NSA Intellectual Property Guidelines

Intellectual Property Dos and Taboos Ethical Guidelines for the NSA Convention/Workshop Presenter. We are honored to have you present at an NSA Convention/Workshop. That honor and privilege gives you the opportunity to showcase what you do, how you do it, and why you are considered to be one of the top professionals in NSA. Presenting also carries with it the responsibility to model the highest standards for the members and guests in the NSA audience. Part of that responsibility includes understanding and following the ethical guidelines established by NSA and listed inside this brochure. Part of the privilege of presenting at an NSA Convention/Workshop is the opportunity to teach other speakers the proper professional behavior as they seek to improve their skills. As you prepare and present, please keep in mind the clear ethical guidelines set out in this brochure for our speaking profession.

1. Understand the definition of intellectual property. Intellectual property is broadly defined as the original expression of ideas, as well as symbols and words that represent the products or services of a company or person.
2. Respect the intellectual property of others. Below is a partial list of items considered to be intellectual property: cartoons, speeches, photographs, written material, overheads, signature stories, videos, logos/trademarks, movie/TV clips, drawings, audio-taped artwork, interviews, and other proprietary music materials.
3. Comply with the law and the code of ethics. If you utilize any type of intellectual property that is not your own, get permission from the owner. Either obtain a formal license or obtain written permission to use the material. Please note that in some cases, the creator of the property is not the owner.
4. Share with the audience that you have that permission. Include a simple, brief statement such as, "These photos are used with the permission of...." Sometimes the owner may require you to use a more formal notice, including for example, a copyright notice.
5. If you use handouts that duplicate intellectual property with permission, be sure to add the phrase, "Used with permission of...." Your handouts might also explain that you have permission to use other materials (cartoons, photos, music, etc.) in your presentation. For example: "All of the materials presented in this presentation are either original, licensed or used with permission."
6. Know that NSA has obtained some limited rights to music. NSA has secured certain performance rights for your presentation from leading performing rights organizations. This will allow you to sing or play certain music during your presentation. This allows you to play certain prerecorded music as well. However, if you wish to synchronize your music to another media (sound on slide, video, etc.), then you must obtain a separate synchronization license. This is your responsibility, not that of NSA. In other words, NSA has obtained licenses for you to sing or play a CD of many (but not all) of the latest hit songs. As soon as you play it in conjunction with a slide show, you are breaking the law, unless you have obtained the further necessary permissions yourself.
7. Notify NSA's recording partner, Content Management Corporation, if you intend to use music. Then they can (at their option) either secure a mechanical license to duplicate the music or else they will need to edit out the musical selections from the tape of your program. Because it is unlawful to duplicate intellectual property without permission, you should also help CMC obtain the permissions necessary to fulfill their legal responsibility. In other words, you can sing songs NSA has obtained a license for. Should CMC duplicate/ distribute your performance, however, without a mechanical license, they might be breaking the law. For video-taped programs, the same notification is required for any visual media that would be reproduced, such as photos or cartoons.
8. Tell the audience when you have created or commissioned your own intellectual property. If you have gone to the expense of creating and/or commissioning your own intellectual property, the NSA audience needs to know. You might use a brief phrase such as: "I had these cartoons especially created for my seminars."
9. Remember, as an NSA presenter, you represent the standard of ethical behavior.If you have questions, please contact the NSA meetings staff at (480) 968-2552. Additional Resources: ASCAP: NSA members get 30% discount on music licenses. 800-505-4052 BMI: (212) 586-2000 CMC: (888) 711-1138 National Speakers Association 1500 South Priest Drive Tempe, Arizona 85281 (480) 968-2552 Fax (480) 968-0911 www.nsaspeaker.org