News and Updates

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.

March 29, 2023
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]

March 5, 2023
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]

February 2, 2023
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]

January 25, 2022
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]

August 4, 2021
The Supreme Court of Canada Delivered its Judgment in York University v. Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency
In 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]

November 19, 2020
Changes to the Theses and Dissertations Guide
The 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]

July 17, 2020
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]

June 3, 2020
York University v. Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency (Access Copyright) Update
In 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]

March 31, 2020
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]

March 16, 2020
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]

December 13, 2019
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]

November 2, 2018
On September 30, 2018 the Canadian government announced the completion of negotiations toward a new United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Read More

January 15, 2018
Your Teaching material was uploaded to a website without your authorisation or approval? Our new Instructor FAQ 2.19 and template might help.

October 23, 2017
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.

July 12, 2017
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.

September 21, 2016
A recent article in University Affairs on copyright in the academy may be of interest to the UBC community. Read More

August 17, 2016
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

June 11, 2015
Bill C-65, the Support for Canadians with Print Disabilities Act, was introduced in the House of Commons on 8 June 2015. Read More

April 30, 2015
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

April 24, 2015
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

April 15, 2015
As of April 15, 2015, changes have been made to the Theses and Dissertations Guide. Read More

January 15, 2015
The Copyright Act’s “Notice and Notice” provisions came into force on January 2, 2015. Read More

April 18, 2014
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.

April 10, 2014
Have questions about how to handle copyright and fair dealing in Open Course environments? See our new Open Course & Educational Resource Guidelines.

April 8, 2014
Thanks for all your questions! All of the Copyright FAQs have been updated.

January 2, 2014
Have questions about how to apply UBC’s Fair Dealing Requirements? See our new Fair Dealing in Practice page.

September 13, 2013
The Writers' Union of Canada writes to the University.  See the President's response.

September 11, 2013
Significant cost reductions achieved on student course packs. Read More

July 15, 2013
UBC’s new Public Domain guide is now live. Read More

July 13, 2013
The Copyright Basics FAQ has been updated to reflect Supreme Court of Canada decisions and the Copyright Modernization Act. Read More

July 3, 2013
UBC's updated Theses and Dissertations guide is now live. Read More

May 1, 2013
CWL account holders are being notified and asked to review and acknowledge updated information.  Read More

April 24, 2013
Music played at UBC for non-educational purposes may require a licence from SOCAN and/or Re:Sound. Read More

February 4, 2013
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

January 23, 2013
The Digital Classroom FAQ has been updated to reflect certain provisions of C-11 (the Copyright Modernization Act). Read More

January 22, 2013
The revised copying guidelines poster for scanners and photocopiers is available for download. Read More

November 7, 2012
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

September 15, 2012
The Digital Classroom FAQ has been updated to reflect the recent the Supreme Court of Canada copyright decisions.  Read More

August 24, 2012
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

July 13, 2012
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

May 15, 2012
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

April 16, 2012
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

March 5, 2012
The License Information Database has been updated and enhanced with new permissions categories and language.  Access the site...

March 3, 2012
UBC is required to pay SOCAN tariffs when it rents out its facilities for events that play music. Read More...

February 14, 2012
UBC continues to support AUCC in its negotiations with Access Copyright. Read More...

February 1, 2012
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.

December 5, 2011
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...

October 7, 2011
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...