This guide and the resources included within are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International license, except as otherwise noted. Questions and requests may be directed to Meaghan Shannon, Copyright Librarian at Queen's University: meaghan.shannon@queensu.ca.
The information on this page is intended for Queen's students and addresses the following:
- Student Works,
- Print Sources (General),
- Government Documents and Publications (Print and Online),
- Lecture and Course Materials and Course Readings,
- Guest Lecturers' Materials,
- Textbooks and Publisher-Issued Supplemental Materials,
- Coursepacks,
- Case Studies (Print and Online),
- Alternate Formats,
- Open Educational Resources,
- Publicly Accessible Online Content (General),
- Creative Commons-licensed Content and Works,
- Library-licensed Content and Works (General, Images, Audio Recordings, Music, Sheet Music, and Films and Videos),
- Links, Hyperlinks, and Persistent Links,
- Images (Print, Textbooks and Publisher-Issued Supplemental Materials, Online, Creative Commons-licensed and Library-licensed, Subscription-based Sources, and Social Media Platforms),
- Audio Recordings (Physical Formats, Online, Library-licensed, and Streaming Services),
- Music (Physical Formats, Online, Creative Commons-licensed and Library-licensed, and Streaming Services),
- Sheet Music (Print, Online, Creative Commons-licensed, and Library-licensed),
- Films and Videos (Physical Formats, Online, YouTube, Library-licensed, and Streaming Services),
- Subscription-based Content and Social Media Content,
- Streaming Services (Music and Films and Videos), and
- Ed Tech Tools.
The information on this page seeks to address the categories, or types, of copyright-protected works and content and how they can be used by students a) for private study and research purposes; b) within academic works that are submitted to course instructors, posted to course sites, and distributed to other students in the class; and c) republished within theses and dissertations. The use of copyright-protected works and content in association with course content sharing sites and AI tools as well as the public performance of copyright-protected works and content during events held on campus are addressed in the sections below as applicable. For ease of use, our Quick Reference Guide (Student Edition) is available below.
Additional information about theses and dissertations is available on our Theses & Dissertations page.
The production of videos and audio recordings is addressed on our Media Production page.
Information abut the use of AI-generated content and Indigenous works of cultural heritage, traditional knowledge, and traditional and cultural expressions is available on our Copyright & Artificial Intelligence and Copyright & Indigenous Works pages.
If you're looking for information about a specific category/type of content or a specific use of content that has not been addressed within the pages of this guide, please let us know as we would be happy to make that information available.
If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact the Copyright Advisory Office: qcopy@queensu.ca.
Each student retains the rights (economic and moral) to the works that they create. Examples of student works include academic works such as assignments, reports, essays, and slide decks for presentations. Student works may include text, images, links, embedded media, etc., but it's important to note that incorporating such content into student works does not result in the rights to such content being transferred to students; the rights to such content will remain with each piece of content's copyright owner. As such, appropriate exceptions in the Copyright Act (the Fair Dealing Exception and the Non-Commercial User-Generated Content Exception) and applicable licenses and terms of use/service should be adhered to. *Please note that it is important for both copyright-related reasons and academic purposes to acknowledge the authors and sources of content, by way of attribution statements, credit lines, citations, and references, whenever such content is incorporated into student works.* For more information about incorporating content into student works, please see our Non-Commercial User-Generated Content Exception page. For information about incorporating content into theses and dissertations, please see our Theses & Dissertations page.
A note regarding Course Content Sharing Sites, such as Course Hero and StuDocU: as a student retains the rights to the work that they create, they can upload their work to course content sharing sites at their discretion and if their work does not contain content from any other sources regardless of whether those sources are cited and referenced. Course content sharing sites require that a student owns the rights to the work that they upload and they will not own the rights to the content that they incorporated into their work. Students are advised that by uploading their work to course content sharing sites, they are transferring their economic rights to the sites and users and they are waiving their moral rights as the sites and users are not obligated to acknowledge students as the authors of their work that they uploaded. As such, and because these sites encourage and facilitate plagiarism, students are discouraged from using these sites and uploading anything to them.
A note regarding AI Tools: as a student retains the rights to the work that they create, they can input/submit their work to AI tools at their discretion and if their work does not contain content from any other sources regardless of whether those sources are cited and referenced. AI tools require that a student owns the rights to the work that they input/submit and they will not own the rights to the content that their incorporated into their work. Students are advised that by inputting/submitting their work to AI tools, they are waiving their economic rights and their moral rights as the tools and users will not be able to associate students as the authors of their work that they inputted/submitted. As such, students should exercise caution when using AI tools and inputting/submitting anything to them.
When a student submits their work to a course instructor, they do so for the purpose of having their work evaluated by that course instructor so that grades can be assigned and feedback can be provided. If a student is to prepare a presentation, seminar, etc., within a course, the assignment instructions should indicate that their presentation/seminar materials (handouts, postings, slides, etc.) will be distributed to other students in the classroom and/or communicated to other students in the course via the course site or email. If a student's work is exemplary or exceptional and a course instructor would like to share the student's work with other students in the class, with students in a future offering of the course, with colleagues, or to showcase the work of the student so as to promote the course or program, written permission from the student will need to be obtained - this is often done via an email exchange so that both the student's and the course instructor's responses can be kept for their records.
When it comes to other students' work, students can use other students' work as follows:
Private Study and Research Purposes: personal use is permitted in accordance with Fair Dealing.
Academic Works: content from other students' works can be incorporated into academic works *if cited and referenced*. Please note that the Non-Commercial User-Generated Content Exception will not apply if the works have not been published.
Publish/Republish within Theses and Dissertations: permission from the student will be required in order to publish or republish their work, or content from their work, within theses and dissertations. For more information, please see our Theses & Dissertations page.
Course Content Sharing Sites: other students' work, and content from their work, should not be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites.
AI Tools: other students' work, and content from their work, should not be inputted/submitted to AI tools.
Students are welcome to contact the Copyright Advisory Office if they have any copyright-related questions or concerns: qcopy@queensu.ca.
Books, issues or volumes of periodicals, newspapers, poems, musical scores, encyclopedias, annotated bibliographies, dictionaries, and reference works are examples of print sources. Short excerpts from print sources can be use by students as follows:
Private Study and Research Purposes: personal use is permitted in accordance with Fair Dealing.
Academic Works: content from print sources can be incorporated into academic works *if cited and referenced*. For more information, please see our Non-Commercial User-Generated Content Exception page.
Republish within Theses and Dissertations: permission will be required in order to republish content from print sources within theses and dissertations. For more information, please see our Theses & Dissertations page.
Course Content Sharing Sites: content from print sources should not be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites.
AI Tools: content from print sources should not be inputted/submitted to AI tools.
If you have questions or concerns about the use of print sources or content from them, please contact the Copyright Advisory Office for assistance: qcopy@queensu.ca.
Print Format Government Documents and Publications
Federal government documents and publications are produced and compiled by the Government of Canada and are protected by Crown copyright. These documents and publications can be reproduced for education and training-related purposes *if a specific attribution statement that identifies the Government of Canada as the source, acknowledges Crown copyright, and acknowledges that the reproduction is not the original version, is visible on the reproduced document or publication*.
Example: Government of Canada, (c) His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, [publication date]. This is a reproduction of [title of document or publication], this is not the original version.
Provincial and Territorial print materials are protected by Crown copyright which is held by the King's Printer for the Province or Territory. These print materials can be reproduced for education and training-related purposes *if a specific attribution statement that credits the Provincial or Territorial print material, acknowledges Crown copyright, and acknowledges that the reproduction is not the original version, is visible on the reproduced print material*.
Example: [Title of print material], (c) King's Printer for [Province or Territory], [publication date]. This is a reproduction of [title of print material], this is not the original version.
Online Government Documents and Publications
Federal government documents and publications are produced and compiled by the Government of Canada and are protected by Crown copyright. These documents and publications can be reproduced for education and training-related purposes *if a specific attribution statement that identifies the Government of Canada as the source, acknowledges Crown copyright, and acknowledges that the reproduction is not the original version, is visible on the reproduced document or publication*.
Example: Government of Canada, (c) His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, [publication date]. This is a reproduction of [title of document or publication], the original version is available online: [url].
Provincial and Territorial digital materials are protected by Crown copyright which is held by the King's Printer for the Province or Territory. These digital materials can be reproduced for education and training-related purposes *if a specific attribution statement that credits the Provincial or Territorial digital material, acknowledges Crown copyright, and acknowledges that the reproduction is not the original version, is visible on the reproduced digital material*.
Example: [Title of digital material], (c) King's Printer for [Province or Territory], [publication date]. This is a reproduction of [title of digital material], the original version is available online: [url].
Please keep in mind that linking or hyperlinking to government documents, publications, and digital materials is an alternative to reproducing that content. Linking or hyperlinking does not constitute reproducing that content and links or hyperlinks would not need to be accompanied by attribution statements.
Print and online government documents and publications can be used by students as follows:
Private Study and Research Purposes: personal use is permitted.
Academic Works: content from government documents and publications can be incorporated into academic works *if cited and referenced*. For more information, please see our Non-Commercial User-Generated Content Exception page.
Publish/Republish within Theses and Dissertations: permission will be required in order to publish or republish government documents and publications, and content from them, within theses and dissertations. For more information, please see our Theses & Dissertations page.
Course Content Sharing Sites: government documents and publications, and content from them, should not be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites.
AI Tools: government documents and publications, and content from them, should not be inputted/submitted to AI tools.
If you have questions or concerns about the use of government documents and publications, please contact the Copyright Advisory Office for assistance: qcopy@queensu.ca.
Lecture and Course Materials
The lecture and course materials that course instructors created for the facilitations of their courses is protected by copyright and Queen's course instructors retain the rights (economic and moral) to the lecture and course materials that they create. Examples of lecture and course materials include: course outlines, handouts, postings, assignment templates, slides, lecture notes, and any media that course instructors produce. These lecture and course materials may include text, images, links, embedded media, etc. from external print and online sources as well as third parties (associations, organizations, research groups, etc.). As such, and unless otherwise specified by a course instructor, lecture and course materials can be used by students as follows:
Private Study and Research Purposes: personal use is permitted.
