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Athabasca, Winnipeg, & Windsor Will Not Sign Access Copyright Model Licence

Following UBC’s announcement that it will not sign the Access Copyright model licence, three additional universities have followed suit – Athabasca, Windsor, and Winnipeg. The four universities demonstrate that the licence raises concerns in all types of universites – big, medium, small and distance-focused.

3 Comments

  1. Crockett says:

    I find it interesting that the University of Victoria has said it will sign the agreement, but under protest. Effectively, they are letting UBC and others chart the rough waters and plan to jump on downstream. I suspect some of the other institutions, and possibly even the AUCC, have similar views and aspirations.

    Both AUCC and Access copyright have overlapping and diverging views on how to best serve their constituents. I’d say neither is completely altruistic or self-serving, but obviously are working for their purposes and that of their members. It is unfortunate though the relationship is so acrimonious, but change often causes strains on any relationship.

    I would like to see the copyright board, AC and the universities work together on incorporating the broader fair use of education in Bill C-11. At the same time, there needs to be attention to proper compensation for those who earn their living developing these materials. Additionally, there needs to be recognition that open source, and notably large government funded endeavors by the USA & EU will have an impact on how, where and when that compensation is procured and distributed.

    Somewhere between the scales of Michael G. & John D. are the solutions for the future.

  2. Some of us have been saying this for a long time, and it’s very unfortunate that we have a polarization similar to what afflicts politics in the US. Open source is fine, though universities are struggling to figure out how to pay for it. But until they do, relying on the private sector to provide educational materials that then don’t get bought because of increased copying is a very doubtful model. Houghton Mifflin just went bankrupt (again) and others will likely follow.

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