Copyright  

Canadian Copyright Act

Confused by copyright speak?  Here is a list of terms defined to help you navigate the copyright world.

Nova Scotia Community College faculty, staff and students are required to abide by the Copyright Act of Canada and Fair Dealing when copying materials. 

Fair Dealing is an exception in the Copyright Act which allows an individual to make a copy for the purpose of research or private study or for the purpose of criticism and review as long as the original source is credited.  Fair Dealing also provides various exceptions for educational institutions as outlined in section 29 of the Copyright Act. 

Please carefully review the Fair Dealing Policy below.  This policy has been sanctioned by The Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC) and has been adopted by NSCC.  All faculty, staff and students must abide by the Fair Dealing Policy when using copyrighted materials. 

It can be tricky to determine whether something you want to do falls within fair dealing. This quick guide sets out the steps you should take and the factors you should consider. Ultimately, it will depend on your particular circumstances and you have to make a judgment call as to whether your use can be classified as "fair".  If in doubt, seek permission to copy from the copyright owner.

STEP 1:   CHECK WHETHER YOUR PURPOSE IS A PERMITTED PURPOSE
Are you using the work for the purpose of:

1. Research
2. Private study
3. Criticism
4. Review
5. News reporting

YES → Continue to step 2

NO → Check whether use is covered under:

1. Any other Copyright Act exception
2. Library licences for electronic journals and databases
3. Cinematograph film licences
4. Any other agreement

STEP 2:   CHECK WHETHER YOUR USE IS “FAIR”
Is the nature of the dealing fair?

Attributed via Creative Commons Licensing to:

University of Waterloo. (2008). Copyright FAQ. Retrieved December 15, 2010 from http://www.lib.uwaterloo.ca/copyright/fair_dealing_guide.html