Universities urge speedy passage of balanced copyright bill
OTTAWA – Canada’s universities are urging swift passage of Bill C-11, the Copyright Modernization Act, which was sent to committee this week for review.
“This bill is an important step forward in providing a balance between the interests of creators and users of copyright works,” says Paul Davidson, president of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada. “It’s a good approach for Canada’s universities, which are both creators and users of copyright works. The bill clarifies important questions and will help ensure students and learners have access to the content they need, including digital material.”
Bill C-11 will allow universities to harness new technologies, including the Internet, to deliver research and learning materials to faculty members and students. It contains many of the changes the university community suggested during the government’s public consultations in 2009, including exceptions permitting the educational use of Internet materials and the recording and Internet transmission of lessons. These changes will facilitate online learning, including distance education, and make university education more accessible for Aboriginals and mature students.
“Canadian universities recognize the importance of balance between the desire of creators to receive fair remuneration for the use of their works and the public interest in being able to use information for purposes such as research and education,” says Davidson. “This copyright law will result in a fairer treatment for both parties.”
Universities and university students pay large sums to purchase and license educational materials and this will continue under this new legislation. Canada’s university libraries spend more than $300 million annually to buy and license new content for research and learning. In addition, more than $400 million is spent every year in university bookstores to buy new textbooks, course packs and works in digital format.
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For more information or interview opportunities:
Helen Murphy
AUCC Communications Manager
hmurphy@aucc.ca
Tel.: 613-563-1236, ext. 238