Ontario Tech University respects both the rights of creators and owners of copyright-protected materials and the rights of users to make certain uses of copyright-protected materials.
Faculty, staff, and students are subject to the protections and obligations outlined in the Copyright Act. Use of copyright-protected material is also subject to the provisions outlined in various agreements and licenses the university has with other copyright owners (for example, online databases or other electronic resources).
Generally, you must seek permission from the copyright owner before you make protected uses of their work unless:
Members of the University community are responsible for informing themselves about the parameters of both Canada’s Copyright Act and the institution’s licenses and agreements. They must also ensure that any copying completed in connection with University activities complies with these guidelines.
The Library’s Copyright team is an important resource. We can help you determine whether the University already has an existing licence or agreement that covers your intended use. The Library’s Copyright experts can also work with you to secure appropriate permissions and answer any questions you may have about fair dealing and these guidelines: copyright@ontariotechu.ca.
Generally, copyright means the sole or exclusive right to produce or reproduce a work or a substantial part of it in any form, the right to perform the work or any substantial part of it, or if the work is unpublished, copyright includes the right to publish the work or any substantial part of it. In most cases the first owner of copyright is the creator.
In Canada, copyright applies to all original literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works provided the conditions of the Copyright Act are met. Copyright also applies to performers' performances, sound recordings and communication signals.
Copyright automatically applies at the time of creation for works, including:
