CSPK 101

COURSEPACKS

Professors Guide

In accordance with Canadian Copyright Law,

reproduction of the works in this anthology,
in whole or in part, without the express
permission of the author and/or publisher
is strictly prohibited.

2010 McGill University

All rights reserved for this anthology

Image courtesy of Jymmie_h Photo

McGill University Course Pack Services

The production of course packs is much more than simply photocopying materials and adding
covers. There are a number of steps and procedures that must be completed before the final
product is delivered and sold through the McGill University Bookstore.
One of the more complex procedures is copyright declaration. We are required by law to
maintain strict compliance with regulations set out by COPIBEC. Copibec is the organization
who acts on behalf of rights holders (authors, publishers, etc.) to manage the reproduction rights
for their printed works and to ensure proper compensation to these individuals.

This document addresses the most common questions and concerns related to the
creation of a course pack. By following our guidelines set out below, you will ensure the
efficient and timely processing of your course pack.

Necessary Elements to be Included in the Table of Contents

1. Authors name.
2. Title of the Work.
3. Title of the Chapter and/or Number of Pages. If including more than one chapter from
a single source, list each chapter heading and clearly indicate which pages are included in
the individual chapters.
4. Information Regarding Publishing. This includes the name of the publishing company,
country of publication, year of publication and, if pertinent, edition number.
5. Page Numbers. List all pages that are to be included in the course pack. Page numbers
ought to indicate whether pages in a chapter have been left out. Example: Chapter 7, pp.
23-25, 27-30. If page numbers are not specified in this manner, the proof- reader will
assume that pages have accidentally been excluded. Please remember that endnotes or
footnotes must be included in the page count.
EXAMPLE: Hunter, John. The Ornithorhynchus Anatinus and You Upending the Platypus. 10th ed.
New York: Cambridge University Publishing, 2010. Pp147-168. Notes, pp. 386-389.

SYLLABUS: It is preferable to include a table of contents for each course pack. However should you
opt to include a syllabus instead, please refer to the following:

The ability to label each reading helps to

ensure that all appropriate material is
included in the course pack. Labeling
each reading on the syllabus so that
individuals can identify exactly where to
locate the readings is of tremendous
help to students as well as the person
compiling the original document. The
figure shown to the right is a good
example where a legend is used to
identify the three areas where material
is located. The symbols attached to
each reading identify whether the
reading is in the course pack, online or
from the required text book.

Other Useful Information to be Included:

A course pack will be quickly processed if the ISBN numbers or, in the case of journals and
newspapers, ISSN numbers, are included in the Table of Contents. For books only, it is also
helpful to include the total number of pages (including introductory and foot notes).
If including a rare or obscure publication, it is particularly important to include ISBN/ISSN and,
for books only, the number of pages.
If a book has a publication date before 1970 or is lacking an ISBN number for any other reason,
it is best to include the total number of pages in the document. This allows us to make correct
statements to Copibec and ensures the total percentage of work reproduced complies with
Copyright laws.

To Expedite the Compilation of Your Course Pack:

List every work to be included in the course pack regardless of its origin. This applies even if the
course pack is a reprint or if the work was never published.
If a work is from an unconventional source (such as another professors class notes or a
transcription of a radio broadcast), please provide an authors name, name of organization, or
any other available information. The more information you are able to provide, the more likely it
is that the Bookstore will be able to contact the author/organization and request authorization to
reproduce the material.
Please indicate if you are the author of any work to be included in the course pack.
REPRINTS:
If submitting a partial reprint, please indicate which readings are new and which of the old
readings are to be removed.
If both a table of contents and bibliography are included in the course pack, it is preferable that
the book titles appear on both the table of contents and the bibliography. If it is absolutely
necessary that only chapters be listed, please ensure that the bibliography indicates which
chapters belong to which books.
If you wish to include your required textbook readings in your table of contents (or course
outline/table of contents), it is imperative that you indicate that they are textbooks and not part
of the course pack.

