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The Canadian copyright clearinghouse Access Copyright, which allows universities to reprint and upload copyrighted course materials for students in exchange for a flat fee, has raised the fee from C$18 to C$45 per student. In response, over a dozen universities have announced they will not renewed their contracts with Access Copyright, preferring to clear copyrights themselves on a case-by-case basis

The University of Calgary has estimated that the expanded licensing fees will bring its costs from C$300,000 per year to C$1.3 million.  The University of British Columbia has estimated that its costs will rise from C$650,000 to C$ 2 million.

The University of British Columbia sent a broadcast email containing its copyright policy to all faculty, staff, and students, asking them to clear copyrights when necessary.  Excerpt:

Infringing copyright is a serious matter and UBC requires each of its faculty, staff and students to comply with copyright law. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action, and because UBC may be liable for the conduct of its faculty and staff, a small number of faculty or staff who fail to comply with copyright law may result in UBC being liable for significant copyright fees and damages. Faculty, staff and students may also be personally liable for copyright infringement, and be responsible for payment of such fees and damages. …

… If you wish to reproduce a substantial part of a copyrighted work, you may only copy the work if the Copyright Act specifically allows you to do so, or if you have express permission from the copyright owner. The Copyright Act provides these exceptions for users, like universities and persons acting under the authority of a university. These exceptions provide a balance between providing copyright owners with legal rights to control use of their works, and allowing users access in specific circumstances that are in the public interest….

University of British Columbia documents:

• Copyright Guidelines for UBC Faculty, Staff, and Students
• Broadcast E-mail: Copyright and Fair Dealing Guidelines, August 8, 2011.

News stories:

• John Marcus for Times Higher Education.  Copyright battles break out in North America.
• Steve Kolowich for Inside Higher Education. Fair Use Face-Off, Canadian Edition.