We are an innovator in new teaching and learning methods which challenges us to appropriately handle copyright issues.  Fortunately, we are working with the University of Manitoba’s recently established Copyright Office, Libraries, Provost’s Office, and Office of Legal Counsel to ensure faculty, staff and students have the tools needed to be successful in teaching, research and learning.

Copyright issues can’t be underestimated as there are serious potential consequences to infringements, both to the individual and the institution.  While instructors shouldn’t be scared to utilize the full capabilities of OPAL, we must be strategic about how we use teaching and learning tools.

Some helpful hints:
• We already have licences to do many of the things you might want to do.  The Health Sciences Libraries subscribe to excellent resources, many of which do allow posting articles and images to OPAL or sharing with UM colleagues.  However, the licences must be checked first so please contact your librarian.
• Review what you post to OPAL or share through journal clubs or grand rounds, considering whether we have a licence that covers that use.
• Providing a link is not making a copy and does not violate copyright.  Provide links rather than post actual articles or images.
• Projecting or displaying copyrighted works during lectures is generally allowed.
• If you are video recording lectures or posting PowerPoint presentations to OPAL, make sure there are no copyright concerns by checking we have a licence for images used or replace them with a link.
• Making a single copy for your own private study, research, criticism, review is generally acceptable.  It is usually only when distributing to more people you need to concern yourself with copyright.
• There are many open-source alternatives to copyrighted works — consider using your own drawings, charts or photographs.

This screencast from Libraries (http://www.screencast.com/t/XVxKAIJX8HJ) about how to check licenses for online journals includes recommendations on how to teach and learn effectively within copyright rules.

The Copyright Office web site (http://umanitoba.ca/admin/vp_admin/ofp/copyright/) provides resources, including the Fair Dealing Guidelines, presentation slides explaining guidelines, practical tips and solutions, plus open access sources and public domain sites.