Are your course materials in need of a copyright check-up?
Thu. Nov. 7, 2024
As you consider course materials for the coming winter 2025 session, a reminder from the Copyright Office that it is your responsibility to ensure adherence to the U of W Copyright Policy and Fair Dealing Guidelines for all courses hosted by the University.
Here are 4 top tips to sharing copyright-friendly course materials on Nexus.
1. Use the Syllabus Service!
Did you know that you can submit a list of course readings to syllabus-service@uwinnipeg.ca and Library staff will carry out a copyright-compliance review? This includes sourcing and uploading everything to Nexus/Ares for you. More info on the Library's Syllabus Service can be found here!
2. Link to licensed e-resources from U of W Library
The vast majority of eBooks, journal subscriptions and digital content available through U of W Library can be used in course content simply by sharing a link rather than a copy. The Library spends $1.5 annually on e-Resources. Linking has the added bonus of enabling the library to monitor traffic and usage of these materials. In turn, they can make informed decisions on future purchases and subscription renewals.
3. Follow the U of W Fair Dealing Guidelines
You have the right to share a limited amount of copyright-protected material for educational purposes. The University has developed Fair Dealing Guidelines to guide you in your use.
In general, sharing one chapter from a book or one article from a journal issue is permitted; alternatively, you may share up to 10% of the total work. You may also wish to review our Two Tests for Determining Fair Dealing.
And remember, all copies shared under Fair Dealing must include full bibliographic information.
4. Link to online content
Perhaps the biggest misconception about copyright is that anything on the internet is free to use. Avoid copyright pitfalls by linking to online content rather than sharing a copy. Unless a work is in the Public Domain, or Open Access, or includes a notification which clearly indicates it may be copied and reused, it should only be shared in course content if it meets the U of W Fair Dealing Guidelines.
Bonus tip: Watch Copyright at the University on Nexus
The next time you have eleven minutes to spare, our Copyright at the University video (requires Nexus login to view) provides a comprehensive overview of using copyright-protected materials in course content. The video is required viewing for anyone delivering course instruction or distributing course materials in Nexus. Course owners, faculty, and instructors are asked to view the video in the term in which their course is offered and once every two years thereafter.
Questions? The U of W Copyright Office is here to help! Reach us at copyrightoffice@uwinnipeg.ca or 204-786-9802.