2-14.2 Defining Data Rights and Intellectual Property

Data rights can be:

  • Unlimited — possess right to use, disclose, reproduce, prepare derivative works, distribute copies to the public, and perform and display publicly, in any manner and for any purpose, and to have or permit others to do so.
  • Limited — technical data developed at private expense; license rights restrict use or disclosure by the Postal Service.
  • Restricted — computer or licensed software developed at private expense if the Postal Service chooses not to pay for title. License rights restrict disclosure by the Postal Service; however, may be copied to transfer computer; copied or transferred for archiving backup; may be modified, adapted, or combined with other computer software (new software then subject to restricted right limitations), disclosed to support services suppliers to prepare modifications (must agree not to disclose to others), and may be transferred to a replacement computer.

Other intellectual property includes:

  • Copyright — an entity has exclusive rights to reproduce, publish, or sell its original work or authorship (e.g., scripts are protected by copyrights).
  • Patent — available for the invention or discovery of any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement of them (e.g., a product is protected by a patent).
  • Trademark — a name, symbol, or other device identifying a product, officially registered, and legally restricted to the use of the owner or manufacturer (e.g., protects the name of a company).
  • Trade secret — any formula, pattern, device, or compilation of information that is used in a business and that gives it an opportunity to obtain an advantage over competitors who do not know or use it (e.g., protects the Coca-Cola syrup formula).