Academic Works: content from lecture and course materials can be incorporated into academic works *if cited and referenced*. For more information, please see our Non-Commercial User-Generated Content Exception page.
Publish/Republish within Theses and Dissertations: permission will be required in order to publish or republish content from lecture and course materials within theses and dissertations. For more information, please see our Theses & Dissertations page.
Course Content Sharing Sites: lecture and course materials, and content from them, should not be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites.
AI Tools: lecture and course materials, and content from them, should not be inputted/submitted to AI tools.
Course Readings
Course readings that are distributed to students in the classroom as handouts or made available to students within course sites as postings have been done so within the scope of fair dealing, by permission from the copyright owner, or in accordance with the terms of a license agreement. As such, students can use course readings as follows:
Private Study and Research Purposes: personal use is permitted.
Academic Works: content from course readings can be incorporated into academic works *if cited and referenced*. For more information, please see our Non-Commercial User-Generated Content Exception page.
Republish within Theses and Dissertations: permission will be required in order to republish content from course readings within theses and dissertations. For more information, please see our Theses & Dissertations page.
Course Content Sharing Sites: course readings, and content from them, should not be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites.
AI Tools: course readings, and content from them, should not be inputted/submitted to AI tools.
If you have questions or concerns about the use of lecture materials, course materials, and course readings, please contact the Copyright Advisory Office for assistance: qcopy@queensu.ca.
Guest lecturers, who visit classrooms and online classes or provide pre-recorded lectures, will generally make their print or digital lecture materials (slides, handouts, postings, etc.) available to course instructors and students. Guest lecturers will own the rights (economic and moral) to their lecture materials and their lecture materials may include content from external print and online sources as well as third parties (employers, associations, research groups, etc.). As such, and unless otherwise specified by a guest lecturer, guest lecturers' materials can be used by students as follows:
Private Study and Research Purposes: personal use is permitted.
Academic Works: content from guest lecturers' materials can be incorporated into academic works *if cited and referenced*. For more information, please see our Non-Commercial User-Generated Content Exception page.
Publish/Republish within Theses and Dissertations: permission will be required in order to publish or republish content from guest lecturers' materials within theses and dissertations. For more information, please see our Theses & Dissertations page.
Course Content Sharing Sites: guest lecturers' materials, and content from them, should not be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites.
AI Tools: guest lecturers' materials, and content from them, should not be inputted/submitted to AI tools.
If you have questions or concerns about the use of guest lecturers' materials, or content from them, please contact the Copyright Advisory Office for assistance: qcopy@queensu.ca.
When students purchase textbooks and access codes, they purchase the textbook itself and access to content within the publisher's platform but they do not purchase the rights to the content within the textbook or the publisher's platform. The publisher remains the copyright owner who exercises and enforces their economic rights with regard to the content within the textbook and their platform. Text, exercises, images, figures, illustrations, diagrams, photographs, etc. within the textbook and/or workbook, slide decks, image banks, test questions, and the publisher's platform can be used by students for their personal use while the textbook is in use while a course is active and/or while the access code is valid. Content from a publisher's platform will include copyright notices that identify the publisher as the copyright owner and these copyright notices should not be modified, removed, or obstructed by students. Content from textbooks and publishers' platforms can be used by students as follows:
Private Study and Research Purposes: personal use is permitted in accordance with Fair Dealing.
Academic Works: content from textbooks and publishers' platforms can be incorporated into academic works *if cited and referenced*. For more information, please see our Non-Commercial User-Generated Content Exception page.
Republish within Theses and Dissertations: permission will be required in order to republish content from textbooks and publishers' platforms within theses and dissertations. For more information, please see our Theses & Dissertations page.
Course Content Sharing Sites: content from textbooks and publishers' platforms should not be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites.
AI Tools: content from textbooks and publishers' platforms should not be inputted/submitted to AI tools.
If you have questions or concerns about content from textbooks or publisher-issued supplemental materials, please contact the Copyright Advisory Office for assistance: qcopy@queensu.ca.
The Campus Bookstore at Queen's University and the AMS Printing & Copying Centre are the two providers of coursepack-related services at Queen's University. Both of these organizations operate independently from Queen's University and both operate under Access Copyright licenses to clear copyright for the reproduction and sale of content within coursepacks. The licenses prohibit further reproduction (copying), distribution (sharing), and communication (online use). As such, coursepacks and content within them, can be used by students as follows:
Private Study and Research Purposes: personal use is permitted.
Academic Works: content from coursepacks can be incorporated into academic works *if cited and referenced*.
Republish within Theses and Dissertations: permission will be required in order to republish content from coursepacks within theses and dissertations. For more information, please see our Theses & Dissertations page.
Course Content Sharing Sites: coursepacks and content within them should not be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites.
AI Tools: coursepacks and content within them should not be inputted/submitted to AI tools.
If you have questions or concerns about coursepacks or the content within them, please contact the Copyright Advisory Office for assistance: qcopy@queensu.ca.
Case studies are licensed by programs, schools, and departments at Queen's University so that print copies of case studies can be distributed to students in the classroom or digital copies can be made available to students as postings within their course sites. The licenses prohibit further reproduction (copying), distribution (sharing), and communication (online use) of the case studies. As such, licensed case studies can be used by students as follows:
Private Study and Research Purposes: personal use is permitted.
Academic Works: content from licensed case studies can be incorporated into academic works *if cited and referenced*.
Republish within Theses and Dissertations: permission will be required in order to republish content from licensed case studies within theses and dissertations. For more information, please see our Theses & Dissertations page.
Course Content Sharing Sites: licensed case studies and and content from them should not be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites.
AI Tools: licensed case studies and content from them should not be inputted/submitted to AI tools.
If you have questions or concerns about case studies, please contact the Copyright Advisory Office for assistance: qcopy@queensu.ca.
It's important to note that there is a difference between a copy of a copyright-protected work and an alternate format of a copyright-protected work. A copy of a copyright-protected work essentially serves the same purpose as the copyright-protected work but acts as a substitute for the copyright-protected work. Producing an alternate format does involve reproducing a copyright-protected work, or content from it, but that alternate format is serving a very specific purpose for someone's individual accessibility-related needs, a purpose that the copyright-protected work cannot serve. Neither the Copyright Act nor the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act include a definition of 'alternate format' but section 32 of the Copyright Act, which addresses the production of alternate formats, includes the following wording: "a format specifically designed for persons with a perceptual disability". This wording recognizes that students' accessibility-related needs can vary widely and that there isn't one blanket alternate format that can possibly address all accessibility-related needs.
Students are encouraged to register with Queen's Student Accessibility Services (QSAS) so that individualized academic accommodations can be arranged. Queen's Student Accessibility Services (QSAS) will refer registered students with print disabilities to Library Accessibility Services so that alternate formats of textbooks, course readings, and research materials can be produced and provided. In order for alternate formats of textbooks, course readings, and research materials to be produced and provided, students will need to provide Library Accessibility Services with proof of purchase for those textbooks and agree not to reproduce, distribute, or communicate the produced and provided alternate formats by signing E-File Statement Agreements.
Private Study and Research Purposes: personal use is permitted in accordance with section 32 of the Copyright Act.
Academic Works: content from alternate formats can be incorporated into academic works *if cited and referenced*.
Republish within Theses and Dissertations: permission will be required in order to republish content from alternate formats within theses and dissertations. For more information, please see our Theses & Dissertations page.
Course Content Sharing Sites: alternate formats and content from them should not be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites.
AI Tools: alternate formats and content from them should not be inputted/submitted to AI tools.
Campus Events & Public Performance Rights: public performance rights will need to be obtained in order to perform alternate formats (ie closed captioned films/videos or descriptive films/videos) during events that are held on campus. For more information, please see our Campus Events & Public Performance Rights page.
If you have questions or concerns about whether and how an alternate format can be used, please contact the Copyright Advisory Office for assistance: qcopy@queensu.ca.
Open Educations Resources (OERs) are textbooks or learning objects (ie modules, videos, infographics) whose authors have elected to employ Creative Commons licenses to indicate the extent to which their OERs can be used without permission. There are 7 Creative Commons licenses that permit specific uses of OERs and range from least to most restrictive or least to most open for both access and use. For more information about the Creative Commons licenses, please see our Creative Commons-licensed Content and Works section below.
Private Study and Research Purposes: all 7 Creative Commons licenses permit personal use.
Academic Works: 5 of 7 Creative Commons licenses permit incorporating audio recordings into academic works but *citing and referencing is required*. Avoid Creative Commons licenses that include "-ND" in the license code or request permission. All 7 Creative Commons licenses permit performance/streaming during presentations in the classroom and during an online class. 5 of 7 Creative Commons licenses permit performance/streaming during a recorded online class. Avoid Creative Commons licenses that include "-ND" in the license code or request permission.
Republish within Theses and Dissertations: 3 of 7 Creative Commons licenses permit republication without permission but *citing and referencing is required*. Avoid Creative Commons licenses that include "-ND" and "-NC" in the license code or request permission. For more information, please see our Theses & Dissertations page.
Course Content Sharing Sites: CC 0 licensed content and works can be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites. Content and works licensed under the remaining 6 Creative Commons licenses should not be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites.
AI Tools: CC 0 licensed content and works can be inputted/submitted to AI tools. Content and works licensed under the remaining 6 Creative Commons licenses should not be inputted/submitted to AI tools.
Campus Events & Public Performance Rights: Creative Commons-licensed content and works can be performed during events that are held on campus if the licenses align with the type of event (ie the licenses will need to permit commercial use if tickets are being sold or funds are being raised). For more information, please see our Campus Events & Public Performance Rights page.
