Teaching

Learn about using copyright-protected materials in teaching.

How you share course materials depends on exceptions in:

• Canada’s Copyright Act
• UVic’s Copyright Compliance and Administration Policy
• the Fair Dealing Guidelines

Exceptions for educational institutions

In addition to the Fair Dealing Exception, other exceptions in the Copyright Act specifically apply to educational institutions.

Section 29.4

Instruction: Educational institutions or people acting under their authority can reproduce and display works for educational purposes on their premises without infringing copyright.

Examinations: They can reproduce, translate, perform, or communicate works for tests or exams on their premises.

Commercial availability: These exceptions do not apply if the work is commercially available in a suitable medium, except for manual reproduction.

Section 29.5

Performances: Educational institutions or people acting under their authority can do the following on their premises for educational purposes:

• live performances of a work
• performances of sound recordings, telecommunication broadcasts, and cinematographic works

This is allowed as long as the audience is primarily students and instructors, and the works are not infringing copies.

Protecting your work

Learn about protecting your copyright if you create copyright-protected works such as:

• teaching materials
• articles, books
• book chapters
• conference presentations
• artworks

Posting materials to Brightspace

Generally, you may post copyright-protected materials to Brightspace as long as they meet the Fair Dealing Guidelines.

Follow these tips to help ensure that you’re following the guidelines:

• instead of uploading a file, create a persistent URL to the original source
• avoid copying multiple sections from the same work over the course of one term
• only share materials with students enrolled in the course
• include a citation for the work and the fair dealing statement where students will see it

You may not post materials to Brightspace if:

• the copying exceeds UVic’s Fair Dealing Guidelines
• the license for the material does not allow copying and distribution
• there is a visible notice on the material prohibiting copying for educational use

Copyright review

If your course materials need review, email your complete reading list to reserves@uvic.ca. You can also create a reading list on the course reserves platform.

The time needed for copyright review and clearance can vary. We recommend that you submit requests about a month before the course starts.

Course reserves

The UVic Libraries offers a course reserves service that allows instructors to create online reading lists for courses.

Reading lists can include:

• books
• articles
• websites
• videos
• other formats

Reading lists are accessed through Brightspace, and the library ensures that all items meet copying guidelines. Learn more about reading lists.

Alternative formats

Students with a perceptual disability may be eligible for academic accommodations to record lectures and access alternative text formats. Students who are registered with the Centre for Accessible Learning (CAL) can use their alternative text formats program.

Students who are not registered with CAL can request an alternative text format (PDF version) of course materials through the UVic Libraries. Use the alternate format request form or contact reserves@uvic.ca.

Questions?

If you have any questions, please contact the Copyright Office at copyright@uvic.ca.