Book/Book Chapter

47. Am I permitted to make photocopies of copyright-protected materials at a W Print outlet?

It depends on how much you want to copy. The W Print staff can help you determine if the copyright-protected materials you wish to photocopy require permission from the rightsholder. If you have any questions before visiting a W Print outlet, please call extension 33996 or send an email to courseware@uwaterloo.ca.

43. Do I need to obtain permission to use copyright material in my course packs?

Under fair dealing, short excerpts of copyright-protected materials may be included in course packs without permission. See the Fair Dealing Advisory for details. In addition some materials covered by licences that the Library has for electronic resources may be included in course packs.

42. What are licences for electronic resources?

The University of Waterloo Library has contracts with a variety of vendors and publishers that provide the campus with thousands of electronic resources (databases, e-journals, e-books, etc.) costing millions of dollars per year.

38. Is Course Reserves permitted to scan articles or chapters and put them on electronic reserve for students in my course?

Yes. In many cases, works may be scanned and posted under fair dealing or licence terms without the need to obtain permission. When permission is required, this process can take several weeks. When there is a fee for permission, the Library will usually be able to absorb the cost as long as it is reasonable. 

29. Is there any difference between posting something on my own website versus posting something on one of Waterloo's learning management systems (such as LEARN)?

Yes. Posting something on your own website means you are making the work openly available worldwide. Wide distribution tends toward the conclusion that the dealing is not “fair,” and such uses are unlikely to be covered by any University licences. By contrast, Waterloo's learning management systems are password-protected, secure websites that are accessible to students enrolled in university courses. In some cases, posting material on a learning management system will be covered by one of the University’s electronic subscriptions.

16. Are there special rules for scanning copyrighted materials?

If you want to scan something, you may do so only if the use falls within one of the exceptions in the Copyright Act (such as fair dealing) or when no permission is required (such as scanning a work that is in the public domain).

19. May I scan a print journal article or a book chapter into a PDF and post the file on a learning management system such as LEARN?

As long as you adhere to the amounts that may be copied under fair dealing you may scan and post it on a learning management system such as LEARN. See the Fair Dealing Advisory for copying limits. It’s important to note that fair dealing does not allow you to scan material and add it to a website unless that website is password-protected and restricted to students enrolled in your course.