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Corporate Education

right registration should be filed with the Register of knowledge (e.g., software, information technology,
Copyrights in the Copyright Office of the Library of biotechnology) or process knowledge (e.g., telecommuni-
Congress. The application requests the following informa- cations, banking, advertising). In an era where informa-
tion: (1) the name and address of the author of the mate- tion is critical, the emphasis is on speed, flexibility,
rial; (2) in the case of materials other than anonymous of technical expertise, and innovation. These factors drive
pseudonymous work, the name and nationality or domi- business processes and affect the bottom line. Successful
cile of the author or authors and, if one of more of the organizations continually update their knowledge base
authors is deceased, the dates of their deaths; (3) if the and the skills of their workforce to keep pace with the
work is anonymous or pseudonymous, the nationality or changing demands of the global marketplace and the tech-
domicile of the author or authors; (4) in the case of mate- nological advances that provide a competitive advantage.
rial made for hire, a statement to that effect; (5) if the A corporation’s future is determined in part by its
copyright claimant is not the author, a brief statement of involvement in the development of its intellectual
how the claimant obtained ownership of the copyright; resources. Enterprises are expanding the education and
(6) the title of the work, together with any previous or training segments of their business activities. Chief execu-
alternative titles under which the material may be identi- tive officers (CEOs) realize that without this effort, they
fied; (7) the year in which creation of the work was com- will lose their edge in the highly competitive global econ-
pleted; (8) if the work has been published, the date and omy. Continuing education is vital to the future success of
nation of its first publication; (9) in the case of a compi- any organization, but it is of equal or greater importance
lation or derivative material, an identification of any pre- that employees remain adaptable and agile learners, able
existing material(s) that it is based upon, and a brief, to profit personally and professionally from opportunities
general statement of the additional materials covered by generated by the global economy. Investing in the right
the copyright claim being registered; and (10) in the case course of study for the right people at the right time con-
of published documents containing materials manufac- tinues to be a challenge for businesses as they plan and
tured in the United States, the names of the individuals or prepare for the future.
organizations who performed the manufacturing process Corporate restructuring and technological advances
and the location where the manufacturing process was give employees broader responsibilities that require more
performed. Simply, an author of an original work must skills and training for self-managed, cross-functional
file the required information and form to register the teams. In the past, frontline staff would communicate
copyright with the Register of Copyrights in the Copy- with middle management who made decisions and solved
right Office of the Library of Congress. The appropriate problems. Today, middle management is disappearing.
fee must accompany the form to register the copyright. In Frontline workers are expected to process information,
addition, the Copyright Office of the Library of Congress make decisions, and solve problems as they occur. Entry-
has been charged with overseeing the copyright process level workers are required to be skilled, knowledgeable,
and reviewing any reported violations. While this office and adaptable. If they do not have these skills when they
has the major responsibility for adjudicating any alleged are hired, the company must provide the education neces-
copyright violations, the U.S. Supreme Court and the sary for these employees to be successful.
U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals have both rendered deci-
sions affecting copyrights. TYPES OF CORPORATE
EDUCATION
BIBLIOGRAPHY Typically, four types of corporate education are used to
United States Copyright Office, http://www.copyright.gov/ enhance employees’ knowledge and skills. These include
accessed January 31, 2006. independent study, apprenticeships and on-the-job train-
ing, traditional classroom instruction, and unconven-
tional training programs.
Randy L. Joyner
Independent Study. Independent study is a growing trend
in corporate education. Interactive Web-based training
CORPORATE allows participants to acquire new skills without leaving
their desks. This reduces time and travel costs compared
EDUCATION with traditional classroom training. Employees are given
In corporate America the acquisition and dissemination of the flexibility to learn at their convenience, at their own
knowledge is at the core of most business, industry, and pace, and from almost any location. This method is ben-
government entities. These organizations either provide eficial for those who lack the time to attend regularly

158 ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BUSINESS AND FINANCE, SECOND EDITION