Copyright & Teaching Quick Guidelines

This page outlines our recommendations for copying for instructional purposes without getting permission. For information about getting permission from the copyright holder, see the Getting Copyright Permission section on the Copyright and Teaching Resources page.

These guidelines only apply to copying or making available substantial portions of a copyrighted work for instructional purposes. These guidelines also may not apply if the material is protected by a digital lock (commonly found on ebooks, video, DVDs, etc.). 

You can:

  • Assign custom course packs through the Queen's Campus Bookstore or the AMS Publishing and Copy Centre (see Print Support Materials).
  • Provide links to copyrighted ebooks and articles available through the library's electronic catalogue (see On the Internet).
  • Make print copies of a copyrighted work that fall within the limits listed in the Queen's Fair Dealing Policy (available on the Queen's Fair Dealing Policy web page) and hand them out to the students in your class.
  • Make a digital copy (or scan) of a copyrighted work that fall within the limits of the Queen's Fair Dealing Policy and upload it to your Learning Management System site (onQ, etc.).
  • Use copyrighted materials in your presentations as long as there is no suitable commercial version of the work available for purchase (see Presentation Software). Make sure that you cite your source in your presentation.
  • Play music for your students (see Audio and Video).
  • Provide an alternative format of a literary, musical, artistic or dramatic work, other than a cinematographic work, for a student with a perceptual disability (see Accessibility).
  • Play recorded news and communications broadcasts for your students (see News).
  • Show a video to your students, as long as the video is not an infringing copy and was legally obtained (see Audio and Video).
  • Copy, show in class, or distribute material that you have found on the Internet as long as the material is legitimately posted, acknowledgement is provided and there is no clearly visible notice prohibiting educational use of the content (see On the Internet).
  • Add copies of print material to course reserve at the library. Note: This only applies to copied (photocopied or printed) material. Books and original publications that are required can be placed on reserve.  If you would like to put works on course reserve, please see Course Reserves.

You can also copy print or digital works that are in the public domain (eg. out of copyright) or published using a licence that allows distribution (eg. Creative Commons).

Seek assistance from the Copyright Advisory Office if you would like to do the following:

  1. Make print copies of a copyrighted work that is in excess of the limits of the Fair Dealing Policy (see Handouts).
  2. Upload digital copies of a copyrighted work that is in excess of the limits of the Fair Dealing Policy to a website or a Learning Management System (see Websites).

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