Every volunteer for the American Red Cross is required to sign on to an agreement that covers things like proper conduct, confidentiality, and includes a requirement for all volunteers to sign over all copyright/trademark/patent rights in any work-related writing, art and inventions come up with during their term, and for a full year afterward. Why the hell does the Red Cross need to own the copyrights in the work-related blog postings you make for a year after you stop spending your free evenings handing out cookies to blood-donors? If you write a novel and include some real-life details gleaned from volunteering in a disaster-relief efforts, does the Red Cross really deserve to take all rights to it?
Disclosure and Ownership of Intellectual Property. I (i) shall
promptly and fully disclose to Red Cross any and all Intellectual
Property, (ii) agree that all Intellectual Property shall be
owned by Red Cross, (iii) agree to and do hereby assign, transfer
and convey to Red Cross the entire right, title and interest in
and to all Intellectual Property, (iv) will execute and deliver
any and all documents, take all actions and render any and all
assistance reasonably requested by Red Cross, during or at any
time after Volunteer Service, to establish Red Cross’ ownership
of, or to enable Red Cross to obtain patents to or register
copyrights of, any Intellectual Property, and (v) acknowledge
that all Intellectual Property that is copyrightable subject
matter and that qualifies as a "work made for hire" shall be
automatically owned by Red Cross. In the event Red Cross is
unable for any reason whatsoever to secure my signature to any
document required to apply for or execute any patent, copyright,
or other applications with respect to Intellectual Property, I
hereby irrevocably appoint Red Cross and its authorized officers
and agents as my agents and attorneys-in-fact to execute and file
any such application and to do all other acts to further the
prosecution and issuance of patents, copyrights, or other rights
with respect to Intellectual Property with the same legal force
and effect as if executed by me. As a reminder, Intellectual
Property shall only include intellectual property created by me
(y) in the course of Volunteer Service or using Red Cross time,
equipment, information or materials, and (z) within one (1) year
after termination of Volunteer Service and relating directly to
work done during Volunteer Service.
(Thanks, Bruce!)