Queen's University Library's Open Educational Resources page and Open Educational Resources Guide include detailed information about the use, adaptation, and development of Open Educational Resources. If you have questions about Open Educational Resources or Creative Commons-licensed content or works, please contact the Copyright Advisory Office for assistance: qcopy@queensu.ca.
Content and works that are available through publicly accessible online sources can be used by students if the following conditions are met:
- the online source and the content/work must be publicly accessible (you must be able to access the content/work without creating an account, logging in to a website, subscribing to a website, platform, or online service, or paying any fees);
- the content/work must be legitimate (not an infringing copy) and must have been made available online to the public by the copyright owner (consult verified accounts and trusted websites, consider the validity of the usernames of those who posted or uploaded the content/work, and avoid content/works that are accompanied by disclaimers that state 'no copyright infringement intended');
- the content/work must not be accompanied by clearly visible copyright notices that prohibit educational or non-commercial use;
- access to and use of the content/works must not be restricted by technological protection measures or digital locks (avoid content/works that have been watermarked, cannot be copied and pasted or downloaded, and cannot be accessed in your geographic location); and
- *the author(s) and source of the content/work must be acknowledged if the publicly accessible content/work is reproduced (ie copied, pasted, and incorporated into an academic work).*
Please keep in mind that linking or hyperlinking to publicly accessible online content/works is an alternative to reproducing that content/work. In the decision regarding Crookes v. Newton (2011), the Supreme Court of Canada stated that "a hyperlink, by itself, should never be seen as 'publication' of the content to which it refers" [para. 14]. Linking or hyperlinking to content/works does not constitute reproducing that content/work and links or hyperlinks would not need to be accompanied by attribution statements.
Private Study and Research Purposes: personal use is permitted in accordance with Fair Dealing.
Academic Works: content/works from publicly accessible online sources can be incorporated into academic works *if cited and referenced*. For more information, please see our Non-Commercial User-Generated Content Exception page.
Republish within Theses and Dissertations: permission will be required in order to republish content/works from publicly accessible online sources within theses and dissertations. For more information, please see our Theses & Dissertations page.
Course Content Sharing Sites: content/works from publicly accessible online sources should not be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites.
AI Tools: consult the website's terms of use/service before inputting/submitting content/works from a publicly accessible online source to AI tools.
Campus Events & Public Performance Rights: public performance rights will need to be obtained in order to perform/stream publicly accessible online content/works during events that are held on campus. For more information, please see our Campus Events & Public Performance Rights page.
If you come across content/works, from any online sources, that you would like to use but have questions or concerns about whether and how that content/work can be used, please contact the Copyright Advisory Office for assistance: qcopy@queensu.ca.
Creative Commons-licensed content and works are protected by copyright. Authors of Creative Commons-licensed content and works have elected to employ Creative Commons licenses to pre-authorize the use of their copyright-protected content and works by permitting the exercising of some or all of their economic rights and retaining their moral right of attribution. There are 7 Creative Commons licenses that permit specific uses of content and works and range from least to most restrictive.
The Creative Commons Licenses
CC 0: both moral and economic rights are waived. The content or work can be used without any restrictions but *the attribution right should be respected for academic purposes.*
CC BY: economic rights are waived, the content or work can be used for both commercial and non-commercial purposes. *Respecting the attribution right is the only requirement.*
CC BY-SA: economic rights are waived, the content or work can be used for both commercial and non-commercial purposes. *Respecting the attribution right is required* and any new content or work must be shared alike (must be made available through the use of a CC BY-SA license).
CC BY-ND: economic rights are waived, the content or work can be used for both commercial and non-commercial purposes but adaptations and the creation of derivative works are not permitted (content or work must be used as is). *Respecting the attribution right is required.*
CC BY-NC: economic rights are waived, the content or work can be used for non-commercial purposes only (commercial use requires authorization or permission from the copyright owner). *Respecting the attribution right is required.*
CC BY-NC-SA: economic rights are waived, the content or work can be used for non-commercial purposes only (commercial use requires authorization or permission from the copyright owner). *Respecting the attribution right is required* and any new content or work must be shared alike (must be made available through the use of a CC BY-NC-SA license).
CC BY-NC-ND: economic rights are waived, the content or work can be used for non-commercial purposes only (commercial use requires authorization or permission from the copyright owner) but adaptations and the creation of derivative works are not permitted (content must be used as is). *Respecting the attribution right is required.*
Private Study and Research Purposes: all 7 Creative Commons licenses permit personal use.
Academic Works: 5 of 7 Creative Commons licenses permit incorporating audio recordings into academic works but *citing and referencing is required*. Avoid Creative Commons licenses that include "-ND" in the license code or request permission. All 7 Creative Commons licenses permit performance/streaming during presentations in the classroom and during an online class. 5 of 7 Creative Commons licenses permit performance/streaming during a recorded online class. Avoid Creative Commons licenses that include "-ND" in the license code or request permission.
Republish within Theses and Dissertations: 3 of 7 Creative Commons licenses permit republication without permission but *citing and referencing is required*. Avoid Creative Commons licenses that include "-ND" and "-NC" in the license code or request permission. For more information, please see our Theses & Dissertations page.
Course Content Sharing Sites: CC 0 licensed content and works can be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites. Content and works licensed under the remaining 6 Creative Commons licenses should not be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites.
AI Tools: CC 0 licensed content and works can be inputted/submitted to AI tools. Content and works licensed under the remaining 6 Creative Commons licenses should not be inputted/submitted to AI tools.
Campus Events & Public Performance Rights: Creative Commons-licensed content and works can be performed during events that are held on campus if the licenses align with the type of event (ie the licenses will need to permit commercial use if tickets are being sold or funds are being raised). For more information, please see our Campus Events & Public Performance Rights page.
If you have questions about Creative Commons-licensed content or works, please contact the Copyright Advisory Office for assistance: qcopy@queensu.ca.
Library-licensed Content and Works
Queen's University Library has licensed the use of content and works, such as eBooks, journal articles, and discipline-specific eResources, for educational use by Queen's faculty, students, researchers, and staff. Library-licensed content and works are available through databases and can be accessed through the use of search tools. In many cases, journal articles and short excerpts from eBooks and discipline-specific eResources can be printed and downloaded for private study and research purposes and for incorporation into academic works *if cited and referenced*. Permission will be required in order to republish library-licensed content and works within theses and dissertations. The databases will feature persistent linking or other sharing options so that students can direct the readers of their academic works, theses, and dissertations to the content and works within the databases. The url that will appear at the top of your browser will be unique to your logged in search session - rather than copy, paste, and share that url, please make use of the persistent linking or other sharing options within the databases. By clicking on a persistent link, the reader of your academic work, thesis, or dissertation will be prompted to log in so that they're recognized as an authorized Queen's University Library user but, once logged in, the reader will be able to access the content and works that you've directed them to through the persistent link or other sharing options. Persistent links and other sharing options do not constitute reproducing the content to which they direct and they would not need to be cited or referenced when included within academic works, theses, and dissertations.
Private Study and Research Purposes: personal use is permitted.
Academic Works: library-licensed content and works can be incorporated into academic works *if cited and referenced*.
Theses and Dissertations: permission will be required in order to republish library-licensed content and works within theses and dissertations. For more information, please see our Theses & Dissertations page.
Course Content Sharing Sites: library-licensed content and works should not be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites.
AI Tools: many library-licensed databases feature their own AI tools and the content and works within these databases can be used in association with the databases' featured AI tools. Library-licensed content and works should not be extracted from library-licensed databases and inputted/submitted to AI tools that are external to the library-licensed databases.
Library-licensed Image Collections
The Images from Online Sources Chart linked below was prepared by the Copyright Advisory Office in an effort to address questions frequently asked by Queen's students. The chart links to library-licensed image collections with descriptions of the collections and information about the scope of use and attribution statements. In many cases, images from library-licensed image collections can be printed and downloaded for private study and research purposes and for incorporation into academic works *if cited and referenced*. Permission will be required in order to republish images from library-licensed collections within theses and dissertations.
Private Study and Research Purposes: personal use is permitted.
Academic Works: images from library-licensed collections can be incorporated into academic works *if cited and referenced*.
Theses and Dissertations: permission will be required in order to republish images from library-licensed collections within theses and dissertations. For more information, please see our Theses & Dissertations page.
Course Content Sharing Sites: images from library-licensed collections should not be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites.
AI Tools: images from library-licensed collections should not be extracted from library-licensed databases and inputted/submitted to AI tools that are external to the library-licensed databases.
Library-licensed Audio Recordings
Private Study and Research Purposes: personal use is permitted.
Academic Works: audio recordings from library-licensed collections can be linked to from within academic works; and audio recordings from library-licensed collections can be performed/streamed during presentations in the classroom but audio recordings from library-licensed collections cannot be performed/streamed during an online class or during a recorded online class.
Republish within Theses and Dissertations: permission will be required in order to republish audio recordings from library-licensed collections within theses and dissertations. For more information, please see our Theses & Dissertations page.
Course Content Sharing Sites: audio recordings from library-licensed collections should not be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites.
AI Tools: audio recordings from library-licensed collections should not be inputted/submitted to AI tools.
Campus Events & Public Performance Rights: public performance rights will need to be obtained in order to perform/stream audio recordings from library-licensed collections during events that are held on campus. For more information, please see our Campus Events & Public Performance Rights page.
Library-licensed Music Collections
The Music and Sheet Music from Online Sources Chart linked below was prepared by the Copyright Advisory Office in an effort to address questions frequently asked by Queen's students. The first page of the chart includes links to library-licensed music collections with descriptions of the collections and information about the scope of use.
Private Study and Research Purposes: personal use is permitted.
Academic Works: music from library-licensed collections can be linked to from within academic works; and music from library-licensed collections can be performed/streamed during presentations in the classroom but music from library-licensed collections cannot be performed/streamed during an online class or during a recorded online class.
Republish within Theses and Dissertations: permission will be required in order to republish music and/or lyrics from library-licensed collections within theses and dissertations. For more information, please see our Theses & Dissertations page.
