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Copyright @ NSCC

Copyright information for NSCC faculty, staff and students.

Information for Instructors

Course Packs and Class Handouts

Model academic integrity for students. Give credit and cite the original source on all handouts. 

You may provide handouts of a short excerpt from a copyright protected work to:

  • Students in a class or course.
  • A learning management system that is password-protected, restricted to NSCC students, faculty and staff.
  • A College network that is password-protected, restricted to NSCC students, faculty and staff.

The amount of content copied must be fair.

NSCC faculty, staff and students should follow the NSCC Fair Dealing Guidelines when copying or sharing copyrighted works. 

  • Under the Fair Dealing Guidelines you may copy, without permission, for an education purpose:
  • up to 10% of a work or
  • one chapter or article from a work.

Need to copy more than NSCC Fair Dealing Guidelines recommend?

Please consult with your Campus Librarian for assistance.

Instructor Materials and Copyright

  • Your class materials are protected by copyright and cannot be shared unless
    • permission received from nstructor or
    • the content has an open copyright license.
  • Examples of Instructional content protected by copyright include:
    • Spoken and written lecture content (including recorded videos)
    • Lecture handouts and presentations
    • Questions and solutions sets for assignments, quizzes, tests, and final exams

Student Copyright Violation Examples

  • Uploading course materials (e.g., assignments, lecture notes) to online repositories such as note-sharing platforms
  • Using course materials in third-party settings (e.g., in off-campus, third-party tutoring organizations) 
  • Using pirated versions of commercial textbooks

Copyright & Brightspace (D2L)

Copyright rights and responsibilities apply to your use of Brightspace. You have the same education users’ rights teaching in Brightspace that you have in the physical classroom; and the same responsibilities to use content in a manner that meets the conditions set in NSCC Policies and the Copyright Act.

Full copyright protection is the default license attached to works. While facts are not protected by copyright, the expression or representation of facts can be. So be careful, copyright applies to all content you find on the internet (including photographs and visuals) as well as more traditional print and audio-visual sources.

Making a Digital Copy

You can make a digital copy of a print resource to load into Brightspace when:

  • Your copying qualifies as fair dealing or;
  • You have permission from the copyright owner

Links

Sharing links to content on the web (as an alternative to copying) is a recommended practice as long as the content on the website is

  • Posted by the copyright owner or;
  • With the permission of the copyright owner.

Loading Recorded Lessons

Educational institutions can transmit lessons to students in real time over the Internet or make a recording of a lesson available on-line. However, there is a requirement to remove access to the recorded lessons within 30 days of students enrolled in the course receiving their final evaluations.

When the course is finished, instructors should remove their lessons and content from Brightspace, and save the files in a private location.  When the course is offered again, create a new class in Brightspace and load the saved content. You may reuse the saved versions of  lessons from previous courses.

Digital Locks

A digital lock is a technological protection measure (a password, or encryption) that restricts access to the content with the objective of protecting the content from copying.

The Copyright Act prohibits breaking a digital lock. Always! The presence of a digital lock trumps all other rights.

DVDs

You cannot load a DVD into Brightspace. Consult with your Campus Librarian about alternatives.

Audio Visual Options

Use streaming video. Streaming video can be linked to or embedded into your Brightspace class.

  • Streaming video databases -- licensed access through NSCC Library Services
    • 4 databases to choose content from.
    • You do not need to evaluate whether you can use the content. Your use is covered by a license.
  • Streaming video on the web -- Lots of great options.
    • When using an open platform like YouTube make sure the video it is not an infringing copy.
    • How do you do that?
      A simple test is to look at who posted it. Was it posted by or with permission from the copyright owner?

Need help in figuring out who posted the content?

Contact the Copyright Office or your Campus Library for support.

Reproduction for Instruction

You can reproduce copyright protected content in order to display it for an educational purpose in the classroom.

Commercially Available

The right does does not apply if the work or other subject-matter is commercially available in a medium that is appropriate.

Copyright Act, Section 29.4(1)

You may include an artistic work (including a painting, print, photograph, diagram, drawing, map, chart and plan) as a class handout or as a posting to a learning or course management system if:

  • copyright has expired. or
  • it has an open copyright license ...for example a creative commons (CC) license. or
  • is part of  a larger work and meets the fair dealing test. or
  • meets the conditions for use of internet materials user exception.

NSCC faculty are reminded to:

  • Give credit to the creator.
  • Include the source (book or website etc) that the image was copied from and the name of the creator if available.

Not part of a larger work

If you would like to use an artistic work -- for example an architectural drawing -- that is not part of larger work (exists alone and is not part of a book or article) use of the image does not fall under fair dealing.  Please contact the copyright owner for permission to copy and re-use.

For content from websites your copying may meet the requirements for the educational exception to copy content from the internet (see the websites tab on this box).

Instructors may play music or other sound recordings in the classroom if:

  • It is for educational or training purposes.
  • It is a legal, commercial copy. 
  • It takes place on the premises of the educational institution.
  • The audience is students and instructors. 

