Copyright is the method through which content creators are provided with legal protection, including the parameters around how their work can be used by others. Copyright can impact many kinds of content, everything from books and other print resources to blog posts, teacher websites, and digital images. Something being available online doesn't exempt it from also being copyrighted.

Fair dealing is a provision in the Copyright Act that allows us to use copyrighted content without seeking explicit permission or paying a fee, but only if the following two tests are passed:

1. The purpose of the use - If the content is used for research, private study, criticism, review, news reporting, education, satire, or parody (including educational purposes), then this passes the first test.

2. The fairness of the use - This is determined by considering how much of the original work is used; if it is copied, how many copies are made; how widely reproductions are distributed or made available; whether alternatives to the work are available; and what the impact of the use will be on the original work. 

Fair dealing does not cover single-use resources (i.e. workbooks, exercise sheets, consumable materials). Content creators or copyright holders must receive compensation for every copy made of these resources. 

Contact the Supervisor, Library & Media Services - Lauren Bull