Course Content Sharing Sites: music and/or lyrics from library-licensed collections should not be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites.
AI Tools: music and/or lyrics from library-licensed collections should not be inputted/submitted to AI tools.
Campus Events & Public Performance Rights: public performance rights will need to be obtained in order to perform/stream music from library-licensed collections during events that are held on campus. For more information, please see our Campus Events & Public Performance Rights page.
Library-licensed Sheet Music Collections
The Music and Sheet Music from Online Sources Chart linked below was prepared by the Copyright Advisory Office in an effort to address questions frequently asked by Queen's students. The second page of the chart includes links to library-licensed collections of sheet music with information about the scope of use and attribution statements.
Private Study and Research Purposes: personal use is permitted.
Academic Works: sheet music can be linked to from within academic works.
Republish within Theses and Dissertations: permission will be required in order to republish sheet music from library-licensed collections within theses and dissertations. For more information, please see our Theses & Dissertations page.
Course Content Sharing Sites: sheet music from library-licensed collections should not be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites.
AI Tools: sheet music from library-licensed collections should not be inputted/submitted to AI tools.
Library-licensed Film and Video Collections
The Library-licensed Film and Video Collections Chart linked below was prepared by the Copyright Advisory Office in an effort to address questions frequently asked by Queen's students. The chart includes links to library-licensed film and video collections with descriptions of the collections and information about the scope of use. Of the 38 collections listed, films and videos from 31 collections can be linked to from within academic works and can be performed/streamed during presentations in the classroom but the films and videos in these collections cannot be performed/streamed during presentations in an online class or during a recorded online class. Public performance rights will need to be obtained in order to perform/stream films and videos from library-licensed film and video collections during events that are held on campus. One of the collections can be used within the Faculty of Education only. Films and videos from the remaining 6 collections may be accessed and used for private study and research purposes only.
Private Study and Research Purposes: personal use is permitted.
Academic Works: films and videos from library-licensed collections can be linked to from within academic works; and films, videos, and clips from library-licensed collections can be performed/streamed during presentations in the classroom but films and videos from library-licensed collections cannot be performed/streamed during an online class or during a recorded online class.
Republish within Theses and Dissertations: permission will be required in order to republish films, videos, clips, or stills from library-licensed collections within theses and dissertations. For more information, please see our Theses & Dissertations page.
Course Content Sharing Sites: films, videos, clips, and stills from library-licensed collections should not be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites.
AI Tools: films, videos, clips, and stills from library-licensed collections should not be inputted/submitted to AI tools.
Campus Events & Public Performance Rights: public performance rights will need to be obtained in order to perform/stream films, videos, or clips from library-licensed collections during events that are held on campus. For more information, please see our Campus Events & Public Performance Rights page.
If you have questions or concerns about library-licensed databases or collections, please consult our License Information page or contact the Copyright Advisory Office for assistance: qcopy@queensu.ca.
Links and Hyperlinks
Linking or hyperlinking to publicly accessible online content is an alternative to reproducing that content. In the decision regarding Crookes v. Newton (2011), the Supreme Court of Canada stated that "a hyperlink, by itself, should never be seen as 'publication' of the content to which it refers" [para. 14]. Linking or hyperlinking to content does not constitute reproducing that content and links or hyperlinks would not need to be cited or referenced when included within academic works, theses, and dissertations.
Persistent Links
Queen's University Library has licensed the use of content and works, such as eBooks, journal articles, and discipline-specific eResources, for educational use by Queen's faculty, students, researchers, and staff. Library-licensed content and works are available through databases and can be access through the use of search tools. The databases will feature persistent linking or other sharing options so that students can direct the readers of their academic works, theses, and dissertations to the content and works within the databases. The url that will appear at the top of your browser will be unique to your logged in search session - rather than copy, paste, and share that url, please make use of the persistent linking or other sharing options within the databases. By clicking on a persistent link, the reader of your academic work, thesis, or dissertations will be prompted to log in so that they're recognized as an authorized Queen's University Library user but, once logged in, the reader will be able to access the content and works that you've directed the to through the persistent link or other sharing options. Persistent links and other sharing options do not constitute reproducing the content to which they direct and they would not need to be cited or referenced when included within academic works, theses, and dissertations.
If you have questions or concerns about links, hyperlinks, persistent links, or other sharing options within library-licensed databases, please contact the Copyright Advisory Office for assistance: qcopy@queensu.ca.
Images from Print Sources
Images from print sources can be used by students as follows:
Private Study and Research Purposes: personal use is permitted in accordance with Fair Dealing.
Academic Works: images from print sources can be incorporated into academic works *if cited and referenced*. For more information, please see our Non-Commercial User-Generated Content Exception page.
Republish within Theses and Dissertations: permission will be required in order to republish images from print sources within theses and dissertations. For more information, please see our Theses & Dissertations page.
Course Content Sharing Sites: images from print sources should not be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites.
AI Tools: images from print sources should not be inputted/submitted to AI tools.
Images from Textbooks and Publisher-Issued Supplemental Materials
When students purchase textbooks and access codes, they purchase the textbook itself and access to content within the publisher's platform but they do not purchase the rights to the content within the textbook or the publisher's platform. The publisher remains the copyright owner who exercises and enforces their economic rights with regard to the content within the textbook and their platform. Images, figures, illustrations, diagrams, photographs, etc. within the textbook, slide decks, image banks, and the publisher's platform can be used by students for their personal use while the textbook is in use while a course is active and/or while the access code is valid. Images from these sources will include copyright notices that identify the publisher as the copyright owner and these copyright notices should not be modified, removed, or obstructed by students. Images from textbooks and publishers' platforms can be used by students as follows:
Private Study and Research Purposes: personal use is permitted in accordance with Fair Dealing.
Academic Works: images from textbooks and publishers' platforms can be incorporated into academic works *if cited and referenced*. For more information, please see our Non-Commercial User-Generated Content Exception page.
Republish within Theses and Dissertations: permission will be required in order to republish images from textbooks and publishers' platforms within theses and dissertations. For more information, please see our Theses & Dissertations page.
Course Content Sharing Sites: images from textbooks and publishers' platforms should not be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites.
AI Tools: images from textbooks and publishers' platforms should not be inputted/submitted to AI tools.
Images from Online Sources
Images that are available through publicly accessible online sources can be used by students if the following conditions are met:
- the online source and the image must be publicly accessible (you must be able to access the image without creating an account, logging in to a website, subscribing to a website, platform, or online service, or paying any fees);
- the image must be legitimate (not an infringing copy) and must have been made available online to the public by the copyright owner (consult verified accounts and trusted websites, consider the validity of the usernames of those who posted or uploaded the image, and avoid images that are accompanied by disclaimers that state 'no copyright infringement intended');
- the image must not be accompanied by clearly visible copyright notices that prohibit educational or non-commercial use;
- access to and use of the image must not be restricted by technological protection measures or digital locks (avoid images that have been watermarked, cannot be copied and pasted or downloaded, and cannot be accessed in your geographic location); and
- *the author(s) and source of the image must be acknowledged if the publicly accessible image is reproduced (ie copied, pasted, and incorporated into an academic work).*
Private Study and Research Purposes: personal use is permitted in accordance with Fair Dealing.
Academic Works: images from publicly accessible online sources can be incorporated into academic works *if cited and referenced*. For more information, please see our Non-Commercial User-Generated Content Exception page.
Republish within Theses and Dissertations: permission will be required in order to republish images from publicly accessible online sources within theses and dissertations. For more information, please see our Theses & Dissertations page.
Course Content Sharing Sites: images from publicly accessible online sources should not be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites.
AI Tools: consult the website's terms of use/service before inputting/submitting an image from a publicly accessible online source to AI tools.
Google Advanced Image Searches
Images that are found through a typical Google Image Search need to be assessed so as to determine whether the five conditions listed above are met: (1) the image must be publicly accessible; (2) the image must be legitimate and must have been made available online to the public by the copyright owner; (3) the image must not be accompanied by clearly visible copyright notices that prohibit educational or non-commercial use; (4) access to and use of the image must not be restricted by technological protection measures or digital locks; and (5) *the author(s) and source of the image must be acknowledged.* Conducting a Google Advanced Image Search allows for a filter to be used so that images that meet conditions 1, 2, 3, and 4 can be found. *Once an image is selected from these search results and incorporated into an academic work, it would then need to be cited and referenced.*
To conduct a Google Advanced Image Search, enter the same keywords that would be used in a typical Google Image Search into the first field (all these words) and then drop the menu down to 'Creative Commons licenses' in the last field (usage rights). The fields in between the first and last fields can be left blank or they can be populated at a student's discretion. The results page will display images that meet the search criteria. Please keep in mind that Google Advanced Image Search is the service being used to find images, it is not the source of the images that are found or selected for use. *The webpage on which the selected image is publicly accessible online will need to be visited in order to access the image for use and collect information (author (if known), source, and url) for the citation, reference, and credit line that will accompany the image when it is reproduced and incorporated into an academic work.*
The graphic below demonstrates how to conduct a Google Advanced Image Search.
Creative Commons-licensed Images and Library-licensed Image Collections
The Images from Online Sources chart linked below was prepared by the Copyright Advisory Office in an effort to address questions frequently asked by Queen's students. The chart links to image search tools, with information about conducting searches, online and Creative Commons-licensed image collections, with information about the scope of use and attribution statements, and library-licensed image collections, with descriptions of the collections and information about the scope of use and attribution statements.
Creative Commons-licensed Images
Private Study and Research Purposes: all 7 Creative Commons licenses permit personal use.
Academic Works: 5 of 7 Creative Commons licenses permit incorporating images into academic works but *citing and referencing is required*. Avoid Creative Commons licenses that include "-ND" in the license code or request permission.
Republish within Theses and Dissertations: 3 of 7 Creative Commons licenses permit republication without permission but *citing and referencing is required*. Avoid Creative Commons licenses that include "-ND" and "-NC" in the license code or request permission. For more information, please see our Theses & Dissertations page.
