The Canadian Library Association on Access Copyright Licenses: Dislike

The Canadian Library Association has issued a “Statement on Licenses with Access Copyright in Post-Secondary Institutions“. CLA thinks, quite correctly, that these licenses are uncool.

While viewing the move from Copyright Board proceedings to contractual negotiations as a welcome development, the CLA is unimpressed with the result. Therefore,

The Canadian Library Association strongly urges academic leaders to consider other alternatives that ensure lawful use of works protected by copyright without requiring a license agreement with Access Copyright. Alternatives include: institutional policies and practices based upon fair dealing, fuller utilization of institutions’ licensed electronic holdings, use of open access resources, use of creative commons licensing, and site and transactional licensing arrangements. CLA urges institutions to involve their academic librarians in exploring alternatives to licenses with Access Copyright. Although it may still currently be most practicable for some institutions to negotiate blanket licenses in the short-term with Access Copyright (for instance, while post-secondary alternative institutional policies and practices are established), CLA strongly recommends the development of long-term post-secondary institutional strategies that reduce or eliminate institutional reliance on blanket licensing with Access Copyright.

Well said, and the earlier the better.

This statement, from the national organization of Canadian librarians, follows similar, albeit stronger, statements from Provincial associations. Presumably, reaching consensus at the national level has been more difficult, but still, this is an important statement.

Here are links to earlier statements:

• British Columbia: http://bclainfopolicycommittee.wordpress.com/2012/05/12/be-it-resolved-resolution-on-access-copyright-and-academic-libraries-in-canada/
• Newfoundland and Labrador: http://nlla.ca/2012/05/09/nlla-advising-universities-colleges-not-to-sign-auccs-proposed-model-license-with-access-copyright/
• Atlantic Provinces: http://apla.ca/?q=node/149
• Manitoba: http://mla.mb.ca/news/mla-urges-universities-colleges-not-to-sign-on-to-access-copyright-deal