What is Copyright?

Copyright is a law that protects moral and economic rights of content creators. Copyright has rights for both creators and users in an effort to create a balanced and fair use of copyrighted works. There are also exceptions available, such as fair dealing, consult your college's copyright policies to learn more.

In Canada, copyright protection is automatic upon the creation of a work. As soon as you produce something original in fixed form (written, video, audio on a CD, etc.) you own the copyright for that item (unless you’ve agreed to sign it over to someone else). Only the copyright owner has the right to decide when and how the work is used (from  The Copyright Act).

And remember even if a work does not have a copyright symbol ©, the work is still protected under The Copyright Act.

What is Protected?

All original creative works are protected

This includes: 

• artistic works such as drawings, engravings, paintings and photographs
• computer/digital material like clip art, computer programs, databases, emails, blogs, wikis and websites
• dramatic works including radio and television shows, films, plays and musicals
• literary works such as books, magazines, pamphlets and newspapers
• musical works such as arrangements, adaptations, sound recordings and sheet music

Video from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.

Overview of Copyright Policies

What policies should I be aware of?

A Warning

If you are found infringing on The Copyright Act you could:

• receive a zero on an assignment
• be reported to the college
• face a fine of up to $5000

What is Copyright?

Copyright is a law that protects the moral and economic rights of content creators. Use this page to learn more about copyright.

Copyright at St. Lawrence College

We can help you understand copyright and its implications. Find our college's copyright policy in the list of links below.

Cite your Sources

Even if the material you would like to use has a Creative Commons license or is in the public domain, you should always cite your sources.

Don't Take Shortcuts

The consequences of breaking copyright law can be severe. Always do the extra work to make sure you are staying within the boundaries of copyright law.