Course Content Sharing Sites: CC 0 licensed images can be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites. Images licensed under the remaining 6 Creative Commons licenses should not be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites.
AI Tools: CC 0 licensed images can be inputted/submitted to AI tools. Images licensed under the remaining 6 Creative Commons licenses should not be inputted/submitted to AI tools.
Images from Library-licensed Collections
Private Study and Research Purposes: personal use is permitted.
Academic Works: images from library-licensed image collections can be incorporated into academic works *if cited and referenced*.
Republish within Theses and Dissertations: permission will be required in order to republish images from library-licensed collections within theses and dissertations. For more information, please see our Theses & Dissertations page.
Course Content Sharing Sites: images from library-licensed collections should not be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites.
AI Tools: images from library-licensed collections should not be inputted/submitted to AI tools.
Images from Subscription-based Sources
Websites, platforms, and online services that require the creation of accounts, logging in, subscriptions, or the payment of fees, are not publicly accessible online sources of content. The use of images from these websites, platforms, and online services is governed by their Terms of Use or Terms of Service that are agreed to or accepted when accounts are created or subscriptions are initiated. The Terms of Use or Terms of Service will include sections that address intellectual property and permitted uses and these sections will either permit or prohibit the use of images within (shared to, posted to, uploaded to, transmitted through, stored within, etc.) the website, platform, or online service. Before incorporating images from such websites, platforms, or online services into academic works or theses and dissertations, please consult the Terms of User of Terms of Service that you agreed to or accepted.
Private Study and Research Purposes: personal use is permitted if a subscription is active.
Academic Works: permission from the author of the image and the website, platform, or online service may be required to use the image in academic works.
Republish within Theses and Dissertations: permission from the author of the image and the website, platform, or online service will be required in order to republish the image within a thesis or dissertation. For more information, please see our Theses & Dissertations page.
Course Content Sharing Sites: images from subscription-based sources should not be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites.
AI Tools: images from subscription-based sources should not be inputted/submitted to AI tools.
Social Media Content
Images from social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, X, etc.) can be used within academic works if you have an account with the respective social media platform. When you created your account, you would have agreed to or accepted the social media platform's Terms of Use or Terms of Service and, by doing so, you would have granted the social media platform and its users some or all of the economic rights to the content that you make available through (share to, post to, upload to, transmit through, store within, etc.) that social media platform. This means that others can make use of your content but it also means that you can make use of their content. At your discretion, and if you have account with social media platforms, you can incorporate content from social media platforms into academic works that are submitted to course instructors for evaluation, posted to course sites, and distributed to other students in the class. *The username of the account that posted/shared the content, the date that the content was posted/shared, and the name of the social media platform should be acknowledged by way of an attribution statement, citation, or credit line when content from social media is incorporated into academic works.*
Private Study and Research Purposes: personal use is permitted if an account with the social media platform has been created.
Academic Works: images from social media platforms can be incorporated into academic works if an account with the social media platform has been created but *citing and referencing is required*.
Republish within Theses and Dissertations: permission from the author and the social media platform will be required in order to republish the images within a thesis or dissertation. For more information, please see our Theses & Dissertations page.
Course Content Sharing Sites: images from social media platforms should not be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites.
AI Tools: images from social media platforms should not be inputted/submitted to AI tools.
If you come across an image, from any source, that you would like to use but have questions or concerns about whether and how that image can be used, please contact the Copyright Advisory Office for assistance: qcopy@queensu.ca.
This section is intended to address audio recordings, such as recordings of recited works and delivered lectures or speeches, conducted interviews, podcasts, and audio books. For information about music, please see the sections below which address Music and Sheet Music.
Audio Recordings in Physical Formats
Audio recordings in physical formats (cassette tapes, vinyl records, or compact discs) can be used by students if the copies are legitimate (not infringing copies).
Private Study and Research Purposes: personal use is permitted in accordance with Fair Dealing.
Academic Works: audio recordings from physical formats can be incorporated into academic works *if cited and referenced*; and audio recordings from physical formats can be performed during presentations in the classroom and during an online class but not during a recorded online class. For more information, please see our Non-Commercial User-Generated Content Exception page.
Republish within Theses and Dissertations: permission will be required in order to republish audio recordings from physical formats within theses and dissertations. For more information, please see our Theses & Dissertations page.
Course Content Sharing Sites: audio recordings from physical formats should not be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites.
AI Tools: audio recordings from physical formats should not be inputted/submitted to AI tools.
Campus Events & Public Performance Rights: public performance rights will need to be obtained in order to perform audio recordings from physical formats during events that are held on campus. For more information, please see our Campus Events & Public Performance Rights page.
Audio Recordings from Online Sources
Audio recordings that are available through publicly accessible online sources can be used by students if the following conditions are met:
- the online source and the audio recording must be publicly accessible (you must be able to access the audio recording without creating an account, logging in to a website, subscribing to a website, platform, or online service, or paying any fees);
- the audio recording must be legitimate (not an infringing copy) and must have been made available online to the public by the copyright owner (consult verified accounts and trusted websites, consider the validity of the usernames of those who posted or uploaded the audio recording, and avoid audio recordings that are accompanied by disclaimers that state 'no copyright infringement intended');
- the audio recording must not be accompanied by clearly visible copyright notices that prohibit educational or non-commercial use;
- access to and use of the audio recording must not be restricted by technological protection measures or digital locks (avoid audio recordings that cannot be played in your geographic location); and
- *the author(s) and source of the audio recording must be acknowledged if the publicly accessible audio recording is reproduced (ie downloaded and incorporated into an academic work).*
Please keep in mind that linking or hyperlinking to publicly accessible online content is an alternative to reproducing that content. In the decision regarding Crookes v. Newton (2011), the Supreme Court of Canada stated that "a hyperlink, by itself, should never be seen as 'publication' of the content to which it refers" [para. 14]. Linking or hyperlinking to content does not constitute reproducing that content and links or hyperlinks would not need to be cited or referenced.
Private Study and Research Purposes: personal use is permitted in accordance with Fair Dealing.
Academic Works: audio recordings from publicly accessible online sources can be incorporated into academic works *if cited and referenced*; and audio recordings from publicly accessible online sources can be performed/streamed during presentations in the classroom, during an online class, and during a recorded online class. For more information, please see our Non-Commercial User-Generated Content Exception page.
Republish within Theses and Dissertations: permission will be required in order to republish audio recordings from publicly accessible online sources within theses and dissertations. For more information, please see our Theses & Dissertations page.
Course Content Sharing Sites: audio recordings from publicly accessible online sources should not be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites.
AI Tools: consult the website's terms of use/service before inputting/submitting audio recordings from a publicly accessible online source to AI tools.
Campus Events: public performance rights will need to be obtained in order to perform/stream audio recordings from publicly accessible online sources during events that are held on campus. For more information, please see our Campus Events & Public Performance Rights page.
Creative Commons-licensed Audio Recordings
Private Study and Research Purposes: all 7 Creative Commons licenses permit personal use.
Academic Works: 5 of 7 Creative Commons licenses permit incorporating audio recordings into academic works but *citing and referencing is required*. Avoid Creative Commons licenses that include "-ND" in the license code or request permission. All 7 Creative Commons licenses permit performing/streaming audio recordings during presentations in the classroom and during an online class. 5 of 7 Creative Commons licenses permit performing/streaming during a recorded online class. Avoid Creative Commons licenses that include "-ND" in the license code or request permission.
Republish within Theses and Dissertations: 3 of 7 Creative Commons licenses permit republication without permission but *citing and referencing is required*. Avoid Creative Commons licenses that include "-ND" and "-NC" in the license code or request permission. For more information, please see our Theses & Dissertations page.
Course Content Sharing Sites: CC 0 licensed audio recordings can be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites. Audio recordings licensed under the remaining 6 Creative Commons licenses should not be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites.
AI Tools: CC 0 licensed audio recordings can be inputted/submitted to AI tools. Audio recordings licensed under the remaining 6 Creative Commons licenses should not be inputted/submitted to AI tools.
Campus Events & Public Performance Rights: Creative Commons-licensed audio recordings can be performed during events that are held on campus if the licenses align with the type of event (ie the licenses will need to permit commercial use if tickets are being sold or funds are being raised). For more information, please see our Campus Events & Public Performance Rights page.
Audio Recordings from Library-licensed Collections
Private Study and Research Purposes: personal use is permitted.
Academic Works: audio recordings from library-licensed collections can be linked to from within academic works; and audio recordings from library-licensed collections can be performed/streamed during presentations in the classroom but audio recordings from library-licensed collections cannot be performed/streamed during an online class or during a recorded online class.
Republish within Theses and Dissertations: permission will be required in order to republish audio recordings from library-licensed collections within theses and dissertations. For more information, please see our Theses & Dissertations page.
Course Content Sharing Sites: audio recordings from library-licensed collections should not be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites.
AI Tools: audio recordings from library-licensed collections should not be inputted/submitted to AI tools.
Campus Events & Public Performance Rights: public performance rights will need to be obtained in order to perform/stream audio recordings from library-licensed collections during events that are held on campus. For more information, please see our Campus Events & Public Performance Rights page.
Audio Recording Streaming Services
Streaming services like Apple podcasts and Amazon's Audible are legitimate online sources of audio recordings but they are not publicly accessible online sources of audio recordings. Subscriptions to these streaming services require accounts and agreements to or acceptance of Terms of Use or Terms of Service which will restrict access to personal and household use.
Private Study and Research Purposes: personal use is permitted if a subscription is active.
Academic Works: audio maybe quoted in academic works *if cited and referenced*; audio recordings from streaming services cannot be incorporated into academic works; and audio recordings from streaming services cannot be performed/streamed during presentations in the classroom, during an online class, or during a recorded online class.
Republish within Theses and Dissertations: permission will be required in order to republish audio recordings from streaming services within theses and dissertations. For more information, please see our Theses & Dissertations page.
