Terms of reference

Section: V Communication
Policy: Communication
Date: 2003-08-26

Purpose

To describe copyright activities as covered by the Health Unit's Access Copyright licence. To describe the process for copyrighting all in-house products and giving permission to outside personnel to use materials produced by the Health Unit.

Policy

All copying carried out at the Health Unit will conform to the Canadian Copyright Act 1 and our Access Copyright2 licence. The copyright in original creative works produced by staff, students and volunteers of the Health Unit is owned by the Health Unit and is automatically considered copyright protected, under Canadian law. All works will contain the copyright symbol (©) to serve as a reminder to others that the work is protected by copyright law. Formally registering materials may be done under special circumstances. Other agencies or individuals wishing to reproduce Health Unit materials are subject to guidelines that shall be clearly stated on the document or piece of work.

1. The Canadian Copyright Act (amended 1997) is a federal law protecting the creators of intellectual property against reproduction of their materials.
   
   Intellectual property: includes literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works including books, writings, photographs, diagrams, charts, cartoons, videos, films, plays, television and radio programs, electronic files and computer programs. What is not covered under copyright law includes facts, themes, ideas, proper names (unless trademarked), slogans, most titles and catch phrases. In other words, these works may be reproduced without permission.
2. Access Copyright, the Canadian Copyright Licencing Agency, is a not-for-profit agency established in 1988 by Canadian writers and publishers to license public access to copyright works. The licence provides users with immediate, lawful and economical access to published works while ensuring that copyright owners are compensated for such use.

Original Date: 1996-10-30