OAR 291-119-0005: Authority, Purpose and Policy

(1) Authority: The authority for this rule is granted to the Director of the Department of Corrections in accordance with ORS 147.275, 179.040, 421.095, 423.020, 423.030 and 423.075. (2) Purpose: To support and encourage inmate efforts to patent, copyright, publish, exhibit and sell products which are constructive and contribute positively to the quality of life. Other efforts by the inmate which involve profit from criminal activity will neither be supported nor encouraged. (3) Policy: In accordance with ORS 421.095, the Department of Corrections shall facilitate, if requested to do so, and in no way inhibit, if assistance is not requested, an inmate’s efforts to patent, copyright, publish, exhibit, sell, or otherwise dispose of his/her invention(s), manuscript(s), and/or composition(s) or any rights thereto. An inmate’s activities toward the development of an invention, manuscript, and/or composition will be controlled by other Department of Corrections rules or procedures governing the security and control of a Department of Corrections facility. No employee of the Department of Corrections may profit or benefit in any way from the development and/or the patenting, copyrighting, publishing, exhibiting, sale, or other disposition of an inmate’s invention(s), manuscript(s), and/or composition(s).