Intellectual Property Rights

Recordings and live online broadcasts of the Neufeld Institute and Neufeld Institut CZ/SK, including courses, webinars, study groups, and conferences, are intended only for paying individuals who register individually, are the intellectual property of the Neufeld Institute, and are protected by copyright law. Forwarding, reproduction and/or distribution in whole or in part without prior written consent is prohibited. This includes presentation slides, quotations, and screenshots from the course.

If you want to watch a course as a group, each person in the group should pay the full fee, unless the group has received a group discount.

You may share purchased material within your nuclear family – with other caregivers of your children who share a common household with you.

If you have any doubts about the use and sharing of our materials, please write to us at info@neufeldinstitut.cz

If you like the materials you receive from us and want to share them:

1. Gordon Neufeld’s courses may be taught only by trained facilitators with the permission of the campus responsible for the specific language.
   
   
2. If you are not a facilitator, you may spread the knowledge through a blog or in another unofficial and unpaid way, while clearly stating your relationship to the Institute and the source of your knowledge of the theory. Please refer your audience to the official Neufeld Institute campuses, where they can find more information and official courses.
   
   
3. You can help us spread the theory in the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic by becoming our volunteer. We need help in many areas, such as administration, translations, marketing, and so on.
   
   
4. If you are interested in becoming an official instructor of Neufeld Institute courses, the minimum requirement is completion of the following courses: Intensive I, Intensive II, Intensive III, Science of Emotion, and Play101. You will also need explicit permission to teach from the head of the relevant campus, depending on the language you use and the location of your sphere of influence.
   
   
5. For more information and details, please read the extension of this document effective from 16 January 2026, which you will find below.
   
   

A person or organization that violates these terms will permanently lose access to Neufeld Institute materials in both the Czech and Canadian campuses.

FRAMEWORK FOR PUBLIC SHARING

OF THE ATTACHMENT-BASED DEVELOPMENTAL THEORY (Gordon Neufeld’s Theory)

IN THE CZECH AND SLOVAK LANGUAGES

Effective date: 16 January 2026

1. Purpose of the document

This document defines clear rules and boundaries under which it is possible, in the Czech and Slovak language, to publicly mention or draw inspiration from the work of Gordon Neufeld without misinterpretation, oversimplification, or unauthorized teaching.

These rules apply to all persons who do not have official authorization from the Neufeld Institute and Neufeld Institut CZ/SK to interpret or teach this approach, including persons who are students of the Neufeld Institute or Neufeld Institut CZ/SK or participate in their educational programs.

The aim is to:

• protect the intellectual property of Dr. Gordon Neufeld, the Neufeld Institute, and Neufeld Institut CZ/SK,
  
  
• protect the structure, integrity, quality, and clarity of the approach,
  
  
• prevent confusion in the public sphere,
  
  
• clearly separate personal reflection from interpretation of the theory.
  
  

2. Protection of copyright and intellectual property

Materials of the Neufeld Institute and Neufeld Institut CZ/SK, including (but not limited to) texts, study materials, presentations, videos, audio recordings, infographics, diagrams, models, course structure, and educational content, are protected by legal regulations on copyright and intellectual property protection, including relevant international conventions.

Without the express written authorization of the Neufeld Institute or Neufeld Institut CZ/SK, it is not permitted to:

• copy,
  
  
• translate,
  
  
• paraphrase,
  
  
• publicly share or make available,
  
  
• or use them as a basis or source of inspiration for one’s own public creation
  
   (e.g. courses, lectures, publications, methodologies, books, online content).
  
  

This restriction applies regardless of the form of use, regardless of naming the author, and regardless of the person’s study status, including persons who are students or participants in the educational programs of the Neufeld Institute and Neufeld Institut CZ/SK.

Only the use of materials for personal study purposes is permitted, in accordance with the conditions of the Neufeld Institute and Neufeld Institut CZ/SK.

