Copyright—particularly electronic copyright—is a complex and evolving field that is very difficult to summarize. That said, here are some guidelines to keep in mind when uploading resources or posting excerpts in this virtual community and elsewhere on the Internet.
Posting about resources
1. When providing weblinks for resources, be sure to link to the page about the resource and not the file itself. People with slow connections will want to know more about the resource before committing to downloading big files.
2. Be sure to include relevant bibliographic information in your post: author, complete title, date of publication, and publisher or sponsoring organization. That way, if the link expires or changes, it’s easier to find the resource with a little judicious Googling!
Posting excerpts
1. Never cut and paste the text of an article from a website or email to this community. Provide a link instead (see above).
2. Never cut and paste the text of personal communication without express permission from the author.
3. It’s usually okay to provide short excerpts to give the flavour of what you’re linking to, but err on the side of caution and read and follow any copyright notices on the original material.
4. Don’t post information from licensed databases or archives (such as journal archives). This information is usually restricted to the organization that paid the licensing fee, and you may not be able to share information outside your organization.
What you write in this community
1. THCU will not reprint your words or your materials without your permission.
2. For more information, please read our privacy policy.
As a final note, if you’re not sure what to do the best thing to do is ask the creators of the original document. Many organizations are happy to share their information—in whole or in part—for non-commercial use.
If you’re interested in learning more about this issue, here are some sites to visit:
- Access, the Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency
- Candian Intellectual Property Office
- Copyright Board of Canada
- An Introduction to Copyright Concepts and Tips (OHPE 352, March 2004), a feature article discussing copyright and health promotion with associated resources.
Please weblogadmin@thcu.ca or ngadon@thcu.ca with any questions!
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