Copyright Basics
What is Copyright?
Copyright protects the moral and economic rights of the author. It is the legal right to copy, manipulate, perform or communicate a creative work. The copyright owner is usually, but not always, the creator of a work. Copyright can be permanently transferred, or assigned, as in an agreement with a publisher. In Canada, all creative works are entitled to copyright protection for the life of the creator plus 50 years.
As a member of the SPS community you have certain rights and obligations with respect to the works you create and use.
If you have any questions or inquiries regarding copyright, contact your teacher librarian..
- Copyright Basics For Students
- Copyright Basics For Teachers
- Copyright Matters! Some Key Questions & Answers for Teachers - A great handout! An overview of copyright laws for teachers which includes explanations of various copyright issues, and direction for teachers in the classroom relating to copyright laws.
** What the New Copyright Modernization Act Will Mean for Teachers and Students **
In recognition of the potential that technology offers education, the Copyright Modernization Act greatly expands the ability of teachers and students to make use of new digital technologies and of copyrighted materials for the purpose of education and study. Key changes include:
Fair dealing for education: The new bill enables the use of copyrighted materials for the purpose of education, provided the use is “fair” (i.e., it does not harm the market for a work). Publicly available material on the Internet: The new bill allows teachers and students to use publicly available material that has been legitimately posted for free use on the Internet by copyright owners for the purposes of teaching and education. For example, a teacher could make handouts that include an illustration from a website that is freely accessible.
Online learning: The new bill allows schools to transmit lessons that include copyrighted sections over the Internet. For example, this would allow a student in Nunavut to access an online course offered by a university in Alberta.
Digital delivery of course materials: The new bill enables schools to share copyrighted course packs), subject to fair compensation for the copyright holders.
Digital interlibrary loans: The new bill permits libraries to email copyrighted material as part of an interlibrary loan, provided measures are taken to protect further distribution of the material.
Enhancing existing education exceptions: The new bill makes existing education exceptions flexible for use in the future by removing references to specific technologies, such as flip charts and overhead projectors, and by removing the requirement to pay copyright owners to show films or recordings of broadcasts for educational purposes. The bill also creates a new exception allowing educational institutions to record a news program or a news commentary program for later viewing by the students.
The proposed bill builds on the existing Copyright Act to grant a larger range of uses for copyrighted material by teachers, students and schools, as their pursuits promote the broader public good. In light of this contribution, the Copyright Act already recognizes certain uses by educational institutions that are permitted, in many cases, without payment to the copyright holder.
An important aspect of these changes is the addition of education as a purpose under Canada’s fair dealing provisions. Fair dealing permits individuals and businesses to make certain uses of copyrighted material in ways that do not unduly threaten the legitimate interests of copyright owners, but which could have important economic, societal and cultural benefits. Extending this provision to education will reduce administrative and financial costs for users of copyrighted materials that enrich the educational environment.
The Copyright Act must adapt to new and emerging technologies. These changes will enhance the traditional classroom experience and facilitate new models for education outside of the physical classroom. The new bill reinforces and complements the Government of Canada’s significant investments in Internet infrastructure, education and skills development.
April 19, 2012