Course Content Sharing Sites: audio recordings from streaming services should not be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites.
AI Tools: audio recordings from streaming services should not be inputted/submitted to AI tools.
Campus Events & Public Performance Rights: public performance rights will need to be obtained in order to perform/stream audio recordings from streaming services during events that are held on campus. For more information, please see our Campus Events & Public Performance Rights page.
If you come across an audio recording, from any source, that you would like to use but have questions or concerns about whether and how that audio recording can be used, please contact the Copyright Advisory Office for assistance: qcopy@queensu.ca.
Music in Physical Formats
Music in physical formats (cassette tapes, vinyl records, or compact discs) can be used by students if the copies are legitimate (not infringing copies).
Private Study and Research Purposes: personal use is permitted in accordance with Fair Dealing.
Academic Works: music and/or lyrics from physical formats can be incorporated into academic works *if cited and referenced*; and music and/or lyrics from physical formats can be performed during presentations in the classroom and during an online class but not during a recorded online class. For more information, please see our Non-Commercial User-Generated Content Exception page.
Republish within Theses and Dissertations: permission will be required in order to republish music and/or lyrics from physical formats within theses and dissertations. For more information, please see our Theses & Dissertations page.
Course Content Sharing Sites: music and/or lyrics from physical formats should not be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites.
AI Tools: music and/or lyrics from physical formats should not be inputted/submitted to AI tools.
Campus Events & Public Performing Rights: public performance rights will need to be obtained in order to perform music from physical formats during events that are held on campus. For more information, please see our Campus Events & Public Performance Rights page.
Music from Online Sources
Music that is available through publicly accessible online sources can be used by students if the following conditions are met:
- the online source and the music must be publicly accessible (you must be able to access the music without creating an account, logging in to a website, subscribing to a website, platform, or online service, or paying any fees);
- the music must be legitimate (not an infringing copy) and must have been made available online to the public by the copyright owner (consult verified accounts and trusted websites, consider the validity of the usernames of those who posted or uploaded the music, and avoid music that is accompanied by disclaimers that state 'no copyright infringement intended');
- the music must not be accompanied by clearly visible copyright notices that prohibit educational or non-commercial use;
- access to and use of the music must not be restricted by technological protection measures or digital locks (avoid music that cannot be played in your geographic location); and
- *the author(s) and source of the music must be acknowledged if the publicly accessible music is reproduced (ie downloaded and incorporated into an academic work).*
Please keep in mind that linking or hyperlinking to publicly accessible online content is an alternative to reproducing that content. In the decision regarding Crookes v. Newton (2011), the Supreme Court of Canada stated that "a hyperlink, by itself, should never be seen as 'publication' of the content to which it refers" [para.14]. Linking or hyperlinking to content does not constitute reproducing that content and links or hyperlinks would not need to be cited or referenced.
Private Study and Research Purposes: personal use is permitted in accordance with Fair Dealing.
Academic Works: music and lyrics from publicly accessible online sources can be incorporated into academic works *if cited and referenced*; and music and lyrics from publicly accessible online sources can be performed/streamed during presentations in the classroom, during an online class, and during a recorded online class. For more information, please see our Non-Commercial User-Generated Content Exception page.
Republish within Theses and Dissertations: permission will be required in order to republish music and/or lyrics from publicly accessible online sources within theses and dissertations. For more information, please see our Theses & Dissertations page.
Course Content Sharing Sites: music and/or lyrics from publicly accessible online sources should not be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites.
AI Tools: consult the website's terms of use/service before inputting/submitting music and/or lyrics from a publicly accessible online source to AI tools.
Campus Events & Public Performance Rights: public performance rights will need to be obtained in order to perform/stream music from publicly accessible online sources during events that are held on campus. For more information, please see our Campus Events & Public Performance Rights page.
Creative Commons-licensed Music and Music from Library-licensed Collections
The chart linked below was prepared by the Copyright Advisory Office in an effort to address questions frequently asked by Queen's students. The first page of the chart includes links to online sources of Creative Commons-licensed music, with information about the scope of use and attribution statements, as well as library-licensed music collections with descriptions of the collections and information about the scope of use.
Creative Commons-licensed Music
Private Study and Research Purposes: all 7 Creative Commons licenses permit personal use.
Academic Works: 5 of 7 Creative Commons licenses permit incorporating music and lyrics into academic works but *citing and referencing is required*. Avoid Creative Commons licenses that include "-ND" in the license code or request permission. All 7 Creative Commons licenses permit performing/streaming music during presentations in the classroom and during an online class. 5 of 7 Creative Commons licenses permit performing/streaming during a recorded online class. Avoid Creative Commons licenses that include "-ND" in the license code or request permission.
Republish within Theses and Dissertations: 3 of 7 Creative Commons licenses permit republication without permission but *citing and referencing is required*. Avoid Creative Commons licenses that include "-ND" and "-NC" in the license code or request permission. For more information, please see our Theses & Dissertations page.
Course Content Sharing Sites: CC 0 licensed music and lyrics can be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites. Music and lyrics licensed under remaining 6 Creative Commons licenses should not be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites.
AI Tools: CC 0 licensed music and lyrics can be inputted/submitted to AI tools. Music and lyrics licensed under remaining 6 Creative Commons licenses should not be inputted/submitted to AI tools.
Campus Events & Public Performance Rights: Creative Commons-licensed music can be performed/streamed during events that are held on campus if the licenses align with the type of event (ie the licenses will need to permit commercial use if tickets are being sold or funds are being raised). For more information, please see our Campus Events & Public Performance Rights page.
Music from Library-licensed Collections
Private Study and Research Purposes: personal use is permitted.
Academic Works: music from library-licensed collections can be linked to from within academic works; and music from library-licensed collections can be performed/streamed during presentations in the classroom but music from library-licensed collections cannot be performed/streamed during an online class or during a recorded online class.
Republish within Theses and Dissertations: permission will be required in order to republish music and/or lyrics from library-licensed collections within theses and dissertations. For more information, please see our Theses & Dissertations page.
Course Content Sharing Sites: music and/or lyrics from library-licensed collections should not be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites.
AI Tools: music and/or lyrics from library-licensed collections should not be inputted/submitted to AI tools.
Campus Events & Public Performance Rights: public performance rights will need to be obtained in order to perform/stream music from library-licensed collections during events that are held on campus. For more information, please see our Campus Events & Public Performance Rights page.
Music Streaming Services
Streaming Services like Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Music, etc. are legitimate online sources of music but they are not publicly accessible online sources of music. Subscriptions to these streaming services require accounts and agreements to or acceptance of Terms of Use or Terms of Service which will restrict access to personal and household use.
Private Study and Research Purposes: personal use is permitted if a subscription is active.
Academic Works: lyrics may be quoted in academic works *if cited and referenced*; music from streaming services cannot be incorporated into academic works; and music from streaming services cannot be performed/streamed during presentations in the classroom, during an online class, or during a recorded online class.
Republish within Theses and Dissertations: permission will be required in order to republish music and/or lyrics from streaming services within theses and dissertations. For more information, please see our Theses & Dissertations page.
Course Content Sharing Sites: music and/or lyrics from streaming services should not be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites.
AI Tools: music and/or lyrics from streaming services should not be inputted/submitted to AI tools.
Campus Events & Public Performance Rights: public performance rights will need to be obtained in order to perform/stream music from streaming services during events that are held on campus. For more information, please see our Campus Events & Public Performance Rights page.
The graphic below illustrates whether and how music from various sources can be used by students.
If you come across music, from any source, that you would like to use but have questions or concerns about whether and how that music can be used, please contact the Copyright Advisory Office for assistance: qcopy@queensu.ca.
Sheet Music from Print Sources
Sheet music from print sources can be used by students as follows:
Private Study and Research Purposes: personal use is permitted in accordance with Fair Dealing.
Academic Works: sheet music from print sources can be incorporated into academic works *if cited and referenced*. For more information, please see our Non-Commercial User-Generated Content Exception page.
Republish within Theses and Dissertations: permission will be required in order to republish sheet music from print sources within theses and dissertations. For more information, please see our Theses & Dissertations page.
Course Content Sharing Sites: sheet music from print sources should not be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites.
AI Tools: sheet music from print sources should not be inputted/submitted to AI tools.
Sheet Music from Online Sources
Sheet music that is available through publicly accessible online sources can be used by students if the following conditions are met:
- the online source and the sheet music must be publicly accessible (you must be able to access the sheet music without creating an account, logging in to a website, subscribing to a website, platform, or online service, or paying any fees);
- the sheet music must be legitimate (not an infringing copy) and must have been made available online to the public by the copyright owner (consult verified accounts and trusted websites, consider the validity of the usernames of those who posted or uploaded the sheet music, and avoid sheet music that is accompanied by disclaimers that state 'no copyright infringement intended');
- the sheet music must not be accompanied by clearly visible copyright notices that prohibit educational or non-commercial use;
- access to and use of the sheet music must not be restricted by technological protection measures or digital locks (avoid sheet music that is watermarked, cannot be copied and pasted or downloaded, and cannot be accessed in your geographic location); and
- *the author(s) and source of the sheet music must be acknowledged if the publicly accessible online sheet music is reproduced (ie copied, pasted, and incorporated into an academic work).*
Please keep in mind that linking or hyperlinking to publicly accessible online content is an alternative to reproducing that content. In the decision regarding Crookes v. Newton (2011), the Supreme Court of Canada stated that "a link or hyperlink, by itself, should never be seen as 'publication' of the content to which it refers" [para. 14]. Linking or hyperlinking to content does not constitute reproducing that content and links or hyperlinks would not need to be cited or referenced.
Private Study and Research Purposes: personal use is permitted in accordance with Fair Dealing.
Academic Works: sheet music from publicly accessible online sources can be incorporated into academic works *if cited and referenced*. For more information, please see our Non-Commercial User-Generated Content Exception page.
Republish within Theses and Dissertations: permission will be required in order to republish sheet music from publicly accessible online sources within theses and dissertations. For more information, please see our Theses & Dissertations page.
