Copyright update

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

There have been significant and positive changes related to copyright over the summer. When those changes are better understood, several documents on the campus copyright website, notably the copyright FAQ, Fair Dealing Advisory, and guide for those teaching courses, will be revised. In the interim, campus members should continue to be guided by the current documents.

  • Bill C-11, the Copyright Modernization Act, passed third reading at the Senate and has received royal assent, but it is important to note that it is not yet in force.
  • The Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) released on July 12, 2012 decisions in five appeals on copyright cases.
  • Bill C-11 and the SCC decisions expand the scope of fair dealing in ways that will be advantageous to the campus community.
  • As noted in the Daily Bulletin (June 7, 2012) the university has decided not to sign the copyright license negotiated by Access Copyright and the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada.

The Provost has established a Copyright Advisory Committee to provide advice on the impact of the above and other copyright-related matters. The committee includes representatives of major departments involved in copyright issues and key campus stakeholders, including the Federation of Students (FEDS), Graduate Students Association (GSA), Faculty Association University of Waterloo (FAUW), University of Waterloo Staff Association (UWSA), and Federated University and Affiliated College (FUAC).

Another campus-wide update will be provided once the copyright FAQ, Fair Dealing Advisory, and guide for those teaching courses, etc. have been updated. Information sessions will also be scheduled at the same time.

In the meantime, if you have questions, please feel free to contact Mark Haslett, Susan Routliffe or Rebecca Wickens.