Employee Work Product

An employee "Work Product" is subject matter developed (in whole or in part) by an employee of the Cooperative, as part of his/her responsibilities, which pertains to Cooperative business, whether or not produced during regular working hours or by using the Cooperative's facilities. Such Work Product may include, for example, ideas, concepts, inventions, computer software, writings, art works and copyrightable or patentable materials in any format.

The employee will promptly make the Work Product available to the Cooperative. All such Work Product shall be owned by the Cooperative. In this regard, the employee shall, upon request and without additional compensation (except by mutual agreement with the Cooperative) execute any documents necessary to protect or perfect the Cooperative?s right in the work product. Any decision to file formal applications for proprietary rights protections shall be solely within the discretion of the Cooperative. The Cooperative will pay any related expenses, and the employee shall fully cooperate with respect to the filing of such applications, including execution of any necessary documents.

Upon termination of employment for any reason, the employee shall ensure that the Cooperative has copies of any and all materials related to the Work Product sufficient for the Cooperative to continue use of the Work Product.

Policy No.  180  Issued  10/1/2002  Applicable  8/8/2002