The Fair Dealing Decision Tool helps teachers decide whether "fair dealing" permits classroom use of print materials, artistic works, or audiovisual materials without first getting copyright permission. The tool helps teachers determine whether a specific intended classroom use is allowed by the Fair Dealing Guidelines.

Teachers! Thinking of using a copyright-protected work? Use this tool to find out if the use is allowed under fair dealing.

Note: Repeating your click on a chosen box will take you back to your previous choice.

WHAT TYPE OF PUBLISHED WORK IS IT?

• CONSUMABLE (ONE-TIME USE ITEM, WORKBOOK, EXERCISE SHEET)

• Article from a periodical

  For what purpose is the work being used?

  • Education (e.g., in the classroom, learning management system content)

    How will the work be distributed?

    • Class handout

      Your response suggests that this use is permitted under fair dealing.

      You may copy up to a full article from each issue of a periodical for the purpose of education.

      If you are still unsure whether you satisfy the Fair Dealing Guidelines, contact your school’s principal for further information and assistance.
    • Posted to a learning management system

      Your response suggests that this use is permitted under fair dealing.

      You may copy up to a full article from each issue of a periodical for the purpose of education.

      If you are still unsure whether you satisfy the Fair Dealing Guidelines, contact your school’s principal for further information and assistance.

      Note: Learning management systems must be password protected and restricted to teachers, school staff, and students enrolled in a class.
    • Part of a course pack

      Your response suggests that this use is permitted under fair dealing.

      You may copy up to a full article from each issue of a periodical for the purpose of education.

      If you are still unsure whether you satisfy the Fair Dealing Guidelines, contact your school’s principal for further information and assistance.
    • E-mailed to students

      Your response suggests that this use is permitted under fair dealing.

      You may copy and e-mail up to a full article from each issue of a periodical for the purpose of education.
    • Other

      If the work is being distributed to an open audience (e.g., access is not restricted) or distributed in a way that is not well defined (e.g., access is ongoing), contact your school’s principal for further information and assistance.
  • Private study, research

    Your response suggests that this use is permitted under fair dealing.

    You may copy up to a full article from each issue of a periodical for the purpose of private study or research.

    Note: If you are planning on publishing your research, in general, you may not include a copy of the article, or even a substantial portion, with your publication—doing so may not be considered fair dealing.
  • Criticism, review, news reporting

    Your response suggests that this use is permitted under fair dealing.

    You may copy up to a full article from each issue of a periodical as part of the research process and include portions within your work.

    Note: As part of your critique, review, or news report, you must mention the source and, if provided, list the author(s) or creator(s). 
  • Other (e.g., public distribution, commercial use, profit, entertainment)

    You are generally not permitted to use the copyright-protected work if it is:

    a) Not for the purpose of education, research, private study, satire, parody, criticism, review, or news reporting; OR

    b) Intended to be used for commercial activity, profit, entertainment, or public distribution.

    For instance, if you would like to use music for non-educational purposes, for example, as background music, or at a school event, licences should generally be obtained from the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN) www.socan.ca and Re:Sound www.resound.ca.
• Book

  For what purpose is the work being used?

  • Education (e.g., in the classroom, learning management system content)

    How will the work be distributed?

    • Class handout

      Your response suggests that this use is permitted under fair dealing.

      You may copy approximately 10 per cent or a full chapter, whichever is greater, from a book for the purpose of education.

      If you are still unsure whether you satisfy the Fair Dealing Guidelines, contact your school’s principal for further information and assistance.
    • Posted to a learning management system

      Your response suggests that this use is permitted under fair dealing.

      You may copy approximately 10 per cent or a full chapter, whichever is greater, from a book for the purpose of education.

      If you are still unsure whether you satisfy the Fair Dealing Guidelines, contact your school’s principal for further information and assistance.

      Note: Learning management systems must be password protected and restricted to teachers, school staff, and students enrolled in a class.
    • Part of a course pack

      Your response suggests that this use is permitted under fair dealing.

      You may copy approximately 10 per cent or a full chapter, whichever is greater, from a book for the purpose of education.

      If you are still unsure whether you satisfy the Fair Dealing Guidelines, contact your school’s principal for further information and assistance.
    • E-mailed to students

      Your response suggests that this use is permitted under fair dealing.

