Every teacher offers learning materials through Canvas. But how do you do this in a copyright-compliant way? How do you easily inform students about which articles they should read and prevent infringements?
The University Library helps teachers use and share copyrighted learning materials. The guidelines for this may not always be clear to everyone. For VU Amsterdam, we created this handy overview that lists all the important conditions and suggestions.
For example, did you know that you can always use up to 40 pages of a publication, as long as it is not more than 20 per cent of the original edition? If you want to use more than 40 pages of a publication, please contact our information specialist, or arrange this yourself via the UvO Foundation. Please note that there is always a charge for this. The VU Support Centre for Learning Materials and Copyright offers support in searching, finding or creating alternatives.
Tips and questions
The UB recommends using:
1: links to publications legitimately available on the internet or licensed by the UB;
2: openly available materials with appropriate permission from the owner (Open Educational Resources/Open Access Materials);
3: the VU Reading Lists. The VU Reading Lists allow lecturers to organise, manage and share their reading lists with students. Using such a list helps you comply with copyright laws because the lists consist of links to the materials.
4: VU Tools for Education has information on how to organise the proper copyright use of learning materials.
Need help?
Not getting anywhere with these tools? Then contact the Copyright Information Point (CIP).
UB helps with proper use of copyrighted learning materials
To simplify the reuse of copyrighted material within academic education, the so-called Easy Access Scheme has been in place since 2017. A new scheme has been agreed for the period from 2023 to 2025 for the entire WO. By dealing carefully with copyrighted material, you avoid an aftercharge for the VU. This additional charge will be borne by the faculty(s).