Earlier this week, UBC provided a news update about why it is not signing a license agreement with Access Copyright. In case you missed it, here is a summary along with a UBC acknowledgement to the whole UBC community:
Three main reasons why UBC has opted out of Access Copyright:
- UBC has existing license agreements with over 950 publishers providing access to online resources. UBC’s decision positions us towards a sustainable future and full adoption of digital learning and teaching technologies.
- UBC remains concerned about the affordability of higher education, which is borne in part by taxpayers and in part by students. The measures taken by UBC since its 2011 decision have positioned it well and enable UBC’s students and faculty to access teaching and research materials more cost-effectively than if UBC were to enter into a license based on the model.
- The AUCC model license only permits copying of up to 10% of a work (20% in case of course packs) and only with respect to a narrow repertoire that is almost exclusively print-based. Therefore, the license would not be cost-effective for UBC and does not absolve faculty members and students from the need to respect the legal rights of copyright owners.
UBC acknowledgement to the UBC community:
UBC’s faculty, staff, and students have worked very hard since 2011 when UBC decided to operate in a copyright-compliant fashion without resorting to the interim tariff. We thank you for your efforts and support since we embarked on this course last year. We believe this reflects UBC’s core values: academic integrity, the respect of intellectual property rights and a sustainable future.
Did you know?
UBC provides its academic community with the following Copyright tools and resources to facilitate access learning and research materials both easily and legally. It uses a dedicated website (http://copyright.ubc.ca), a UBC Copyright Advisory Group (responds to faculty and staff queries about the appropriate use of copyrighted materials), ongoing course pack production with copyright clearances arranged through the Bookstore; and, a new UBC Copyright Office to be established.
Above image is courtesy of UBC Library and partial excerpt in italics is courtesy of UBC’s Copyright at UBC website