Copyright

Key points to remember:

1. Most of the legal issues are the same whether the teaching is done in person or online.
2. If it was okay to do in class, it is often okay to do online – especially when your online access is limited to the same enrolled students in Moodle.
3. You can continue to apply ECU's Fair Dealing guidelines.

• Use Moodle to make material available to your students. Sharing copyrighted content within password protected, secure environments limited to enrolled students helps ensure copyright compliance (such as Moodle).

• Post your in-class slides to Moodle. Slides provided by textbook publishers can almost always be used, according to their Terms of Use. Content that you have created and for which you are the copyright owner can always be shared.

• Rules for print course readings and online posting to Moodle are similar. Use ECU's Fair Dealing guidelines to assist with your reading selections. You may also directly link to a resource within the Library's collection or link out to Internet content.

• It’s always easiest to link. Linking to publicly available online content like news websites, existing online videos, etc. is rarely a copyright issue. Although you should always consider the source you are linking from (a full version of Disney's The Lion King posted to Jane Doe's YouTube channel is likely not a legal copy and should not be linked to, however Jane Doe's two-minute video expressing her appreciation for the film is likely safe to share). Linking to subscription content through the library is also a great option – a lot of our subscription content will have DOIs or other “permalink” options for simple linking.

• Your liaison librarian may be able to help you find alternative content, and the Library’s website has a large collection of online journals, ebooks and streaming video platforms that can help support online learning. In fact, the library has increased our electronic resource purchases this year to support the access needs of online delivery.
• Sharing audiovisual material like films and audio files is more complex. But remember you can still link to legally posted online content (from YouTube etc.). The Library has subscriptions to streaming video databases that you may link to or the Library may be able to acquire a streaming license for individual films. Fill out the media booking form to get assistance finding audiovisual resources for use in your classes.
• Using copyrighted material in exams is generally permissible under copyright exception s.29.4(2) of the Copyright Act, reproduction for examinations. If you need to use material beyond this, copyright exception s. 30.01 can also apply, contact Vanessa Kam if you need help to implement this copyright exception as there are rules that need to be followed to use it.
• Your liaison librarian can help you create links to ebooks, journal articles, and streaming content.