      You may copy and e-mail approximately 10 per cent or a full chapter, whichever is greater, from a book for the purpose of education.
    • Other

      If the work is being distributed to an open audience (e.g., access is not restricted) or distributed in a way that is not well defined (e.g., access is ongoing), contact your school’s principal for further information and assistance.
  • Private study, research

    Your response suggests that this use is permitted under fair dealing.

    You may copy approximately 10 per cent or a full chapter from a book, whichever is greater, for private study or research.

    Note: If you are planning on publishing your research, in general, you may not include a copy of the book sections, or even a substantial portion, with your publication—doing so may not be considered fair dealing.
  • Criticism, review, news reporting

    Your response suggests that this use is permitted under fair dealing.

    You may copy approximately 10 per cent or a full chapter from a book, whichever is greater, as part of the research process, and include portions within your work.

    Note: As part of your critique, review, or news report, you must mention the source and, if provided, list the author(s) or creator(s). 
  • Other (e.g., public distribution, commercial use, profit, entertainment)

    You are generally not permitted to use the copyright-protected work if it is:

    a) Not for the purposed of education, research, private study, satire, parody, criticism, review, or news reporting;

    OR

    b) Intended to be used for commercial activity, profit, entertainment, or public distribution.

    For instance, if you would like to use music for non-educational purposes, for example, as background music, or at a school event, licences should generally be obtained from the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN) www.socan.ca and Re:Sound www.resound.ca.
• Artistic work (painting, print, photograph, diagram, drawing, map, chart, plan)

  Is the work from a copyright-protected work containing other such works?

  • Yes

    For what purpose is the work being used?

    • Education (e.g., in the classroom, learning management system content)

      How will the work be distributed?

      • Class handout

        Your response suggests that this use is permitted under fair dealing.

        You may copy the entire artistic work for the purpose of education.
      • Posted to a learning management system

        Your response suggests that this use is permitted under fair dealing.

        You may copy the entire artistic work for the purpose of education.

         

        Note: Learning management systems must be password protected and restricted to teachers, school staff, and students enrolled in a class.
      • Part of a course pack

        Your response suggests that this use is permitted under fair dealing.

        You may copy the entire artistic work for the purpose of education.
      • E-mailed to students

        Your response suggests that this use is permitted under fair dealing.

        You may copy and e-mail the entire artistic work for the purpose of education.
      • Other

        If the work is being distributed to an open audience (e.g., access is not restricted) or distributed in a way that is not well defined (e.g., access is ongoing), contact your school’s principal for further information and assistance.
    • Private study, research

      Your response suggests that this use is permitted under fair dealing.

      You may copy the entire artistic work for the purpose of private study or research.

      Note: If you are planning on publishing your research, in general, you may not include a copy of the artistic work with your publication—doing so may not be considered fair dealing.
    • Criticism, review, news reporting

      Your response suggests that this use is permitted under fair dealing.

      You may copy the entire artistic work as part of the research process and include it within your work.

       

      Note: As part of your critique, review, or news report, you must mention the source and, if provided, list the author(s) or creator(s). 
    • Other (e.g., public distribution, commercial use, profit, entertainment)

      You are generally not permitted to use the copyright-protected work if it is:

      a) Not for the purposed of education, research, private study, satire, parody, criticism, review, or news reporting; OR

      b) Intended to be used for commercial activity, profit, entertainment, or public distribution.

      For instance, if you would like to use music for non-educational purposes, for example, as background music, or at a school event, licences should generally be obtained from the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN) www.socan.ca and Re:Sound www.resound.ca.
  • No

    If the work of interest (e.g., a painting) is not taken from a copyright-protected work containing other such works (e.g., a book containing numerous paintings), you may not use more than 10 per cent of the work. For example, a single painting by Pablo Picasso can be retrieved from a copyright-protected book that contains other artistic works.
• Poem, musical score

  Is the work from a copyright-protected work containing other such works?

  • Yes

    For what purpose is the work being used?

    • Education (e.g., in the classroom, learning management system content)

      How will the work be distributed?

      • Class handout

        Your response suggests that this use is permitted under fair dealing.

        You may copy the entire poem or musical score for the purpose of education.     
      • Posted to a learning management system

        Your response suggests that this use is permitted under fair dealing.

        You may copy the entire poem or musical score for the purpose of education.

        Note: Learning management systems must be password protected and restricted to teachers, school staff, and students enrolled in a class.     
      • Part of a course pack

        Your response suggests that this use is permitted under fair dealing.

        You may copy the entire poem or musical score for the purpose of education.     
      • E-mail to students

        Your response suggests that this use is permitted under fair dealing.

        You may copy and e-mail the entire poem or musical score for the purpose of education.
      • Other

        If the work is being distributed to an open audience (e.g., access is not restricted) or distributed in a way that is not well defined (e.g., access is ongoing), contact your school’s principal for further information and assistance.
    • Private study, research

      Your response suggests that this use is permitted under fair dealing.

      You may copy the entire poem or musical score for the purpose of private study or research.

      Note: If you are planning on publishing your research, in general, you may not include a copy of the poem or musical score with your publication–doing so may not be considered fair dealing.
    • Criticism, review, news reporting

      Your response suggests that this use is permitted under fair dealing.

      You may copy the entire poem or musical score as part of the research process and include portions within your work.

       

      Note: As part of your critique, review, or news report, you must mention the source and, if provided, list the author(s) or creator(s). 
    • Other (e.g., public distribution, commercial use, profit, entertainment)

      You are generally not permitted to use the copyright-protected work if it is:

      a) Not for the purposed of education, research, private study, satire, parody, criticism, review, or news reporting; OR

      b) Intended to be used for commercial activity, profit, entertainment, or public distribution.

      For instance, if you would like to use music for non-educational purposes, for example, as background music or at a school event, licences should generally be obtained from the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN) www.socan.ca and Re:Sound www.resound.ca.
  • No

    If the work of interest (e.g., a poem) is not taken from a copyright-protected work containing other such works (e.g., an anthology of numerous poems), you may not use more than 10 per cent of the work. For example, a single poem by Edgar Allan Poe can be retrieved from a copyright-protected book or anthology containing multiple poems.  
• Newspaper article

  For what purpose is the work being used?

  • Education (e.g., in the classroom, learning management system content)

    How will the work be distributed?

    • Class handout

      Your response suggests that this use is permitted under fair dealing.

      You may copy up to a full article from each issue of a newspaper for the purpose of education.    
    • Posted to a learning management system

      Your response suggests that this use is permitted under fair dealing.

      You may copy up to a full article from each issue of a newspaper for the purpose of education.

       

      Note: Learning management systems must be password protected and restricted to teachers, school staff, and students enrolled in a class.        
    • Part of a course pack

      Your response suggests that this use is permitted under fair dealing.

      You may copy up to a full article from each issue of a newspaper for the purpose of education.    
    • E-mailed to students

      Your response suggests that this use is permitted under fair dealing.

      You may copy and e-mail the full article from an issue of a newspaper for the purpose of education.
    • Other

      If the work is being distributed to an open audience (e.g., access is not restricted) or distributed in a way that is not well defined (e.g., access is ongoing), contact your school’s principal for further information and assistance.
  • Private study, research

    Your response suggests that this use is permitted under fair dealing.

    You may copy up to a full article from each issue of a newspaper for the purpose of private study or research.

    Note: If you are planning on publishing your research, in general, you may not include a copy of the article with your publication—doing so may not be considered fair dealing. 
  • Criticism, review, news reporting

    Your response suggests that this use is permitted under fair dealing.

    You may copy the entire newspaper article as part of the research process and include portions within your work.

     

    Note: As part of your critique, review, or news report, you must mention the source and, if provided, list the author(s) or creator(s). 
  • Other (e.g., public distribution, commercial use, profit, entertainment

    You are generally not permitted to use the copyright-protected work if it is:

    a) Not for the purposed of education, research, private study, satire, parody, criticism, review, or news reporting; OR

    b) Intended to be used for commercial activity, profit, entertainment, or public distribution.

    For instance, if you would like to use music for non-educational purposes, for example, as background music, or at a school event, licences should generally be obtained from the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN) www.socan.ca and Re:Sound www.resound.ca.
• Reference book (encyclopedia, dictionary, annotated bibliography)

  For what purpose is the work being used?

  • Education (e.g., in the classroom, learning management system content)

    How will the work be distributed?

    • Class handout

      Your response suggests that this use is permitted under fair dealing.

      You may copy an entire entry from a reference book for the purpose of education, as long as no more of the work is copied than is necessary to achieve the allowable purpose.
    • Posted to a learning management system

      Your response suggests that this use is permitted under fair dealing.