Excluded Material & Special Permission

There are a number of works that cannot be included in a course pack without the express
permission from the copyright owners. The greater the number of such works to be included, the
earlier a course pack should be submitted for reproduction, allowing for sufficient time for
publishers, website creators, etc. to respond to our requests for permission to reproduce.
Our records suggest that special permission requests can take anywhere from four to six
weeks before receiving a reply. In addition, these requests do not guarantee favorable
results. We recommend that in the event special permission is required, alternative or
substitute material be prepared in case the request is denied.

1. Electronic Work, Including Journals: Frequently such electronic works also have print
editions. Under the Copyright Act, we must have the print editions, as the reproduction of
e-journals is prohibited.
2. Websites: Permission must be granted by the website creator in order to publish material
from a website. A lack of explicit copyright information does not mean that the material
on such website may be used freely. Unless stated otherwise, it must be assumed that all
online material is copyrighted.
3. Website Inclusion: Material from a website can only be included in a course pack
without express permission when such website is expressly characterized as open-sourced
(such as parts of Wikipedia) or participating in certain forms of Copyleft (licensing
schemes).
If a website is old, it may contain material that is obsolete. The more up-todate the website, the more likely it is the Bookstore will be able to contact the
creator for express permission to reproduce.
It should be noted that some website creators illegally post another authors
work (s). The Bookstore cannot obtain permission to reproduce such
material as the website creator is not in a position to grant such permissions
because he/she is not the rightful owner of the copyright.
A newspaper article may be used in a course pack without any express
permission, if it originally appeared in print. Please provide the Bookstore
with the ISSN of the actual printed newspaper.

4. Books and Journals Printed in Countries not Covered by Copibec:

For the list of countries covered by Copibec (Socit Qubcoise de Gestion Collective des
Droits de Reproduction) please visit the following webpage:
http://www1.copibec.qc.ca/?action=pr_accueil

Publishers that have Opted Out

A description of the purpose and policies of Copibec are available at the same website. In
addition, the website also lists those publishers that have opted out of Copibec. By clicking on
the sitemap (located on the left hand side) and scrolling down to the category Universities you
will find the heading for exclusions. This list names the countries and publishers that are not
covered in the Copibec Agreement.

5. Material that has not been published in a Book or Journal:

Permission of the copyright owner is an automatic requirement for any work that has not been
published in a book or journal unless the work explicitly states that its contents may be
commercially reproduced without authorial permission.

PHOTOCOPIES
Before starting, ensure the glass of the photocopier is free from marks of any kind. Smudges or dirt
on the glass will transfer to the photocopy.

BOOKS:
1. Be sure to position the page/pages in the upper left corner of the photocopier using the edges as a
guide. This will ensure all the text is captured.
2. Copy all material onto 8.5 x 11 inch white paper. It is best not to use waste paper paper that
might have been previously printed with material unassociated to your course pack. We do
accept 8.5 x 14 inch paper for materials such as legal documents and jurisprudence.
3. Press down lightly on the back of the book to avoid the inside text (next to the binding) curving
or being hidden by a large black splotch.
4. All pages should be flat and not dog-eared at the corners. This will hide the text.
5. Check for good contrast between black and white. This will ensure the text is unbroken and free
of lines and spots.
6. Ensure all the pages are numbered (if applicable) and in the correct order. This will also ensure
that you have not missed any pages.
7. Finally, take a quick look at what you have photocopied to ensure everything is complete and
intact.
Attached is an example of a bad copy as well as a copy that will require very little cleaning.

While you may feel that this is extra work on your part, it might only take a few extra minutes.
However, it will expedite the production of your course pack. If we are required to contact you for
missed readings, request that you re-photocopy some pages or try to obtain a textbook from the
Library, it will cause a delay in the production.

*Please note that supplying the original material, either as photocopies, electronic data or
textbooks is recommended. In extenuating circumstances, course packs will assist professors in
locating the readings. However, as the availability of books cannot be guaranteed, this should
be a last resort. (e.g. This is particularly problematic for the Winter Semester when books are
often out of the library and will not be returned in time to allow the service to include the
readings in the course packs.)
We appreciate your efforts in ensuring a quick and problem-free course pack.

