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Appropriate use of materials protected by copyright require compliance with both law and license agreements into which the U of S has entered. In Canada, rights of creators and allowable uses of copyright material are outlined in The Copyright Act. The University hold a number of licenses for copyright material which allow faculty, staff, and students to use a variety of materials that are protected by copyright here on campus.
If you have any questions about copyright law or about the licenses that the U of S holds, contact the Copyright Coordinator.
In Canada, allowable uses of copyright materials, rights of creators, and limitations on those rights are outlined in The Copyright Act on the federal government's website. The University of Saskatchewan's policy on the Use of Materials Protected by Copyright was created with this legislation in mind and helps University community members interpret the Act in the context of an educational institution.
At the University of Saskatchewan, we are mindful of the principles that guide our use of copyrighted works. We respect the rights of copyright holders and their legitimate assertions of rights. We recognize, however, that students, professors, lecturers, and staff all require access to materials protected by copyright to meet their educational and instructional goals. We advocate responsible and respectful use of copyright materials. All members of the university community have the responsibility to act responsibly in the use of such materials.
When using materials protected by copyright, it is important to remember some important distinctions.
There is a difference between material that is publically accessible and material that is in the public domain. Works are in the public domain once their copyright term has expired. In Canada, works are protected by copyright for the life of the creator plus 50 year after his or her death. Since material has entered the public domain may be used without royalties, publishers are able to create a new work (such as a new edition of a novel with original material added). For this reason, most works, whether printed or in electronic form, are protected by copyright. Publically accessible material, such as material found on the internet, is protected by the copyright legislation.
In the Copyright Act, under the exceptions for educational institutions, there is a distinction made between showing materials protected by copyright and sharing or distributing materials protected by copyright. This means that while it is permissible for an instructor to show copyright material to their students in class for educational purposes, it is not permissible for them to then distribute that material in the form of an email or handout.
One must also keep in mind the important distinction between owning a copy of a work and holding the copyright in a work. If you have a copy of a work you must still seek permission of the copyright holder to copy, change, alter, or translate the work. If you do not hold the copyright in the work, someone else probably does, so you must seek their permission to do any of those actions listed above.
While we're talking about distinctions, it is important that remember that, in the eyes of the law, there is no distinction between materials in electronic forms and those in more traditional, non-electronic forms. This means that material that appears on a website or blog or in and e-book has the same protection as a printed book or a CD that you purchased in a store.
For more information, please contact us.
The University of Saskatchewan is committed to compliance in all copyright matters. It is the responsibility of every member of the university community to ensure that they are using copyright materials in a manner that is compliant with federal legislation and the conditions of licensing agreements into which the university has entered. If materials are used in a way that is not compliant, the user may be in violation of federal legislation. Such violations can carry steep fines or even time in prison.
For more information what constitutes compliant use of copyright materials, please contact the Copyright Coordinator.
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