FIS’ intellectual property (“IP”) rights are among our most valuable assets. Unauthorized use or disclosure can lead to their loss or serious loss of value. Consistent with FIS’ Core Values, all colleagues are entrusted to become stewards of protecting the Company’s valuable information. This means following the policies and procedures in place regarding FIS’ IP.
IP is often intangible. We must ensure that we take the utmost care in protecting and securing our Company’s IP, which includes identifying and safeguarding that information.
Recognize IP.
Be able to identify the Company’s actual or potential IP, keeping common examples in mind, so that you can protect it accordingly.
Common examples of IP include:
- - Inventions
- - Improvements
- - Ideas
- - Information
- - Data
- - Software
- - Models and programs, together with the related materials
- - Documentation
- - Patents
- - Trademarks
- - Trade secrets
- - Know-how
- - Copyrights and all other related rights
Keep IP safe and secure.
We protect our IP by:
- Notifying our Chief IP Counsel or the Ethics Office about:
- - The existence and development of IP assets
- - Any potential infringement or misuse of IP assets
- Preventing unauthorized use and disclosure, including by never transferring it to a personal account or any other third-party account.
- Using IP properly, including in licensing and other transactions.
- Immediately requesting a clearance search from our Chief IP Counsel or the Ethics Office when creating or using a new brand name for a product or service to be certain that the name is not subject to the trademark rights of a third party.
- Contacting our Chief IP Counsel or Ethics Office for assistance before creating a new invention, system, or process, when we know of an existing third-party IP right in the subject area of the invention.
- Helping to protect the intellectual property of others as if they were our own.
Understand IP rights.
Keep in mind that FIS will normally be the exclusive owner of all rights in IP developed by colleagues and contractors in the course of their employment or service with the Company when it is related to our business. This is true whether or not the colleagues or contractors make the developments during working hours, on Company premises, or using Company material or resources. In addition, colleagues must respect third parties’ IP rights.
Common examples of IP include:
- - Inventions
- - Improvements
- - Ideas
- - Information
- - Data
- - Software
- - Models and programs, together with the related materials
- - Documentation
- - Patents
- - Trademarks
- - Trade secrets
- - Know-how
- - Copyrights and all other related rights
Our Core Values In Action
Q: Another colleague in my department has a software application that I need to perform my work. There is a freeze on all asset purchases, so can I just copy the software application and then buy it when the freeze is lifted?
A: No. Unauthorized copying of software is not permitted.