Copyright Description

As per Policy 706 Acceptable Use of Information and Communications Technology, all staff and students are responsible to model safe and ethical use of electronic and social media communication, including respect for copyright, intellectual property and the appropriate documentation of sources.

Copyright is an evolving concept especially in the digital age. Canada’s copyright law became clearer and easier for teachers and students to follow in 2012. For example, a provision in the Copyright Act regarding the educational use of the Internet allows students and teachers to use publicly available Internet materials for their learning and educational pursuits without violating copyright.

Copyright in K-12

Staff members in nonprofit educational institutions may communicate and reproduce, in paper or electronic form, short excerpts from a copyright protected work for the purposes of research, private study, criticism, review, news reporting, education, satire, and parody. Any and all uses should mention the source and, if given in the source, the name of the author or creator of the work.

Practical Information on Canada's Copyright Law

The CMEC Copyright Consortium publication, Copyright Matters!, 4th Edition, provides the education community (teachers, students, parents, and administrators) with user-friendly information on copyright law.

They developed an easy-to-use online resource (FairDealingDecisionTool.ca) that helps teachers decide whether they are within copyright laws to use certain print materials, artistic works, or audiovisual materials without first getting copyright permission. We recommend you use this tool if you are ever unsure around the legality or potential copyright issues in using, copying, or sharing a certain resource at your school.