3. Definition of role

Public dissemination, interpretation, and teaching of Gordon Neufeld’s theory is restricted exclusively to official facilitators of the Neufeld Institute and Neufeld Institut CZ/SK (Czech and Slovak language) who have valid authorization to do so.

Persons without this authorization – including students of the Neufeld Institute and/or Neufeld Institut CZ/SK – are not entitled to publicly interpret or teach the theory.

The role must be clearly stated. If a person has not obtained authorization as a facilitator, but studies at the Neufeld Institute or Neufeld Institut CZ/SK in one of its courses, their role is student.

This role does not allow:

• teaching the theory,
  
  
• explaining the theory,
  
  
• interpreting terms,
  
  
• representing the approach.
  
  

4. What is ALLOWED to share (YES)

4.1 Personal reflection (first person only)

It is possible to share:

• one’s own experience,
  
  
• one’s own learning process,
  
  
• changes in one’s own behavior or experience,
  
  
• questions that arose within the study of Neufeld’s theory.
  
  

Examples (acceptable):

• “For me it was important to slow down.”
  
  
• “I notice that the pressure at our place increased resistance.”
  
  
• “I am learning to pay more attention to the relationship.”
  
  
• “I am in process and I am looking for how to find my leadership as a parent.”
  
  

Essential rule:

– First person only (“I”, “for me”, “in our home”).

4.2 Description of the situation, not explanation of causes

It is possible to talk about what has changed, but not to explain why it works based on Neufeld’s theory.

Example (acceptable):

“In our home there is more calm and cooperation.”

5. What is NOT ALLOWED to share – without exceptions

5.1 Interpretation and teaching of the theory

It is not permitted to:

• explain developmental principles and terms used by Gordon Neufeld,
  
  
• describe the causes of children’s behavior based on his theory,
  
  
• create guides, educational frameworks, and “how to” instructions.
  
  

Examples (not acceptable):

• “Children behave this way because…”
  
  
• “Now I will explain how attachment works…”
  
  
• “The alpha role of the parent means…”
  
  
• “Peer orientation arises when…”
  
  
• “3 reasons why rewards don’t work…”
  
  
• “When you do X, the child will do Y…”
  
  

5.2 Disclaimers

Sentences such as:

• “I am not an expert”
  
  
• “I am just a student”
  
   do not entitle a person to explain the theory.
  
  

If interpretation follows the disclaimer, it is misleading.

5.3 Translations and paraphrases

It is not permitted to:

• translate Neufeld Institute materials into Czech and Slovak,
  
  
• paraphrase the theory “in your own words”,
  
  
• write summaries or definitions of terms.
  
  

Key principle:

Form is not important. Content is.

5.4 Anonymous dissemination of the theory

It is not permitted to:

• disseminate Gordon Neufeld’s theory without stating the author,
  
  
• present it as “general principles”,
  
  
• use Gordon Neufeld’s terms and concepts,
  
  
• present all of this as one’s own perspective or one’s own idea.
  
  

Gordon Neufeld’s theory remains his theory even without the author’s name.

5.5 Official content of the Neufeld Institute and Neufeld Institut CZ/SK

It is not permitted to:

• reuse reels, videos, texts, or graphics,
  
  
• translate them, subtitle them, dub them,
  
  
• add one’s own interpretation or explanation in a comment,
  
  
• republish them,
  
  
• use them as a basis for one’s own educational content.
  
  

It is permitted to:

• share from the original source,
  
  
• comment in the form of reflection (“This sentence reminded me…”, “I saw this recently…”, “When I hear this, I tell myself that…”, “This topic seems important to me.”) without interpretation or explanation of the theory.
  
  

5.6 Graphics and schemes

It is not permitted to:

• reuse official graphics,
  
  
• redraw them into an “own version”,
  
  
• create alternative diagrams, maps, circles, hierarchies.
  
  

Graphics are not illustrations – they are part of the theory.

Their modification changes their meaning.

