Online Courses

34. Are there any databases of materials that I can use for free without worrying about copyright restrictions?

Yes. There is a wealth of material out there that either is in the public domain or is available under what is known as a Creative Commons licence, which generally means the work is available for free but is subject to certain limited conditions, such as non-commercial use only and acknowledgement of the creator.

33. Are students permitted to include copyright-protected materials in their assignments and presentations?

Generally, yes. Since fair dealing now includes education, students may include limited amounts of material in their assignments and presentations. See the Fair Dealing Advisory for details about amounts allowable under fair dealing.

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.

08. Does fair dealing cover teaching?

Yes. While fair dealing doesn't specifically mention teaching, it does mention education. The Supreme Court of Canada has also ruled that an instructor may make copies of short excerpts of copyright-protected works and distribute them to students as part of classroom instruction under the fair dealing exception. See the guide to copying for instructional purposes for details about what may be as copied as fair dealing by instructors.

24. What are the copyright implications for sharing material on Perusall?

The considerations for sharing materials on Perusall are similar to the considerations for sharing material on a learning management system such as LEARN. You may share copyright-protected material on Perusall if one of the following situations applies:

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