Copyright

Before adding any file, image, video, or link to Canvas, take a quick moment to make sure it’s copyright compliant. This checklist will help you make confident, compliant choices.

1. What is it? Title, format, and where it came from.
2. How will you use it? Required, optional, or background.
3. Upload or link? When in doubt, link beats upload.
4. Source/rights? Library-licensed, OER, creator site, personal subscription, or open web.
5. Decision / Action: ✅ Keep • 🔗 Link • 🟡 Seek permission • ❌ Remove/replace.
6. Need help? Send it to us—we’ll advise fast.

Actions explained:

✅ Keep — The content is fully compliant as posted.

🔗 Link — Replace the upload with a link to the authorized source.

🟡 Seek permission — Contact the copyright holder or library to request rights.

❌ Remove/replace — Take it down or swap with licensed or openly available content.

These guidelines, adapted from the Copyright Clearance Center, are your quick rules of thumb for making compliant choices in Canvas. Keep them handy for day-to-day course design.

• Use short excerpts when relying on fair use; avoid full works.
• Don’t replace textbooks or coursepacks with uploads.
• Link to library-licensed content rather than uploading PDFs.
• Get permission before uploading copyrighted works.
• LMS passwords ≠ permission; they don’t make a use fair.
• Know your licenses so we don’t double-pay.
• Remove time-limited materials at the term’s end if required.
• Always cite and include copyright/attribution notices.

These are the most common problem areas we see in Canvas courses. If you spot any of these in your own modules, pause before posting. There’s usually a safer, more compliant way to share the content.

• Full PDFs uploaded to Canvas, even if you found them freely online.
• Scanned textbook chapters or consumables (workbooks, test banks).
• Screenshots of paywalled content (e.g., newspapers, magazines).
• Images from Google without checking usage rights.
• Full films from unofficial/“sketchy” YouTube accounts.

These real-world examples come straight from the Celebrate Learning workshop's “Use It or Lose It?” activity (2025, Aug.).

Click each scenario to see the recommended action and why it matters.

Actions explained:
✅ Keep — The content is fully compliant as posted.
🔗 Link — Replace the upload with a link to the authorized source.
🟡 Seek permission — Contact the copyright holder or library to request rights.
❌ Remove/replace — Take it down or swap with licensed or openly available content.

These tools will help you double-check your choices, find better alternatives, and get quick help from the library when you’re not sure how to proceed.

• 📚 Ask a Librarian: Send the item, how you’ll use it, and your course context. We’ll help you choose: ✅ Keep • 🔗 Link • 🟡 Seek permission • ❌ Replace.