Exceptions for Educational Institutions

Asking for special institutional-based exemptions is the approach that was taken in the last round of copyright reform in 1997. It resulted in a complicated, and not very useful, set of narrow privileges for educational institutions. Unfortunately, this approach is still being pushed by groups representing a narrow band of university and college stakeholders: administrators. Seeking further special exemptions that are not available to the general public is a fundamentally flawed strategy.

The better option is an expanded and open-ended definition in the Act of fair dealing that reflects the principles laid out in the CCH judgement.