National Network Snatches Up Arizona Public Media Raptor Documentary
Tucson, AZ – American Public Television(link is external) has licensed a documentary called “Raptors! Kings of the Sky(link is external),” produced by Arizona Public Media(link is external), the University of Arizona’s public media station.
The documentary tells the story of birds of prey and the uncertain future they face. It explores both the birds’ natural habitat as well as their existence in growing urban environments, but also discusses their ability to adapt and thrive in changing environments.
“Licensing our work is important,” says AZPM Chief Communications Officer Romi Carrell Wittman(link is external), “because it allows us to reach, entertain and inform a wider audience.”
According to Wittman, AZPM has created and licensed a number of documentaries, including Level One Trauma(link is external) and Winning By Living(link is external).
Tech Launch Arizona facilitated the “Raptors” license negotiations between AZPM and American Public Television, which introduced the nation to the likes of Julia Child, Fred Rogers, the Three Tenors and Monty Python.
TLA is widely known as the presidential office of the UA that brings inventions stemming from University research to the market to create social and economic impact.
The fact that TLA facilitates copyright licensing may come as a surprise to some, but it is in direct alignment to the office’s responsibilities of protecting and commercializing the University’s intellectual property (IP).
While patents protect inventions and processes, copyright protects original works of authorship, which can range from software to books to songs to works of art.
“When UA faculty and staff create software programs, or content in the form of books, videos, or websites, we’re talking about IP that falls under copyright law,” explains Lewis Humphreys, the TLA licensing manager embedded in the Eller College of Management who focuses on software and information technology. “We help develop, negotiate and execute the license agreements for that IP.”
Along with other AZPM programming, copyright IP that TLA has helped commercialize include: ASEX, the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale developed in the Department of Psychiatry; The Buzz, a game-oriented, interactive alcohol education program, developed by UA Campus Health; Smart Planner, an interactive academic planning tool developed at the UA and now being implemented in other universities; and Scholarship Universe, which the UA has recently made available for licensing.