Dear Editor:

The Information Resources Column, "Images on the Web: Findable, Usable, but What's Legit?", was of particular interest to me as one of the co-authors of the Braden Scale for Predicting Pressure Sore Risk (Copyright, 1988. Barbara Braden and Nancy Bergstrom, All rights reserved). When I am presenting in public forums, participants often tell me they assume that this tool is in the public domain since it appeared in the AHCPR guidelines. The guidelines (AHCPR, 1992) clearly state that "This document (the guideline) is in the public domain and may be used and reprinted without special permission, except to those copyrighted materials noted for which further reproduction is prohibited without the specific permission of copyright holders. "While this tool is used widely in this country, and to some extent in most countries, it is protected by copyright.

One of the advantages of copyright protection is that authors, when granting permission to use the tool, can remind users that they must not change the tool. A tool that has undergone extensive testing can become invalid if local users change the tool. For instance, if the scoring system is changed, it is difficult to compare findings regarding risk across settings.

I am a member of the Institutional Review Board at my institution and have made it a practice to ask for a statement regarding permission to use copyrighted tools. I also carry this practice over when I am reviewing manuscripts for journals as well. The column appearing in OJIN is a good contribution to clarifying our knowledge of appropriate attribution/credit for copyrighted material. It is important that we respect the intellectual property and honor our colleagues by acknowledging authorship and seeking copyright permission. It also happens to be the law! We need to be aware that just because a tool is popular or used a lot, doesn't mean it is in the public domain!

Thanks for this article,

Nancy Bergstrom, PhD, RN, FAAN
Theodore J. and Mary E. Trumble Professor of Aging Research
Associate Director, Center on Aging
University of Texas Health Science Center - Houston
nbergstr@admin4.hsc.uthy.tmc.edu

AHCPR. (1992). Panel of the Prediction and Prevention of Pressure Ulcers in Adults. Pressure Ulcers in Adults Prediction and Prevention, Clinical Practice Guideline, Number 3. AHCPR Publication No.92- 0047. Rockville, MD: Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, Public Health Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. May 1992.

Go to the column.

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