ORDER FORM
Complete the order form found on our web page at:
http://www.mcgill.ca/bookstore/coursepacks/
Submit this form and a confirmation will follow.
It would also be preferable to send your Table of Contents at this time.
It can be sent as an attachment in a word format or simply copied and
pasted into the Special Information box.

Frequently Asked Questions Concerning Copyright

1. You would like to prepare a package of reading material for each student in your class.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Does McGill University have a license to permit the creation of coursepacks?

How much and what is allowed to be copied?
Can I post readings for my class on WebCT?
What if I want to copy more than is allowed?
What if the book I want to copy is out of print?
Can I include an e-journal article in my coursepack?
Is there a list of publishers who do not allow their works to be copied under the
license?
8. Is previously cleared material given automatic clearance in the future?
9. Is everything on the web public domain?
10. Can I receive digitalized material for a coursepack?
11. What are the consequences of violating copyright laws?
12. What is the difference of copying material for oneself and for an entire class?
13. What material is considered public domain?
14. Why are due dates for course packs so early?

1. Does McGill University have a license to permit the creation of Coursepacks?

McGill University has a comprehensive licence with Copibec that permits the assembly
and sale of coursepacks. Under this licence, excerpts can be reproduced from a wide
range of copyrighted works from Canada and other countries.
2. How much and what is allowed to be copied?
The comprehensive license permits copying parts of books and journals, but not to
replace them. The standard limit is 20% of the material.
3. Can I post readings for my class on WebCT?
WebCT can be used to post links to readings. Posting actual material on WebCT is a
copyright infringement unless explicit permission is granted from the copyright owner.

4. What if I want to copy more than is allowed?

Specific authorization from the copyright owner is required when exceeding the specified
limit of 20% or when copying material not covered in the comprehensive licence (e.g.
digital media).
5. What if the book I want to copy is out of print?
Permission must first be requested when copying material from an out of print book.
Clearance will be obtained once Copibec has determined the book to be out of print.
6. Can I include an e-journal article in my coursepack?
E-Journals do not fall under the copyright agreement and as such cannot be used.
However, the McGill library has purchased licences for some electronic journals that
allow course pack copying. These articles can be distributed to students following the
terms and conditions of the licence held by the library. Please contact your subject
specialist if you are unsure of the availability of an article in one of these journals.
7. Is there a list of publishers who do not allow their works to be copied under the
license?
Copibec does have a list of information indicating the sources that are excluded from
their agreement. The following is a link that provides further information:
http://www1.copibec.qc.ca/?action=usedun_unexclusion&langue=a
8. Is previously cleared material given automatic clearance in the future?
Each time material is used it must be logged. Prior permission does not guarantee the
material can be used again. Permission must be requested each time the material is
copied.
9. Is everything on the web public domain?
Materials posted on websites are protected by copyright and should not be
indiscriminately copied without permission. Free access to a work does not mean that the
rights holder has authorized its reproduction. Websites often contain copyright notices
that specify how the works on the site can be used.
10. Can I receive digitalized material for a coursepack?
The transfer of digitized material is a form of reproduction and must be authorized by the
rights holder. This type of copying is not considered fair dealing even if it is for
teaching purposes.

11. What are the consequences of violating copyright laws?

Copyright infringement occurs when material is copied without the authorization of the
copyright owner. The Copyright Act sets out statutory damages guarantying penalties
from $500 to $20,000 for any copyright infringement of a work.
12. What is the difference of copying material for oneself and for an entire class?
Fair dealing does not cover the multiple reproduction of works. As a result, the minute
you make multiple copies fair dealing no longer applies.
13. What material is considered public domain?
Public domain refers to works that are available for unrestricted copying by the general
public without prior permission. Material that resides in the public domain includes
works whose copyright has expired, works that were created too early to have copyright
protection, and works donated to the public by authors or artists.
Copyright protection expires 50 years after the death of the author.
Material published prior to 1960 is considered public domain.
14. Why are due dates for course packs so early?
Copyright research can be time consuming. Each entry needs to be logged. Those entries
requiring special permission may take anywhere from 4-6 weeks for a reply. This request
may or may not be granted. In case of refusal, professors require sufficient time to
address the issue. Hence, it is safe to assume that the deadline will be set at 6 weeks
before the start of term.