Course Content Sharing Sites: sheet music from publicly accessible online sources should not be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites.
AI Tools: consult the website's terms of use/service before inputting/submitting sheet music from a publicly accessible online source to AI tools.
Public Domain Sheet Music, Creative Commons-licensed Sheet Music, and Sheet Music from Library-licensed Collections
The chart linked below was prepared by the Copyright Advisory Office in an effort to address questions frequently asked by Queen's students. The second page of the chart includes links to online sources of public domain and Creative Commons-licensed collections of sheet music, with information about the scope of use and attribution statements, as well as library-licensed collections of sheet music, with information about the scope of use and attribution statements.
Public Domain Sheet Music
Private Study and Research Purposes: personal use is unrestricted.
Academic Works: incorporating public domain works into academic works is unrestricted but *citing and referencing is required*.
Republish within Theses and Dissertations: permission to republish public domain works is not required but *citing and referencing is required*.
Course Content Sharing Sites: public domain works can be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites.
AI Tools: public domain works can be inputted/submitted to AI tools.
Creative Commons-licensed Sheet Music
Private Study and Research Purposes: all 7 Creative Commons licenses permit personal use.
Academic Works: 5 of 7 Creative Commons licenses permit incorporating content into academic works but *citing and referencing is required*. Avoid the 2 Creative Commons licenses that include "-ND" in the license code or request permission.
Republish within Theses and Dissertations: 3 of 7 Creative Commons licenses permit republication within theses and dissertations without permission but *citing and referencing is required*. Avoid 4 Creative Commons licenses that include "-ND" and '-NC" in the license code or request permission. For more information, please see our Theses & Dissertations page.
Course Content Sharing Sites: CC 0 licensed content can be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites. Content licensed under remaining 6 Creative Commons licenses should not be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites.
AI Tools: CC 0 licensed content can be inputted/submitted to AI tools. Content licensed under remaining 6 Creative Commons licenses should not be inputted/submitted to AI tools.
Sheet Music from Library-licensed Collections
Private Study and Research Purposes: personal use is permitted.
Academic Works: sheet music can be linked to from within academic works.
Republish within Theses and Dissertations: permission will be required in order to republish sheet music from library-licensed collections within theses and dissertations. For more information, please see our Theses & Dissertations page.
Course Content Sharing Sites: sheet music from library-licensed collections should not be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites.
AI Tools: sheet music from library-licensed collections should not be inputted/submitted to AI tools.
If you come across sheet music, from any source, that you would like to use but have questions or concerns about whether and how that sheet music can be used, please contact the Copyright Advisory Office for assistance: qcopy@queensu.ca.
Films in Physical Formats
Films in physical formats (VHS tapes, DVDs, or Blu-ray discs) can be used by students if the copies are legitimate (not infringing copies).
Private Study and Research Purposes: personal use is permitted in accordance with Fair Dealing.
Academic Works: clips and stills from films in physical formats can be incorporated into academic works *if cited and referenced*; and films, videos, clips, and stills from films in physical formats can be performed during presentations in the classroom and during an online class but not during a recorded online class. For more information, please see our Non-Commercial User-Generated Content Exception page.
Republish within Theses and Dissertations: permission will be required in order to republish films, videos, clips, or stills from films in physical formats within theses and dissertations. For more information, please see our Theses & Dissertations page.
Course Content Sharing Sites: films, videos, clips, and stills from films in physical formats should not be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites.
AI Tools: films, videos, clips, and stills from films in physical formats should not be inputted/submitted to AI tools.
Campus Events & Public Performance Rights: public performance rights will need to be obtained in order to perform films in physical formats during events that are held on campus. For more information, please see our Campus Events & Public Performance Rights page.
Films and Videos from Online Sources
Films and videos that are available through publicly accessible online sources can be used by students if the following conditions are met:
- the online source and the film/video must be publicly accessible (you must be able to access the film/video without creating an account, logging in to a website, subscribing to a website, platform, or online service, or paying any fees);
- the film/video must be legitimate (not an infringing copy) and must have been made available online to the public by the copyright owner (consult verified accounts and trusted websites, consider the validity of the usernames of those who posted or uploaded the film/video, and avoid films/videos that are accompanied by disclaimers that state 'no copyright infringement intended');
- the film/video must not be accompanied by clearly visible copyright notices that prohibit educational or non-commercial use;
- access to and use of the film/video must not be restricted by technological protection measures or digital locks (avoid films/videos that cannot be played in your geographic location); and
- *the author(s) and source of the film/video must be acknowledged if the publicly accessible online film/video is reproduced (ie downloaded and incorporated into an academic work).*
Please keep in mind that linking or hyperlinking to publicly accessible online content is an alternative to reproducing that content. In the decision regarding Crookes v. Newton (2011), the Supreme Court of Canada stated that "a hyperlink, by itself, should never be seen as 'publication' of the content to which it refers" [para. 14]. Linking or hyperlinking to content does not constitute reproducing that content and links or hyperlinks would not need to be cited or referenced.
Private Study and Research Purposes: personal use is permitted in accordance with Fair Dealing.
Academic Works: films, videos, clips, and stills from publicly accessible online sources can be incorporated into academic works *if cited and referenced*; and films, videos, and clips from publicly accessible online sources can be performed/streamed during presentations in the classroom, during an online class, and during a recorded online class. For more information, please see our Non-Commercial User-Generated Content Exception page.
Republish within Theses and Dissertations: permission will be required in order to republish films, videos, clips, or stills from publicly accessible online sources within theses and dissertations. For more information, please see our Theses & Dissertations page.
Course Content Sharing Sites: films, videos, clips, and stills from publicly accessible online sources should not be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites.
AI Tools: consult the website's terms of use/service before inputting/submitting films, videos, clips, and stills from a publicly accessible online source to AI tools.
Campus Events & Public Performance Rights: public performance rights will need to be obtained in order to perform/stream films, videos, or clips from publicly accessible online sources during events that are held on campus. For more information, please see our Campus Events & Public Performance Rights page.
YouTube
YouTube is a publicly accessible online source of videos. You are not required to have a YouTube or Google account in order to access videos on YouTube. Before linking or hyperlinking to or incorporating YouTube videos within academic works or performing/streaming YouTube videos during presentations in the classroom, during an online class, or during a recorded online class, you must confirm the following:
- that the YouTube videos are legitimate (not infringing copies);
- that the YouTube videos were made available on YouTube by the copyright owner (consult verified accounts, consider the validity of the usernames of those who posted or uploaded the videos, and avoid videos that are accompanied by disclaimers that state 'no copyright infringement intended');
- that the use of the YouTube videos is not restricted by technological protection measures or digital locks (avoid videos that cannot be played in your geographic location); and
- that *the author(s) and YouTube are acknowledged if the YouTube videos are reproduced (ie downloaded and incorporated into an academic work).*
Please keep in mind that linking or hyperlinking to publicly accessible online content is an alternative to reproducing that content. In the decision regarding Crookes v. Newton (2011), the Supreme Court of Canada stated that "a hyperlink, by itself, should never be seen as 'publication' of the content to which it refers" [para. 14]. Linking or hyperlinking to content does not constitute reproducing that content and links or hyperlinks would not need to be cited or referenced.
Private Study and Research Purposes: personal use is permitted in accordance with Fair Dealing.
Academic Works: videos, clips, and stills from YouTube videos can be incorporated into academic works *if cited and referenced*; and videos and clips from YouTube videos can be performed/streamed during presentations in the classroom, during an online class, and during a recorded online class. For more information, please see our Non-Commercial User-Generated Content Exception page.
Republish within Theses and Dissertations: permission will be required in order to republish videos, clips, or stills from YouTube videos within theses and dissertations. For more information, please see our Theses & Dissertations page.
Course Content Sharing Sites: videos, clips, and stills from YouTube videos should not be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites.
AI Tools: consult YouTube's terms of use/service before inputting/submitting videos, clips, and stills from YouTube videos to AI tools.
Campus Events & Public Performance Rights: public performance rights will need to be obtained in order to perform/stream YouTube videos during events that are held on campus. For more information, please see our Campus Events & Public Performance Rights page.
Library-licensed Film and Video Collections
The chart linked below was prepared by the Copyright Advisory Office in an effort to address questions frequently asked by Queen's students. The chart includes links to library-licensed film and video collections with descriptions of the collections and information about the scope of use. Of the 38 collections listed, films and videos from 31 collections can be linked to from within academic works and can be performed/streamed during presentations in the classroom but the films and videos in these collections cannot be performed/streamed during presentations in an online class or during a recorded online class. Public performance rights will need to be obtained in order to perform/stream films and videos from library-licensed film and video collections during events that are held on campus. One of the collections can be used within the Faculty of Education only. Films and videos from the remaining 6 collections may be accessed and used for private study and research purposes only.
Private Study and Research Purposes: personal use is permitted.
Academic Works: films and videos from library-licensed collections can be linked to from within academic works; and films, videos, and clips from library-licensed collections can be performed/streamed during presentations in the classroom but films and videos from library-licensed collections cannot be performed/streamed during an online class or during a recorded online class.
Republish within Theses and Dissertations: permission will be required in order to republish films, videos, clips, or stills from library-licensed collections within theses and dissertations. For more information, please see our Theses & Dissertations page.
Course Content Sharing Sites: films, videos, clips, and stills from library-licensed collections should not be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites.
AI Tools: films, videos, clips, and stills from library-licensed collections should not be inputted/submitted to AI tools.
Campus Events & Public Performance Rights: public performance rights will need to be obtained in order to perform/stream films, videos, or clips from library-licensed collections during events that are held on campus. For more information, please see our Campus Events & Public Performance Rights page.
Film and Video Streaming Services
Streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, HBO Max, Apple TV, Hulu, Crave, etc. are legitimate online sources of films and videos but they are not publicly accessible online sources of films or videos. Subscriptions to these streaming services require accounts and agreements to or acceptance of Terms of Use or Terms of Service which restrict access to personal and household use.
