Fair Dealing Decision Tool

Answer a few questions about your material and how you plan to share it. The tool guides you through the relevant considerations and explains what to do next - including for openly licensed and library content.

 Copyright Self-Checklist

A step-by-step guide for copyrighted materials, based on how Canadian copyright law actually works. Work through it before posting, printing, or sharing any third-party content.

This checklist is guidance only and not legal advice. Fair dealing is assessed case-by-case.
0 of 9 factors addressed
 

Factor 1 – Purpose (Critical)

My use is for education, research, criticism, or review. One of the allowable purposes under s. 29 of the Copyright Act.

Factor 2 – Character (Critical)

Access is restricted to select people only through a secure platform (Moodle, Microsoft Teams, or eReserves). The content is not publicly posted or shared beyond those authorized to view it.

Factor 3 – Amount (Critical)

Only a reasonable portion of the work, typically one chapter, one article, or a short excerpt, is used.

Factor 4 – Nature of the work

The work has been published or made publicly available. I am not reproducing an unpublished manuscript, confidential report, or a work the author has not chosen to release.

Factor 5 – Alternatives

No open or non‑copyrighted alternative is reasonably available.
Where the content is accessible through the CNC Library or an official website, I am linking to the source rather than uploading a copy.

Factor 6 – Market effect (Critical)

Sharing this will not replace the need to obtain the original work.

Good Practice - Attribution & Future Reuse

I will include a full citation identifying the author, title, publication, year, and source so others can locate the original work.
 Faculty - If I plan to use this content in future terms, I will submit it through eReserves so the library can track cumulative use and flag any licensing concerns.
 

Additional Support