Intellectual Property Policy

Purpose

We believe it is good and necessary to foster a culture of innovation and development among all those who pursue the mission of God through The Austin Stone together, and we are blessed with staff and other leaders who are highly capable in this regard.


We are convicted that, as servants of the church, our efforts should be focused first on serving the local body of Christ. But out of an overflow of that, we also want to serve the broader church and the world by sharing what God has given us as we lead the people of The Austin Stone.


To foster this, we openly propose to share the benefit of market-valued intellectual property with those who create it. In sharing these benefits, we also must steward both the resources and the opportunities of God’s provision in such a way that is aligned with strategic and missional priorities, above reproach in avoiding undue private benefit from the contribution of church resources, and that is in compliance with laws and nonprofit organizational regulations. 


Additionally, because ownership of and benefit from intellectual property created by individuals engaged in pastoral ministry is somewhat ambiguous under U.S. law, it is often beneficial for this ownership and the resultant financial benefit to be specified formally.

Policy

Therefore, the Intellectual Property (IP) Policy exists to help determine and set forth the appropriate declarations of ownership and resultant financial benefit. This policy provides a structure and process for engaging the prospective creator of potentially income-generating IP to evaluate the project along key criteria for assigning ownership, cooperation, and allocation of due recompense or benefit for the project.

Process

Decisions and approval will follow the IP determination process between you and the appropriate IP Team. The following is a high-level summary. The full policy and other supporting documents detail the entire process and decision-making guidance. 


Step 1. Consider with your Division Head

If you are considering an opportunity to create potentially income-generating IP, discuss this with your Division Head about the nature of the project and whether it might be considered strategic or non-strategic. 

  • A Strategic IP project is one that has income-generating potential and is directly advancing the platform, mission goals, or priorities of the Austin Stone that are strategically important for the individual to engage in, on behalf of the church at the time.
  • A Non-strategic IP Project is one a project that has income-generating potential but, after review by a supervisor and the IP team, is determined to not be directly advancing the platform, mission goals, or priorities of the Austin Stone that are strategically important for the individual to engage in, on behalf of the church at the time.

Step 2: Propose to Executive Team through your Division Head

Work with your Division Head to complete the IP intake form to begin the process of convening an IP team and working with you to arrive at the appropriate determinations and agreements for your project.


Step 3: Final Approval by IP Team

The IP Team will convene to work with the individual through the key determinations.

  1. Determine if the proposed project meets criteria to be STRATEGIC.
  2. Determine who the ORIGINATOR is (IP Owner).
  3. Determine who the PUBLISHER is.

Based on the outcome of these determinations, the IP team will then approve the project as such, and draft the appropriate IP agreement.