CFLA: FAIR DEALING GUIDANCE FOR CANADIAN LIBRARIES
DURING THE TIME OF COVID-19
CFLA-FCAB_Fair_Dealing_Guidance_Covid-19
FCAB-CFLA_guide_utilisation_équitable_Covid-19
FAIR DEALING GUIDANCE FOR CANADIAN LIBRARIES
DURING THE TIME OF COVID-19
ISSUE
It is imperative for the duration of a national or global health crisis that libraries continue
responding to information requests for creative, educational, and information purposes
and it is understood that fulfilling these requests may require reproducing content. Fair
dealing is an important and vital user right that continues to support dissemination of
information to the public and empowers library users, scholars and scientists. Fair
dealing supports libraries in providing continued opportunities for personal fulfillment,
intellectual, and professional growth during these challenging times.
CFLA-FCAB thanks open access publishers and creators of open works. The COVID-19
pandemic highlights the importance of the open access scholarly communication
model that continues to improve access to materials for teaching and instruction, and
to results of research. CFLA-FCAB acknowledges the current vendors and publishers
who are providing free or enhanced access to their online collections for the duration
of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This guidance document is meant to provide clarity to support libraries in considering
copyright as they provide services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
BACKGROUND
Canadian libraries are operating in a time of unprecedented limitations in providing
access to patrons as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Libraries are forced to close
physical spaces in order to support social distancing strategies and operate under
government-directed limits to group sizes. Libraries are working to find ways in digital
environments to continue providing many services that under standard daily operations
would make use of purchased print collections in physical spaces.
FAIR DEALING ANALYSIS
CFLA-FCAB provides the following as guidance to librarians and library staff for fair
dealing factors to consider when working through a fair dealing analysis in the COVID-
19 pandemic.
Fair dealing is one of the users’ rights in Canadian copyright law that permits the use of
a work (the copying or ‘dealing’ of a work) without permission or payment. To be sure
Fair Dealing Guidance for Canadian Libraries During the Time of COVID-19 Page 2
the use of a work is fair, a fair dealing analysis is conducted, according to the criteria
set out by the Supreme Court of Canada in CCH 1.
a) The purpose of the dealing
The fair dealing analysis begins by determining that the use of the work is fair under one
of the enumerated fair dealing purposes outlined in the Copyright Act 2. The dealing
must be an allowable purpose, mentioned in the Act (research, private study,
education, satire, parody, criticism, review or news reporting). It is, and remains, a
condition of the statute that purpose must be satisfied.
Libraries are further guided by the Supreme Court’s statement:
“These allowable purposes should not be given a restrictive interpretation or this
could result in the undue restriction of users’ rights.” 3
b) The character of the dealing
When considering the character of the dealing, libraries must consider how the
reproductions are distributed, to whom, and in what way. These questions are central to
the impact on the character of the dealing. Adopting “lend like print” distribution
strategies may support the delivery of services at this time. What will be done with the
copies and how widely they will be distributed should be considered before copying
material to digital environments. It is recognized that many works have been removed
temporarily from public access, as many libraries are grappling with complete closure
of their physical collections.
c) The amount of the dealing
In these extraordinary circumstances, it is difficult to apply standard limitation restrictions
to the amount of a work copied. The practical considerations, such as the requester’s
limited access to physical collections, the ability to identify specific portions of a work
for copying, and the staff’s working restrictions, will influence the amount of the dealing
and affect the ability to follow usual practice for this factor. Restrictive interpretation of
this factor could result in the undue restriction of users’ rights.
d) Alternatives to the dealing
In considering alternatives to the dealing, it is imperative to consider the factors of
social distancing, and limits upon access to physical collections. Fair dealing defense is
stronger if no alternatives to the dealing are available. Many alternatives to copying
that were previously available in print collections are not available due to shutdowns,
and would be a consideration for this factor.
e) The nature of the work
When considering the nature of the work, libraries should consider whether the work is
published, unpublished, confidential, or if the work is publicly available. Guidelines,
policies and best practices in this area are largely unchanged. If a work has been
published, the dealing may tend to be more fair; if the work is confidential, the dealing
may tend to be unfair.
f) The effect of the dealing on the work
When taking into account the impact of the dealing on the market, weigh whether the
use of the work will compete with the market for the original work. In instances where
works are used in remote teaching and instruction during the pandemic, and for
libraries seeking to provide access to vast legally-purchased library print collections that
are currently restricted from public access, there may be limited or no impact on the
market. Making only short-term use of a copy of the work, for the duration of the
pandemic, may further mitigate market impact.
RECOMMENDATIONS
CFLA-FCAB recommends that:
• Publishers align their practices with the International Coalition of Library Consortia
Statement on the Global COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Impact on Library Services and
Resources.
• The Government of Canada introduce legislation amending section 29 of the
Copyright Act to make the list of purposes allowable under the fair dealing exception
an illustrative list rather than an exhaustive one.
1 CCH Canadian Ltd. v. Law Society of Upper Canada, [2004] 1 S.C.R. 339, 2004 SCC 13
2 S. 29 Fair dealing for the purpose of research, private study, education, parody or satire does not infringe
copyright.
S. 29.1 Fair dealing for the purpose of criticism or review does not infringe copyright…
S. 29.2 Fair dealing for the purpose of news reporting does not infringe copyright…
3 CCH at para 54