Section 1.2: System Policies and Procedures

Approved: November 20, 2012

Revised: May 5, 2026

COPYRIGHT POLICY AND FAIR DEALING GUIDELINES

1.0             Rationale

The Copyright Act permits the use of a copyright-protected work without permission from the copyright owner or the payment of copyright royalties, for educational purposes, provided the dealing is “fair” in accordance to the guidelines provided by the decisions of the Supreme Court of Canada.

2.0             Definitions

Copyright: The exclusive legal right, given to an originator or an assignee, to print, publish, perform, film, or record literary, artistic, or musical material, and to authorize others to do the same.

Fair Dealing: A statutory exception in the Copyright Act that permits the use of a copyright-protected work for specific purposes—such as education, research, private study, criticism, or review—without the need for permission or payment of royalties.

Copyright-Protected Work: Any original literary, dramatic, musical, or artistic work, including computer programs, fixed in a tangible format.

Educational Purposes: Activities specifically related to the instruction of students, including lesson preparation, classroom delivery, and school-sanctioned research.

3.0             Policy

District School Board Ontario North East is committed to comply with the Fair Dealing Guidelines as developed by the Council of Ministers of Education Canada (CMEC) Copyright Consortium. 

References

Copyright Act 

Fair Dealing Guidelines – Council of Ministers of Education Canada (CMEC) Copyright Consortium