This provision may not apply to a performance at an off-campus venue that is not at an educational institution. 

A SOCAN license for music performance may be obtained for events that do not meet this criteria. 
Check with SOCAN or your Campus Library, for more information.  

Publisher Supplied Supplementary Resources

Most educational publishers provide supplementary resources like PowerPoints and test banks to support the use of their textbooks in the classroom.

Modifcations

You can modify the slide decks or quizzes to match your outcomes. All added content must meet academic integrity standards and include attribution statements.

Right to Use

Your right to use publisher supplied supplementary materials is connected to the textbook. You have the right to use the supplementary materials as long as your students are required to purchase the textbook.

Student Work and Copyright

  • Copyright protection exists automatically in all original work.
  • Copyright belongs to the creator ... except when the creator is an employee.
  • For work created by employees as part of their employment -- the copyright belongs to the employer unless there is an agreement that states otherwise.
  • Students are not employees. Students own the copyright in their original work.

Students as Copyright Owners

  • Instructors must respect the copyright ownership of all creators including students.
  • For example: To save, reproduce, and share an entire student assignment with classes in future years, requires written permission from the student (the copyright owner).

The Copyright Act includes an exception for tests or examinations. You can:

  • copy content required for a test or examination, provided that the test or examination is not already available in a commercial format;
  • communicate a work by telecommunication required for a test or examination, provided the test or examination is not already available in a commercial format;

Show Films and Video Content in Class

Section 29.5 in the Copyright Act  allows teachers and students to show films and documentaries on campus for educational or training purposes if the following conditions are met:

  • Educational purpose
  • Audience is primarily students or faculty
  • Not for profit -- no admission fees
  • Legally acquired copy is shown

A legally acquired copy means a non-pirated copy that was:

  • Purchased
  • Borrowed from the library
  • Rented
  • Licenced content -- ie. NSCC Streaming Video databases
  • YouTube videos -- posted by or with consent from the copyright owner
  • Open Source

Non-educational Events

For social, fundraiser, or non-educational events, a public performance rights licence is required to show films.  Audio Cine Films and Criterion Pictures provide various licencing options such as one-time screening, annual performance, etc.  Please contact your Campus Library if you would like more information.     

Streaming Video

NSCC has licensed access to high quality streaming video collections. Faculty, staff and students can access these collections through the library website.

Work available through Internet (Copyright Exception for Educational Institutions)

You can copy content from websites for an educational purpose if your copying meets the following conditions:

  • The website content is posted by or with permission from the copyright owner.
  • The content is not protected by a digital lock -- for example password protected access to content.
  • There is no notice on the website that prohibits copying -- check for a terms of use statement on the website.
  • A notice must be more than a copyright symbol or an all rights reserved statement or standard disclaimer.
  • You give credit for the copied content and include attribution to the website, and include creator names if mentioned along with the url.

Important Note: This exception does not apply if the educational institution or person acting in their educational role  knows or should have known that the work or other subject-matter was made available through the Internet without the consent of the copyright owner. In other words, if you suspect the content is not a legal copy don't use it.

Digital Lock

The Copyright Act of Canada defines a technological protection measure (commonly referred tp as a digital lock) as:

any effective technology, device or component that, in the ordinary course of its operation,

  • (a) controls access to a work, to a performer’s performance fixed in a sound recording or to a sound recording and whose use is authorized by the copyright owner; or

  • (b) restricts the doing — with respect to a work, to a performer’s performance fixed in a sound recording or to a sound recording — of any act referred to in section 3, 15 or 18 and any act for which remuneration is payable under section 19.

Tip

Fair Dealing is the most robust users' right for using material for an educational purpose. Evaluate your proposed use of web-based content under fair dealing first. If your use does not fall within fair dealing evaluate under the Education Institution right to use work available from websites.

Links

Sharing links or using embed codes to direct students to content on websites (as an alternative to copying) is a recommended best practice.

  • Note: An embed code is a form of linking.
  • Share a link when you are confident the website does not contain pirated materials.
  • Consult with your campus library staff if you need help.

What are Reserve Readings?

Reserve Readings (or Reserves) are high demand materials that you, the faculty member, identify as useful for students in a particular course. These materials have short loan periods to ensure students in your course have fair and equal access to the resources.

You can put materials on reserve for 1, 2, 3 or 24 hour loan, or on 2, 3, or 7 day loan.

What can go on Reserves?

You can place original work (i.e. books, journal issues, or DVDs); links to electronic resources (such as full text journal articles) in the Library's licensed databases; or copies of work that complies with  NSCC’s Fair Dealing Policy or where permission has been received from the copyright owner.

Original Works

  • Books, journals, videos, documents and other materials owned by the library or from your personal collection.
  • Materials for which you or NSCC holds the copyright (i.e. lecture notes, presentations).
  • Student Coursework, but only under the conditions outlined below.
  • Note: Complimentary or publisher review copies cannot be placed on reserve.

Copies

Fair Dealing applies to copying and communicating a short excerpt of a copyright-protected work for library reserves. The short excerpt may be copied onto paper, or copied and communicated in electronic form, from any copyright-protected course materials, including a course pack, provided that the following safeguards are met:

Copy is made onto paper:

  • 1. a request to put the short excerpt on library reserve is made by or on behalf of a faculty member and in respect of a specific course or program of instruction;
  • 2. the number of copies made does not exceed the number of students enrolled in the course of instruction;
  • 3. the copy is used only for the purpose of library reserve by students enrolled at NSCC
  • 4. A complete citation identifying the source of the document must be provided on all photocopies, along with a clear copyright statement.
  • 5. the copy is marked with the following notice:

This copy was made pursuant to the Fair Dealing Policy of NSCC which may be found at http://subjectguides.nscc.ca/copyright/fairdealing. The copy may only be used for the purpose of research, private study, criticism, review, news reporting, education, satire or parody. The use of this copy for any other purpose may require the permission of the copyright owner.

Copy is made in electronic form

  • 6. the safeguards referred to in (1) and (3) are followed;
  • 7. the notice referred to in (5) be on the electronic copy or be otherwise displayed to students who access the electronic copy; and
  • 8. the electronic copy is maintained with access restricted to students enrolled at NSCC and faculty.

Student Coursework

Student coursework is also protected by copyright and may only be placed on library reserve with the permission of that student. Faculty are required to obtain the student’s written consent to have their material placed on reserve and must remove the student’s name and student ID number from the coursework. Any additional personal information contained in the coursework must be identified by the student and removed at his or her request.

Books from other libraries

Contact your campus Library staff if you need material from another Novanet Library. Most Novanet libraries support lending their materials to NSCC libraries for Reserve collections. Each request is treated individually and Novanet libraries may exercise the option to not loan their materials.

For more help

Contact your campus library

 

Do not copy workbooks or other consumables unless they have a CC license.

Copying, scanning, or printing pages from products sold as a workbook intended for one-time use is not allowed.

Workbooks and exercise books are intended for one-time use, with students' answers written directly on the book's pages. Any copying from materials intended for one-time use exposes the person making the copy, the instructor, and the College to liability for copyright infringement.

Exceptions

This prohibition does not apply to reproducibles or materials with a Creative Commons (CC) license.

A reproducible is not intended for one-time use, but is sold or provided with the rights holder’s authorization to reproduce it for educational use.

Teaching and learning resources with Creative Commons (CC) copyright licenses like Open Educational Resource (OER) can be freely shared, copied, reused, and in most cases revised and adapted.

For more information on OERS go to the NSCC Guide on Open Educational Resources (OERs).

Course Pack and Learning Materials Repository

NSCC has a Course Pack Repository accessible from each of the School web pages in the Curriculum Repository. The Course Pack Repository provides quick access to the most recent, copyright approved version of course materials for your programs for ease of sharing, printing and uploading to D2L.

The repository includes:

  •          NSCC created course materials sold in NSCC bookstores
  •          Milestone Documents (e.g., safety milestones)
  •          NSCC created course materials designated as core compulsory material
  •          NSCC created course materials used at more than campus

The copyright detail section of the Print Services Order Form does not have to be completed for materials in the cleared repository. This information was submitted and documented as part of the clearance process.

Open Textbooks

If you have any questions about the Course Pack Repository or are interested in determining if your materials are eligible for inclusion, please contact the Copyright Office at copyright@nscc.ca.

Ordering Print Copies

To request printing of copyright cleared items from this repository through Print Services:

  • Use the Print Services Order Form.
  • Select the Document Title from the drop down list of approved course titles
  • Select YES for copyright cleared repository
  • Ensure that you complete the following required fields:
    Faculty Name, Course name, Course code, Number of students, School, Campus, & Semester.

Attribution and Academic Integrity

Plagiarism1 is presenting, in any format, someone else’s ideas, presentations, writing, artistic work, or creations, whether verbal, print, structural, design or electronic, in whole or in part, as one’s own, by failing to credit the source. Plagiarism can be intentional or occur through carelessness.

Model academic integrity for your students.
If you require your students to use a specific citation style, use the citation style in your instructional material.

Citation Styles

A citation style provides a standardized way to provide attribution. The style defines what information is included in the reference and how the information is ordered and presented; punctuation and formatting rules are defined.

APA (American Psychological Association)
Brief in-text citations are placed in the text in parenthesis. Each in-text citation is linked to an entry in the reference list.

MLA (Modern Languages Association)
Brief in-text citations are placed in the text in parenthesis. Each in-text citation is linked to an entry in the reference list.

Chicago (The Chicago Manual of Style)
Notes and Bibliography system. A raised superscript number is placed in the text. The number is connected to numbered footnotes placed at the bottom of the page. The sources are also listed in a separate bibliography.

 

1 NSCC Academic Integrity Policy

Creating Course Packs