Intellectual Property and Copyright Policy

1. Purpose

This policy sets out American Professional School’s (APS) approach to intellectual property and copyright in connection with its competency-based education (CBE) professional credential programs. It addresses ownership of APS materials, the proper use of third-party content, and protections against plagiarism or unauthorized use.

The policy supports the integrity of APS programs (including the Professional, Master, and Executive pathways) and aligns with expectations for professional learning providers regarding intellectual property.

2. Scope

This policy applies to all learning materials, competency demonstration tasks, program content, website materials, and related resources created or used by APS. It also applies to evidence and work submitted by learners, and to the conduct of APS staff, contractors, and learners with respect to intellectual property.

3. Ownership of APS Materials

APS owns (or holds appropriate licenses for) the intellectual property in the learning materials, program structures, competency demonstration tools, competency frameworks, guidance documents, and other content it develops for its credential programs, unless otherwise agreed in writing.

Learners are granted a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and use APS materials solely for the purpose of participating in the enrolled program and demonstrating competency. This right does not include permission to copy, distribute, modify, publish, or commercially exploit APS materials.

4. Use of Third-Party Content

Where APS incorporates third-party content (text, images, data, frameworks, or other materials) into its programs:

  • The content is used under an appropriate license, permission, or applicable exception
  • Sources are properly referenced or attributed
  • Use remains within the scope of the permission or license obtained

APS does not knowingly include unlicensed or improperly attributed third-party material in its learning resources.

5. Learner Submissions

Learners retain ownership of the original work and evidence they create and submit for competency demonstration, subject to the following:

  • By submitting evidence, learners grant APS a limited license to use, store, and review the submission for the purposes of competency demonstration, credentialing, quality assurance, and record-keeping
  • Learners are responsible for ensuring that their submissions do not infringe the intellectual property rights of others
  • Learners must properly acknowledge any third-party sources, tools, or materials used in their work, in accordance with program guidance

APS does not claim ownership of learners’ original professional work products beyond the limited license described above.

6. Academic Integrity and Unauthorized Use

The following are prohibited:

  • Plagiarism or presentation of another party’s work as one’s own without proper acknowledgment
  • Unauthorized copying, distribution, or sharing of APS learning materials or competency demonstration content
  • Use of APS materials for purposes outside the enrolled program without prior written permission
  • Submission of work that infringes third-party intellectual property rights

Suspected breaches are addressed under the Competency Demonstration, Appeals, and Academic Integrity Policy. Confirmed unauthorized use or infringement may result in disallowance of evidence, required resubmission, or other appropriate action, and may include further steps to protect APS intellectual property.

7. Responsibilities

  • Operations Manager: Oversees compliance with this policy, including review of materials for proper licensing and attribution, and handling of any intellectual property concerns.
  • Staff and contractors involved in content development: Ensure third-party content is properly licensed or attributed and that APS materials are protected.
  • Learners: Use APS materials only as permitted, submit authentic work, and properly acknowledge sources. Report any suspected unauthorized use of APS materials.

8. Reporting Concerns

Concerns about possible infringement of APS intellectual property, or about improper use of third-party content within APS programs, should be directed to the Operations Manager or the designated contact. Such reports will be reviewed promptly.

9. Records

Records related to licenses, permissions, and any intellectual property issues are retained in accordance with the Record-Keeping and Retention Policy.

10. Review of This Policy

This policy is reviewed at least annually by the Operations Manager to ensure it remains effective and aligned with APS operations and applicable intellectual property expectations for professional learning providers. Updates are version-controlled and communicated to relevant staff.