Copyright for Teaching

There are many challenges with teaching in person and online, but copyright should not be one of them.

In the 2015 CBC v. SORDAC case the Supreme Court of Canada reaffirmed the principle of technological neutrality. With respect to teaching, this means that copyright law treats the physical and online classroom, for the most part, as one and the same.

Copyright in the classroom (including mêskanâs) FAQs

Can I post my slides to mêskanâs if they include images, charts, or figures that I found online?

Yes. MacEwan Fair Dealing Guidelines permit the use of an “artistic work” (including a painting, print, photograph, diagram, drawing, map, chart, and plan) found on the Inernet for teaching purposes in the online or physical classroom as long as:

  • The image is not behind a paywall or password-protected,
  • You cite the image and the creator (if information is available to do so),
  • There is no visible notice that prohibits the use of the image,
  • You are reasonably sure the image you found was not posted illegally online.

You can also search in these collections for images that are either in the public domain or have a permissive license that allows them to be used and shared. Another option is to use Google’s Advanced Search to look for images by usage rights.

Can I scan in an image, chart, or a figure from a print book and use it in my lecture?

Yes. MacEwan Fair Dealing Guidelines permit the scanning or copying as a class handout of an “artistic work” (including a painting, print, photograph, diagram, drawing, map, chart, and plan) for teaching purposes in the online or physical classroom. Be sure to cite the image and the creator (if information is available to do so).

Can I show a Netflix show in my class?

Maybe. Some Netflix documentaries are available for educational screening. The titles that are available for educational screening will display a “Grant of Permission” or an “Educational Screenings Permission (ESP)” on the details page. Visit Netflix for Educational screening of documentaries to learn more.

Netflix and Crave have also shown that they may grant permission for the use of streamed videos in the classroom. Contact Netflix or Crave to obtain permission in writing (such as an email) or email Library copyright services for assistance, copyright@macewan.ca.

The DVD I need to show in my class is not available streamed, can it be digitized?

Yes. The MacEwan Library offers a digitization service and will convert the DVD to streamed video. The streamed video is limited to students registered in a course and cannot be downloaded. Please fill out the MacEwan Library AV Digitization Form to place a request.

What is the best way to share Library articles, ebooks, or streamed media with my students in mêskanâs?

Every online resource (article, ebook, streamed video/audio) that the Library subscribes to or has purchased includes a permanent link. The quickest and simplest way to share library resources with your students is to copy and paste the resource’s permanent link to mêskanâs or Course Resource Lists (learn more about Course Resource Lists). You can also send a list of resources to reserves@macewan.ca and we’ll add the links for you.

To find the permanent link for each resource look in the library catalogue or relevant database, either link is fine:

1) Library catalogue. Do a search for what you are looking for. When you find a title of interest, click on it to open the detailed record for that particular resource. Under “Action Links” click on “Permalink.” Copy and paste the link.

Search Result Example

2) Database. From the library website do a search for what you are looking for. When you find a title of interest, click on it to open the detailed record for that particular resource. Under “Action Links” click on “Read Online” or “Find it.” When the page opens, look for a “Share” or “Permalink” option. Copy and paste the link.

Permalink Result Example

Can I post examples of my students’ work to my course in mêskanâs?

Students own the copyright in the works they create. It you want to make their work available online, you must obtain permission to do so.

I want to reduce textbook costs for my students, what are my options?

For decades, textbooks have played an important role in higher education. But there are downsides:

  • textbooks can be expensive,
  • they can quickly become outdated,
  • publishers do not often sell copies in flexible online formats.

Visit the Library’s Textbook Alternatives guide learn more about selecting other library resources, open textbooks, and digital rental options.

My students need to read a chapter from a print book, can the Library scan the chapter and post it to mêskanâs?

Yes. MacEwan Fair Dealing Guidelines permit a short excerpt to be digitized and posted to mêskanâs (that is password protected and limited to students registered in your class) or copied and used as a class handout. A short excerpt is defined as:

  • A single chapter from a book,
  • One article from a periodical or newspaper,
  • An entire artistic work such as a painting, photograph, diagram, map, chart, or a plan,
  • A single poem or musical score from a publication that contains other poems or scores,
  • A single entry from an encyclopedia or other reference works.

Please fill out the digitization form to make a request. You can also make a digitization request from Course Resource Lists. New to Course Resource Lists? Visit our Getting Started Guide to learn more.

My PowerPoint was posted to a course sharing site without my permission, how do I get it removed?

You own the intellectual property in any teaching or learning materials that you create including PowerPoint slides, class handouts, streamed lectures, and lecture notes. Course sharing site such as Course Hero, OneClass, Chegg, or StuDocu are intended for students to share notes and facilitate studying; however, instructors’ materials are sometimes posted without their knowledge or permission. You can send a request to a course sharing site to remove the materials that you created:

Where can I learn more about open education resources, including open textbooks?

MacEwan instructors are encouraged to create and share open education resources to provide students with affordable, accessible and relevant teaching materials, as supported in the the University’s Copyright Policy.

Visit the library’s page on Open Education Resources. to learn more about the university’s open textbook publishing service, open education repositories, and available resources and supports.

Additional Resources