and use without payment.
    Learning objectives:

• Review the basic principles of copyright law and contract-based control and transfer of intellectual property interests
• Discuss the conduct that constitutes infringement of intellectual property and infringement by them of the intellectual property of others and how to prevent such violations
• Explain how the Copyright Act and the intellectual property protections found in AIA Contract Documents can be used as a tool to guard against unauthorized and improper use of documents and failures by clients to pay for services