Two solitudes? Quebec Copyright's Context

Abstract

Descriptions and narratives about copyright in Canada frequently include the proviso “except in Quebec.” Indeed, there are striking differences between the two contexts; for example, while 93% of Canadian universities and colleges outside of Quebec have opted out of the Access Copyright institutional license, the vast majority of Quebec higher educational institutions currently maintain their license with Copibec. This session aims to highlight the Quebec perspective on copyright management. This session will cover: a brief outline of the main differences between Access Copyright’s and Copibec’s services; an exploration of some of the cultural and linguistic influences that inform the approach of Quebec institutions; and an overview of the types of activities carried out by the copyright offices at Université Laval and McGill University. The session will also discuss the two institutions’ approaches to copyright management in the context of the expected renewal of the Quebec consortial Copibec blanket license and the recent Court of Appeal decision in the Copibec vs Université Laval case.