Other Online Content

[Updated: 25 Feb 2025]

Many internet sites provide access to freely available resources. In cases where the content is likely protected by copyright (i.e., not in the public domain) and does not appear to have been shared under an open licence, it is best to treat the work as “all rights reserved.” It is important to check the website and the accessed content for any terms of use specified by the rights holder(s).

Free Online Resources – University of Alberta Library 

 

Users may rely on exceptions in the Copyright Act to reproduce copyright-protected online content, under certain specific circumstances, without requiring the permission of the rights holder(s).

In addition to Fair Dealing and Other Exceptions, the Copyright Act includes a provision that specifically addresses the use by an educational institution of material available through the internet. This provision is s. 30.04. 

Work available through Internet (Section 30.04)

Section 30.04 (1) states that "an educational institution, or a person acting under the authority of one", "for educational or training purposes" can reproduce, and communicate or perform to students at the educational institution, any "work or other subject-matter that is available through the Internet".

However, there are some conditions attached to this exception:

• Section 30.04 (2) states that the work reproduced, communicated or performed must be appropriately cited;
• Section 30.04 (3) states that this exception does not apply where access to the work, or the internet site where it is posted, is protected by a TPM;
• Section 30.04 (4) states that this exception does not apply where reproduction of the work is protected by a TPM or if there is a clearly visible notice on the site that prohibits such uses of the work; and
• Finally, Section 30.04 (5) states that this exception does not apply if there is reason to believe the work was posted to the internet without the authorization of the rights holder.

Please see the full text of Section 30.04, linked above, for additional details.