5.7 Books and other publications

It is not permitted to:

• write books, e-books, methodologies, workbooks, or other publications based on the materials, content, concepts, or structure of the Neufeld Institute or Neufeld Institut CZ/SK,
  
  
• base publications on internal or study materials of the Neufeld Institute or Neufeld Institut CZ/SK,
  
  
• or use these materials as an inspirational or content basis for one’s own original work intended for the public.
  
  

This restriction applies regardless of naming the author and regardless of the form of publication.

The only exception is the quotation of short excerpts used exclusively in a professional publication or professional context (criticism, review, analysis) with proper citation of the source; this exception does not apply to content on social media or to popularizing formats.

5.8 Circumventing the framework

It is not permitted to circumvent this framework by having the theory be:

• presented in fragments,
  
  
• spread across multiple posts,
  
  
• conveyed “between the lines”,
  
  
• or described as a “personal approach” if it in fact draws from Gordon Neufeld’s theory.
  
  

What matters is not the author’s intention, but the impact on public understanding.

6. Scope of validity of the rules

This framework applies to:

• social media,
  
  
• websites,
  
  
• podcasts,
  
  
• interviews,
  
  
• public discussions,
  
  
• live lectures,
  
  
• workshops,
  
  
• online and offline events.
  
  

Once the content is public, the same rules apply.

7. Hierarchy and structure for the Czech and Slovak language program

In Czech and Slovak, any public dissemination of attachment-based developmental theory (Gordon Neufeld’s theory) is possible only through Neufeld Institut CZ/SK, an organization equipped with the knowledge needed to disseminate the theory competently and as close as possible to the original wording (the directors of the language programs undergo an internship at the Neufeld Institute and are taught personally by Gordon Neufeld).

Without this structure, confusion arises and incorrect interpretation and transmission of the theory may occur.

Possible further steps

If you currently have the role of student, these paths are possible:

1. Continuing in personal reflections
   
   

• without interpretation of the theory,
  
  
• in accordance with this framework,
  
  
• without teaching, translating, and paraphrasing.
  
  

2. Entering the educational path
   
   

• continue studying and complete the facilitator preparation program,
  
  
• respect the hierarchy and structure of the Neufeld Institute as well as the setup within the Czech and Slovak language program (dissemination and interpretation in Czech and Slovak is coordinated through the leadership of Neufeld Institut CZ/SK),
  
  
• until the process is completed, share only personal reflections (without teaching, without translating/paraphrasing, without taking over or redrawing materials),
  
  
• only after fulfilling the conditions and agreement is it possible to interpret the theory within a clearly defined framework.
  
  

3. Volunteering for Neufeld Institut CZ/SK (translations, graphics, etc.)
   
   

• you can help with translations for the Neufeld Institute, which will then be used for the purposes of Neufeld Institut CZ/SK.
  
  
• the opportunity to help disseminate the theory in the Czech and Slovak language.
  
  
• content review by existing facilitators (it helps integrate the material, catch mistakes, and improve the understanding of the theory).
  
  

4. Following your own path without cooperation with the Neufeld Institute and Neufeld Institut CZ/SK (practical use of the theory yes, teaching/interpretation no)
   
    In such a case, it is possible to use principles and inspiration from Gordon Neufeld’s work in one’s own practice (in the family, personal life, professional practice) – i.e. to “live it”, apply it in everyday life, and rely on it in one’s decisions.
   
   

However, it is not possible to publicly teach or interpret the theory:

• do not explain terms and concepts,
  
  
• do not create educational content “how it works / why it works”,
  
  
• do not disseminate the theory (with or without the author’s name) as guides or a framework for the public.
  
  

If this option is chosen, paragraphs 2 to 7 of the given document remain in force.

If you are not sure whether you are doing it correctly, or if you have any questions and ideas, write to us at info@neufeldinstitut.cz and we will be happy to advise. If you want to disseminate Gordon Neufeld’s theory in languages other than Czech and Slovak, please contact the Neufeld Institute in Canada:

https://www.neufeldinstitute.org/about/contact-us

(Illustrative image – photo by MYKOLA OSMACHKO via Pexels)