Q. As a scholar, how can I protect my own intellectual property rights?

We are happy to consult with you with regard to your options. See, for example, “An Intellectual Property Primer for Online Instructors,” http://ocw.uci.edu/courses/course.aspx?id=108.

In the cause of making copyright less cumbersome for everyone, we also recommend you familiarize yourself with Creative Commons and the work they are doing around copyright: http://creativecommons.org/