Can copies be made on public photocopiers without infringing copyright?
Public photocopiers are provided to allow patrons to make copies of their own works (i.e. works for which they are the copyright holder) and to facilitate uses allowed under the fair dealing provisions of the Copyright Act, in particular, those involving research and private study.
Good scholarly practice includes respect for copyright law and the citation of sources when other people's works are being used.
You may:
- Copy unpublished works of which you are the author (class notes, term papers, poems, short stories, etc.) for any purpose; and
- Copy all or part of a journal article, a newspaper page, or a chapter from a book for the purpose of research, private study, review, criticism or news reporting pursuant to Memorial's Fair Dealing Policy.
You may not, unless you are the copyright holder, or have specific written permission from the copyright holder:
- Make multiple copies of a published work;
- Distribute a published work further in any form; or
- Engage in systematic copying (e.g. copy all the chapters in a book or articles in a journal issue, one at a time)
When you incorporate a copied work into your own work (term papers, other class assignments, etc.), always cite the author and the source appropriately.
For a more detailed description of the limitations on fair dealing, see Memorial's Fair Dealing Policy and Fair Dealing FAQ. For questions regarding copyright, contact the Copyright Office. It is your responsibility to avoid infringement under the Copyright Act. Memorial University is not responsible for any acts that infringe copyright.
