| 40 cn code of business conduct SAFEGUARDING WHAT’S OURS Intellectual property CN’s intellectual property is a valuable competitive asset and must be protected at all times. For example, the CN logo is a registered trademark that is known throughout North America and beyond. It is a symbol of the products and services we provide to our customers. Our brand is one of our most valuable assets. The same holds true for the various products and bodies of knowledge that CN creates and protects under intellectual property law, such as copyright, patent and industrial design. This includes software programs, applications, publications, documentation, written reports, photographs, creative materials, works of authorships and inventions that employees create to foster innovation in our workplace. Copying, altering or disclosing the Company’s intellectual property to customers or others without permission is prohibited. CN owns the intellectual property that employees, contractors and agents create while working for CN or using CN resources, regardless of whether such intellectual property has been created on CN’s premises or outside of regular work hours. If you create, discover, or develop methods, processes, systems, improvements, designs, ideas, technologies or other patentable inventions, you must promptly disclose them to the CN Law department and maintain accurate records as CN may want to protect them with, for example, patents or industrial designs. You should also do everything that is requested by CN (at the expense and on behalf of CN) in order to obtain, establish, preserve and protect CN’s rights in its intellectual property, including preparing and signing applications and other documents. Finally, you should help to ensure that the intellectual property you create for CN is original and does not infringe on the rights of third parties. Regarding a third party’s intellectual property, you should get written permission from such third party to use its copyrights, patents, industrial designs, trademarks, service marks or other intellectual property. For example, you should not copy or publish intellectual property of others without permission. You should not copy or distribute a third party’s software or related documentation without determining first that you have the right to do so under a licensing or assignment agreement with the third party. Also, ensure that you are not impairing CN’s rights, for example, by incorporating open‑source software with CN developed software. You agree that all such intellectual property is owned by CN and agree to transfer or assign ownership to CN and waive any moral rights to such intellectual property in favour of CN. If you have any questions, contact the CN Law department. |