      You may copy an entire entry from a reference book for the purpose of education, as long as no more of the work is copied than is necessary to achieve the allowable purpose.

       

      Note: Learning management systems must be password protected and restricted to teachers, school staff, and students enrolled in a class.     
    • Part of a course pack

      Your response suggests that this use is permitted under fair dealing.

      You may copy an entire entry from a reference book for the purpose of education, as long as no more of the work is copied than is necessary to achieve the allowable purpose.     
    • E-mailed to students

      Your response suggests that this use is permitted under fair dealing.

      You may copy and e-mail the entire entry from a reference book for the purpose of education, as long as no more of the work is copied than is necessary to achieve the allowable purpose.
    • Other

      If the work is being distributed to an open audience (e.g., access is not restricted) or distributed in a way that is not well defined (e.g., access is ongoing), contact your school’s principal for further information and assistance.
  • Private study, research

    Your response suggests that this use is permitted under fair dealing.

    You may copy an entire entry from a reference book for the purpose of private study or research, as long as no more of the work is copied than is necessary to achieve the allowable purpose.
  • Criticism, review, news reporting

    Your responses suggests that this use is permitted under fair dealing.

    You may copy the entire entry from a reference book and include portions within your work, as long as no more of the work is copied than is necessary to achieve the allowable purpose.

     

    Note: As part of your critique, review, or news report, you must mention the source and, if provided, list the author(s) or creator(s). 
  • Other (e.g., public distribution, commercial use, profit, entertainment)

    You are generally not permitted to use the copyright-protected work if it is:

    a) Not for the purposed of education, research, private study, satire, parody, criticism, review, or news reporting; OR

    b) Intended to be used for commercial activity, profit, entertainment, or public distribution.

    For instance, if you would like to use music for non-educational purposes, for example, as background music or at a school event, licences should generally be obtained from the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN) www.socan.ca and Re:Sound www.resound.ca.
• Audiovisual (film, TV show), sound recording

  For what purpose is the work being used?

  • Education (e.g., in the classroom, learning management system content)

    How will the work be distributed?

    • In class

      Your response suggests that this use is permitted under fair dealing.

      You may present an audiovisual or sound recording in class as long as the copy was obtained legitimately (e.g., owned, borrowed, rented) and your audience consists primarily of students, instructors, or any person who is directly responsible for setting curriculum for the school.

      Note: If you are using an audiovisual or sound recording found on the Internet, you may show it in class only if you reasonably think that the copyright holder permitted its use on-line (e.g., an episode of This Hour Has 22 Minutes is posted in the on-line catalogue at CBC.ca).
    • Posted to a learning management system

      Your response suggests that this use is permitted under fair dealing.

      You may present, copy, and/or distribute up to 10 per cent of an audiovisual work or sound recording on a learning management system.

      If you are using an audiovisual or sound recording found on the Internet, you may also link to it on your school’s learning management system if you know that the copyright holder permitted its use on-line (e.g., an episode of This Hour Has 22 Minutes is posted in the on-line catalogue at CBC.ca).

      Note: Learning management systems must be password protected and restricted to teachers, school staff, and students enrolled in a class.
    • E-mailed to students

      Your response suggests that this use is permitted under fair dealing.

      You may present, copy, and/or distribute up to 10 per cent of an audiovisual work or sound recording to students by e-mail.     
  • Private study, research

    Your response suggests that this use is permitted under fair dealing.

    You may copy approximately 10 per cent of an audiovisual or sound recording for the purpose of private study or research.
  • Criticism, review, news reporting

    Your response suggests that this use is permitted under fair dealing.

    You may copy approximately 10 per cent of an audiovisual or sound recording as part of the research process and include portions of what you have copied within your work.

     

    Note: As part of your critique, review, or news report, you must mention the source and, if provided, list the author(s) or creator(s). 
  • Other (e.g., public distribution, commercial use, profit, entertainment)

    You are generally not permitted to use the copyright-protected work if it is:

    a) Not for the purposed of education, research, private study, satire, parody, criticism, review, or news reporting; OR

    b) Intended to be used for commercial activity, profit, entertainment, or public distribution.

    For instance, if you would like to use music for non-educational purposes, for example, as background music, or at a school event, licences should generally be obtained from the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN) www.socan.ca and Re:Sound www.resound.ca.
• Other

  For those works that are not listed here, please consult the Fair Dealing Guidelines or contact your school’s principal for further information and assistance.