Copyright Resources
Welcome to OLA’s Copyright Resource page! The world of copyright and content use is a complicated one to navigate. Explore the links below and access key information, updates, and further reading material to help you manage copyright in your library and information-based organization.
- Accessible Content: A Guide to the Canadian Copyright Act on Searching for Accessible Formats and Producing and Distributing Alternate Formats – released by CARL & CFLA. This guide provides a clear, practical overview of the laws governing access to and use of copyrighted materials for people with perceptual disabilities in Canada. It covers how these laws are applied, offers a checklist of requirements, shares best practices, and provides practical advice for everyday situations. The guide also includes recommendations on eliminating barriers to access and a glossary of relevant terms (also available as an EPUB).
- Information Brief: Summary of York University v Access Copyright, Supreme Court of Canada 2021 SCC 32. (2021) Prepared August 16, 2021 by Professor Margaret Ann Wilkinson, Professor Emerita & Adjunct Full Professor (Western Law), OLA Copyright Advisor. This document is provided for information only and does not constitute legal advice.
- OLA Super Conference 2025: Copyright Update – Presented by David Fewer. In 2024, Canadian copyright law has seen notable developments in case law and policy. Courts have addressed key copyright concepts such as authorization, the overlap between fair dealing and the protection of digital locks, and the scope of moral rights. On the policy front, the government is consulting on reforms to the Copyright Act to address new challenges from artificial intelligence. Key issues include text and data mining, infringement in outputs, and the ownership of AI-generated works, with stakeholder positions polarized between fostering innovation and protecting authors’ rights.
- Canadian copyright information:
- Canadian Copyright Term and Public Domain Flowchart (revised 2023) – The University of Alberta Copyright Office updated the format for the chart to make the pathways clearer and easier to navigate for users. Please send any feedback to copyright@ualberta.ca.
- Crown Copyright and Licensing:
- Canadian Intellectual Property Office
- Copyright Board of Canada
- The Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL) – Copyright page
- CFLA Copyright Resources page
- Copyright Matters! 5th Edition – Some Key Questions and Answers for Teachers (2022) – This booklet gives teachers user-friendly information on copyright law, covering items from the Canadian Copyright Act and its regulations, contractual and tariff arrangements with copyright collectives, and court decisions. Note: The booklet is not a substitute for legal advice, which should be sought in cases where the application of general principles is unclear.
- OHLA Revised Guide to Copyright for Canadian Hospitals, 2021
- OLA Copyright Committee – formerly the Copyright User Group, this is OLA’s team of library and information professionals working with copyright laws and users.
- OLA Copyright Symposium – an annual, two-day event in early December that focuses on issues related to copyright for various types of libraries. Hosted by the OLA Copyright Committee.
- Excess Copyright – by Howard Knopf
- Fair Dealing in Education – by Lisa Di Valentino
- Fair Duty – by Meera Nair
- IPilogue – by Osgoode Hall Law School
- Michael Geist
- Sara Bannerman
