News and updates related to copyright at UBC. Copyright at UBC also provides direct support and assistance on copyright issues; please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Copyright Term Extension FAQ
In addition to information on the public domain available on the Copyright at UBC website, the Canadian Association of Research Libraries has published a FAQ on term extension that is available on their website. [Read More]
Copyright Term Extension Comes into Force on December 30th, 2022
As of December 30, 2022, the length of the copyright term for every literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic work in Canada was extended from 50 to 70 years past the year of death of the author. [Read More]
Fair Dealing Week 2023
This year, to celebrate Fair Dealing Week, the British Columbia Copyright Specialist Consortium and the Alberta Copyright Consortium will be co-hosting two online events during the week of February 27th. [Read More]
Fair Dealing Week 2022
This year, to celebrate Fair Dealing Week, the Lower Mainland Copyright Consortium (CapU, Douglas, JIBC, SFU, and UBC) and the Alberta Copyright Consortium (U of A, U of C, MRU and NAIT) will be co-hosting an online event on Wednesday, February 23. [Read More]
The Supreme Court of Canada Delivered its Judgment in York University v. Canadian Copyright Licensing AgencyIn a unanimous decision, the SCC found that tariffs set by the Copyright Board of Canada are not mandatory and that users are not bound by them unless they voluntarily accept their terms. [Read More]
Changes to the Theses and Dissertations GuideThe Theses and Dissertations Guide has been updated to reflect changes to UBC’s policy on the inclusion of materials provided under fair dealing. [Read More]
New DVD digitization service to support online learning In order to better support online learning, UBC Library is now offering a service to convert content on DVD to streaming video. This service is limited to course-required content for students to be viewed outside the classroom. Instructors can make requests via Library Online Course Reserves (LOCR). [Read More]
York University v. Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency (Access Copyright) UpdateIn 2013, Access Copyright commenced a legal case against York University in Federal Court seeking enforcement of an interim tariff approved by the Copyright Board. York, which had refused an Access licence in 2011, claimed that the tariff was not mandatory and further stated that the application of its Fair Dealing Guidelines and practices protected it from any claim of infringement. [Read more]
Bill C-4 Receives Royal Assent On March 13, 2020 Bill C-4, An Act to implement the Agreement between Canada, the United States of America and the United Mexican States, received Royal Assent. This Bill includes amendments to the Copyright Act. [Read more]
Copyright Considerations for Online Courses There are a lot of pedagogical and technical issues that make the shift from in-person to online teaching challenging but copyright considerations do not change much and most of the things you are able to do in person, you are able to do online, especially when your online access is limited to students enrolled in your course. [Read more]
On December 7, 2019, the Copyright Board of Canada certified new tariffs for the reprographic copying of literary works in the Access Copyright repertoire. [Read more]
On September 30, 2018 the Canadian government announced the completion of negotiations toward a new United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Read More
Your Teaching material was uploaded to a website without your authorisation or approval? Our new Instructor FAQ 2.19 and template might help.
Recently, the Copyright Board of Canada certified new tariffs for the performance of live and recorded music. In response, the Information about SOCAN and Re:Sound Fees at UBC webpage has been has been updated to more accurately reflect current tariffs and associated licence fees that may be applicable to the UBC community.
This morning, the Federal Court of Canada issued its decision in the litigation between Access Copyright and York University. The decision is over 100 pages and can be found here. UBC is currently reviewing this decision to determine what impact it might have on UBC.
A recent article in University Affairs on copyright in the academy may be of interest to the UBC community. Read More
Two recent decisions by Canadian courts have surfaced interest in the concept of copyright in facts and data. This post will address the “ownership” of facts while a subsequent post will address copyright in data. Read More
Bill C-65, the Support for Canadians with Print Disabilities Act, was introduced in the House of Commons on 8 June 2015. Read More
The recent federal budget (tabled in the House of Commons 21 April, 2015), included notification that Canada will accede to the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired or Otherwise Print Disabled. Read More
The recent federal budget (tabled in the House of Commons 21 April, 2015) included two measures that will have a profound effect on the use of copyrighted works in Canada. Read More
As of April 15, 2015, changes have been made to the Theses and Dissertations Guide. Read More
The Copyright Act’s “Notice and Notice” provisions came into force on January 2, 2015. Read More
Are you more of a visual thinker? Then our Copyright Flowcharts will be a useful tool for determining how to use a work in compliance with copyright law.
Have questions about how to handle copyright and fair dealing in Open Course environments? See our new Open Course & Educational Resource Guidelines.
Thanks for all your questions! All of the Copyright FAQs have been updated.
Have questions about how to apply UBC’s Fair Dealing Requirements? See our new Fair Dealing in Practice page.
The Writers' Union of Canada writes to the University. See the President's response.
Significant cost reductions achieved on student course packs. Read More
UBC’s new Public Domain guide is now live. Read More
The Copyright Basics FAQ has been updated to reflect Supreme Court of Canada decisions and the Copyright Modernization Act. Read More
UBC's updated Theses and Dissertations guide is now live. Read More
CWL account holders are being notified and asked to review and acknowledge updated information. Read More
Music played at UBC for non-educational purposes may require a licence from SOCAN and/or Re:Sound. Read More
The Campus Classroom FAQ has been updated to reflect certain provisions of C-11 (the Copyright Modernization Act) and recent Supreme Court of Canada decisions. Read More
The Digital Classroom FAQ has been updated to reflect certain provisions of C-11 (the Copyright Modernization Act). Read More
The revised copying guidelines poster for scanners and photocopiers is available for download. Read More
The proposed changes to the Copyright Modernization Act (Bill C-11) are still not yet in force, but include significant amendments from UBC's perspective. Read more...
Important provisions of Bill C-11, the Copyright Modernization Act have been brought into force today. These provisions introduce broad and far reaching changes for educational institutions, faculty, staff and students. Read More
The Digital Classroom FAQ has been updated to reflect the recent the Supreme Court of Canada copyright decisions. Read More
The Supreme Court of Canada has recently issued a set of landmark decisions on copyright law. These decisions have changed copyright law in Canada and will have a positive impact on your studies, teaching, research and administrative work at UBC. Read More
Bill C-11, the Copyright Modernization Act has been approved by both the House of Commons and Senate, and received Royal Assent on June 29, 2012. However, it is not yet in force and will go through an order-in-council process before it becomes law, which may be a number of months… Read More
After extensive review, UBC has decided not to sign a license agreement with Access Copyright based on the model that it has recently negotiated with the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada ... Read more
The Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) has reached an agreement with Access Copyright on a new model licence. UBC is currently reviewing the model licence and associated documentation… Read More
The License Information Database has been updated and enhanced with new permissions categories and language. Access the site...
UBC is required to pay SOCAN tariffs when it rents out its facilities for events that play music. Read More...
UBC continues to support AUCC in its negotiations with Access Copyright. Read More...
UBC will provide information on this site when we have reviewed the separate Access Copyright licenses signed by Western University and the University of Toronto.
Wiley will allow a course instructor who has adopted a Wiley textbook to reproduce, on a limited license basis and not for further distribution, Wiley-owned content items included within the textbook and/or instructor support materials. Read more...
Pearson allows a course instructor who has adopted a Pearson textbook to reproduce Pearson-owned content items included within the textbook and/or instructor support materials. Read more...