Quick Reference Tables
In the Quick Reference Tables a distinction is made between paper and digital copies. If no distinction is made, both formats are included.
| Activity | Source of Permission | On-campus Support |
| Making a single copy of a work for one's own research, private study, or criticism and review | Not an infringement under the Act. For limits, see the Fair Dealing Policy. | Copyright Office for questions |
| Making a paper copy for inclusion in a course pack or course manual | Individual permissions from copyright holder or agent. | Copyright Office to negotiate permissions |
| Making a digital copy for inclusion in a course management system | Individual permissions from copyright holder or agent. | Copyright Office for questions and to negotiate permissions |
| Making a copy of an extract for inclusion in a test or examination | Not an infringement when covered by the educational exemptions in the Copyright Act and when no suitable copy is commercially available. | Copyright Office for clarification |
| Making a paper copy for Library Reserve | In limited cases, the Fair Dealing Policy, otherwise individual permission from copyright holder or agent.1 | Copyright Office to negotiate permissions |
| Making a digital copy for Library Reserve | Memorial's libraries do not support such copies. | N/A |
| Making paper copies for classroom distribution | Depends on source. See Table 1-A. | N/A |
| Making digital copies for class distribution | Depends on source. See Table 1-A. |
N/A |
| Posting a link to an e-journal for inclusion in a course management system or Library Reserves |
No permission necessary |
N/A |
| Posting a link to an image, chart or graph available on the web for inclusion in a course management system |
No permission necessary |
N/A |
| Activity | Sources of Permissions | On-campus Support |
| Making paper copies for class distribution - From paper publications not in the public domain | Written permission from copyright holder | Copyright Office to negotiate clearances and for questions |
| Making paper copies for class distribution - From digital publications licensed by the Library | Terms of license.2 | Check Permitted Uses database, or contact Library Copyright Coordinator for questions. |
| Making paper copies for class distribution from publicly available websites | If explicitly allowed by the website. Otherwise circulate links. | Copyright Office for questions |
| Making digital copies for class distribution from paper publications not in the public domain | Written permission from rights holder | Copyright Office to negotiate clearances and for questions |
| Making/distributing digital copies from Library-licensed electronic resources. | Terms of license.3 | Check Permitted Uses database, or contact Library Copyright Coordinator for questions. |
| Making/distributing digital copies from publicly available websites. | If explicitly allowed by the website. Otherwise circulate links. | Copyright Office for questions. |
Textbooks
In instances in which a textbook has been adopted for a course, many publishers allow unlimited use of copied extracts in the classroom and course management system contexts. An email to the publisher's sales representative is usually sufficient to confirm that statement in a particular instance. When using materials with the permission of the copyright holder, add a "used by permission of ----" note to the presentation.
Textbooks not adopted for a course are covered in the examples in Table 1 and Table 1-A.
All branches of the University Libraries are prepared to buy copies of textbooks not adopted and place them on reserve as an alternative to making copies of extracts.
Table 2: Other activites
| Activity | Source of Permission | On-campus Support |
| Making a copy of a work for inclusion in a classroom presentation (e.g. via PowerPointTM or an overhead projector). | Permitted under the Copyright Act if no suitable copy is available commercially. |
Copyright Office for questions. |
| Showing a feature film in the classroom. | Existing university license or specific written permission. | Please complete the Classroom Performance Request Form. |
| Showing a documentary in the classroom. | Terms of license or specific written permission. |
Contact the Library Copyright Coordinator for information on library items or complete the Classroom Performance Request Form. |
| Showing a broadcast in real time. | Covered in the Copyright Act. No further permission needed. | N/A |
| Making a copy of a broadcast for subsequent presentation in the classroom. | May be permitted by educational exemptions in the Copyright Act. | Copyright Office for clarification. |
| Showing a website using a projector. | No permission is necessary. | N/A |
| Publishing a link to an online resource. | No permission is necessary. | N/A |
| Placing a book or other work on reserve in one of the libraries. | No permission is necessary. | N/A |
| Posting a copy of a work on a website on the public network. |
Written permission of the copyright holder. Otherwise circulate links. |
Copyright Office for questions. |
Table 3: Newspapers
| Source of Newspaper Article | Permission to email copies | Permission to distribute paper copies in classroom | Direct Questions to: |
| Newspaper website | Terms of the website | Terms of the website | Copyright Office |
| Electronic copy licensed by library | Terms of the license | Terms of the license | Library Copyright Coordinator, or check Permitted Uses database |
| Paper copy, staff-written article (American) | Public domain | Public domain | Copyright Office |
| Paper copy, staff-written (Canadian) | Varies with publisher | Varies with publisher | Library Copyright Coordinator, or check Permitted Uses database |
| Paper copy, syndicated article | Written permission from copyright holder | Written permission from copyright holder | Copyright Office |
By "syndicated article" is meant such features as signed columns by writers not on staff of the particular paper, cartoons, feature articles by freelance writers, horoscopes and puzzles. Wire service stories are considered to be written by staff.
The law differs in Canada from that in the U.S. where staff-written articles are considered to be in the public domain. Canadian newspapers take different attitudes toward the educational use of their content and toward its general distribution. The New York Times website, for instance, allows up to 20 email addresses if you wish to send a copy of one of its articles to others.
Memorial is assembling a list of newspapers that permit educational use of such material without further permission.
1 As a matter of policy, Memorial University's Libraries will purchase copies of works not in their collections in order to place the work itself on reserve.
2 Absent a provision to the contrary, a license that grants students the right to make copies is held to grant the right of instructors to make a copy for the students.
3 Copies so distributed should contain a notice to the effect that further distribution by the students is not allowed.
