UWFA Letter on Access Copyright
25 May 2012
Dear UWFA Members,
Access Copyright recently signed a model license agreement with the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC), an organization which represents the presidents of Canadian universities. Universities were given a deadline of May 15, 2012 (and a final deadline of June 30) to either endorse or reject this model license agreement.
Both UWFA and UWSA have consulted extensively with the Employer on this issue and recommended that the University opt out of the model license agreement, as it poses serious potential threats to the academic rights and freedoms of the academic community (e.g. increased fees for students, definitions of copying that lie outside copyright law, invasive surveillance, restrictions on scholarly communication, etc.). For CAUT’s analysis of the issue and their strong recommendation that universities opt out, please see their piece (http://www.caut.ca/news_details.asp?nid=1757&page=490).
On May 23, 2012 Senate resolved that the University of Winnipeg would opt out of the Access Copyright Agreement.
Both UWFA and UWSA have agreed to work together with the Employer to establish a Joint Committee on Copyright. This is an essential committee to ensure that the rights of faculty and students are protected and that individuals are informed about copyright restrictions and the implications for faculty and students. Please check back at this website regularly for updates and information about copyright guidelines. The links below provide additional information about Fair Dealing and Copyright as well as the Access Copyright. If you have specific questions about copyright and your course materials, please contact Alex Homanchuk in the library.
Pauline Pearson, UWFA President
Important Links
General Copyright Issues (Fair Dealing)
CAUT Guidelines for use of Copyrighted Material
http://www.caut.ca/uploads/Copyright_guidelines.pdf
Copyright and You (from York University – includes definitions and FAQs for faculty and students)
http://copyright.info.yorku.ca/fair-dealing-guidelines/
Copyright Modernization Act (Bill C-11)
http://www.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?Docid=5144516&File=9
Access Copyright and related issues
CAUT analysis of the agreement:
http://www.caut.ca/pages.asp?page=1079
Access Copyright – AUCC Model License
http://www.accesscopyright.ca/educators/aucc-model-licence/
Michael Geist’s Blog on Access Copyright
http://www.michaelgeist.ca/content/view/6507/125/
Howard Knopf’s and AUCC answers to questions from AUCC members regarding the agreement
http://excesscopyright.blogspot.ca/2012/05/aucc-settlement-with-access-copyright.html
Techdirt’s perspective
Friday, May 25, 2012 at 1:40PM by UWFA