Private Study and Research Purposes: personal use is permitted if a subscription is active.
Academic Works: films, videos, clips, and stills from streaming services cannot be incorporated into academic works; and films, videos, and clips from streaming services cannot be performed/streamed during presentations in the classroom, during an online class, or during a recorded online class.
Republish within Theses and Dissertations: permission will be required in order to republish films, videos, clips, or stills from streaming services within theses and dissertations. For more information, please see our Theses & Dissertations page.
Course Content Sharing Sites: films, videos, clips, and stills from streaming services should not be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites.
AI Tools: films, videos, clips, and stills from streaming services should not be inputted/submitted to AI tools.
Campus Events & Public Performance Rights: public performance rights will need to be obtained in order to perform/stream films, videos, or clips from streaming services during events that are held on campus. For more information, please see our Campus Events & Public Performance Rights page.
The graphic below illustrates whether and how films and videos from various sources can be used by students.
If you come across a film or video, from any source, that you would like to use but have questions or concerns about whether and how that film or video can be used, please contact the Copyright Advisory Office for assistance: qcopy@queensu.ca.
Subscription-based Content
Websites, platforms, and online services that require the creation of accounts, logging in, subscriptions, or the payment of fees, are not publicly accessible online sources of content. The use of content from these websites, platforms, and online services is governed by their Terms of Use or Terms of Service that are agreed to or accepted when accounts are created or subscriptions are initiated. The Terms of Use or Terms of Service will include sections that address intellectual property and permitted uses and these sections will either permit or prohibit the use of content within (shared to, posted to, uploaded to, transmitted through, stored within, etc.) the website, platform, or online service. Before incorporating content from such websites, platforms, or online services into academic works or theses and dissertations, please consult the Terms of User of Terms of Service that you agreed to or accepted.
Private Study and Research Purposes: personal use is permitted if a subscription is active.
Academic Works: permission from the author of the content and the website, platform, or online service may be required to incorporate content into academic works.
Republish within Theses and Dissertations: permission from the author of the content and the website, platform, or online service will be required in order to republish the content within theses and dissertations. For more information, please see our Theses & Dissertations page.
Course Content Sharing Sites: content from subscription-based sources should not be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites.
AI Tools: content from subscription-based sources should not be inputted/submitted to AI tools.
Social Media Content
Content from social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, X, etc.) can be used within academic works if you have an account with the respective social media platform. When you created your account, you would have agreed to or accepted the social media platform's Terms of Use or Terms of Service and, by doing so, you would have granted the social media platform and its users some or all of the economic rights to the content that you make available through (share to, post to, upload to, transmit through, store within, etc.) that social media platform. This means that others can make use of your content but it also means that you can make use of their content. At your discretion, and if you have account with social media platforms, you can incorporate content from social media platforms into academic works that are submitted to course instructors for evaluation, posted to course sites, and distributed to other students in the class. *The username of the account that posted/shared the content, the date that the content was posted/shared, and the name of the social media platform should be acknowledged by way of an attribution statement, citation, or credit line when content from social media is incorporated into academic works.*
Private Study and Research Purposes: personal use is permitted if an account with the social media platform has been created.
Academic Works: content from social media platforms can be incorporated into academic works if an account with the social media platform has been created but *citing and referencing is required*.
Republish within Theses and Dissertations: permission from the author and the social media platform will be required in order to republish the content within theses and dissertations. For more information, please see our Theses & Dissertations page.
Course Content Sharing Sites: content from social media platforms should not be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites.
AI Tools: content from social media platforms should not be inputted/submitted to AI tools.
Music
Streaming services like Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Music, etc. are legitimate online sources of music but they are not publicly accessible online sources of music. Subscriptions to these streaming services require accounts and agreements to or acceptance of Terms of Use or Terms of Service which restrict access to personal and household use.
Private Study and Research Purposes: personal use is permitted if a subscription is active.
Academic Works: lyrics may be quoted in academic works *if cited and referenced*; music from streaming services cannot be incorporated into in academic works; and music from streaming services cannot be performed/streamed during presentations in the classroom, during an online class, or during a recorded online class.
Republish within Theses and Dissertations: permission will be required in order to republish music and/or lyrics from streaming services within theses and dissertations. For more information, please see our Theses & Dissertations page.
Course Content Sharing Sites: music and/or lyrics from streaming services should not be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites.
AI Tools: music and/or lyrics from streaming services should not be inputted/submitted to AI tools.
Campus Events & Public Performance Rights: public performance rights will need to be obtained in order to perform/stream music from streaming services during events that are held on campus. For more information, please see our Campus Events & Public Performance Rights page.
Alternatives: Creative Commons-licensed Music and Music from Library-licensed Collections
The chart linked below was prepared by the Copyright Advisory Office in an effort to address questions frequently asked by Queen's students. The first page of the chart includes links to online sources of Creative Commons-licensed music, with information about the scope of use and attribution statements, as well as library-licensed music collections with descriptions of the collections and information about the scope of use.
Creative Commons-licensed Music
Private Study and Research Purposes: all 7 Creative Commons licenses permit personal use.
Academic Works: 5 of 7 Creative Commons licenses permit incorporating music and lyrics into academic works but *citing and referencing is required*. Avoid Creative Commons licenses that include "-ND" in the license code or request permission. All 7 Creative Commons licenses permit performing/streaming music during presentations in the classroom and during an online class. 5 of 7 Creative Commons licenses permit performing/streaming during a recorded online class. Avoid Creative Commons licenses that include "-ND" in the license code or request permission.
Republish within Theses and Dissertations: 3 of 7 Creative Commons licenses permit republication without permission but *citing and referencing is required*. Avoid Creative Commons licenses that include "-ND" and "-NC" in the license code or request permission. For more information, please see our Theses & Dissertations page.
Course Content Sharing Sites: CC 0 licensed music and lyrics can be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites. Music and lyrics licensed under remaining 6 Creative Commons licenses should not be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites.
AI Tools: CC 0 licensed music and lyrics can be inputted/submitted to AI tools. Music and lyrics licensed under remaining 6 Creative Commons licenses should not be inputted/submitted to AI tools.
Campus Events & Public Performance Rights: Creative Commons-licensed music can be performed/streamed during events that are held on campus if the licenses align with the type of event (ie the licenses will need to permit commercial use if tickets are being sold or funds are being raised). For more information, please see our Campus Events & Public Performance Rights page.
Music from Library-licensed Collections
Private Study and Research Purposes: personal use is permitted.
Academic Works: music from library-licensed collections can be linked to from within academic works; and music from library-licensed collections can be performed/streamed during presentations in the classroom but music from library-licensed collections cannot be performed/streamed during an online class or during a recorded online class.
Republish within Theses and Dissertations: permission will be required in order to republish music and/or lyrics from library-licensed collections within theses and dissertations. For more information, please see our Theses & Dissertations page.
Course Content Sharing Sites: music and/or lyrics from library-licensed collections should not be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites.
AI Tools: music and/or lyrics from library-licensed collections should not be inputted/submitted to AI tools.
Campus Events & Public Performance Rights: public performance rights will need to be obtained in order to perform/stream music from library-licensed collections during events that are held on campus. For more information, please see our Campus Events & Public Performance Rights page.
Films and Videos
Streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, HBO Max, Apple TV, Hulu, Crave, etc. are legitimate online sources of films and videos but they are not publicly accessible online sources of films or videos. Subscriptions to these streaming services require accounts and agreements to or acceptance of Terms of Use or Terms of Service which restrict access to personal and household use.
Private Study and Research Purposes: personal use is permitted if a subscription is active.
Academic Works: films, videos, clips, and stills from streaming services cannot be incorporated into academic works; and films, videos, and clips from streaming services cannot be performed/streamed during presentations in the classroom, during an online class, or during a recorded online class.
Republish within Theses and Dissertations: permission will be required in order to republish films, videos, clips, or stills from streaming services within theses and dissertations. For more information, please see our Theses & Dissertations page.
Course Content Sharing Sites: films, videos, clips, and stills from streaming services should not be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites.
AI Tools: films, videos, clips, and stills from streaming services should not be inputted/submitted to AI tools.
Campus Events & Public Performance Rights: public performance rights will need to be obtained in order to perform/stream films, videos, or clips from streaming services during events that are held on campus. For more information, please see our Campus Events & Public Performance Rights page.
Alternative: Library-licensed Film and Video Collections
The chart linked below was prepared by the Copyright Advisory Office in an effort to address questions frequently asked by Queen's students. The chart includes links to library-licensed film and video collections with descriptions of the collections and information about the scope of use. Of the 38 collections listed, films and videos from 31 collections can be linked to from within academic works and can be performed/streamed during presentations in the classroom but the films and videos in these collections cannot be performed/streamed during presentations in an online class or during a recorded online class. Public performance rights will need to be obtained in order to perform/stream films and videos from library-licensed film and video collections during events that are held on campus. One of the collections can be used within the Faculty of Education only. Films and videos from the remaining 6 collections may be accessed and used for private study and research purposes only.
Private Study and Research Purposes: personal use is permitted.
Academic Works: films and videos from library-licensed collections can be linked to from within academic works; and films, videos, and clips from library-licensed collections can be performed/streamed during presentations in the classroom but films and videos from library-licensed collections cannot be performed/streamed during an online class or during a recorded online class.
Republish within Theses and Dissertations: permission will be required in order to republish films, videos, clips, or stills from library-licensed collections within theses and dissertations. For more information, please see our Theses & Dissertations page.
Course Content Sharing Sites: films, videos, clips, and stills from library-licensed collections should not be uploaded to Course Content Sharing Sites.
AI Tools: films, videos, clips, and stills from library-licensed collections should not be inputted/submitted to AI tools.
Campus Events & Public Performance Rights: public performance rights will need to be obtained in order to perform/stream films, videos, or clips from library-licensed collections during events that are held on campus. For more information, please see our Campus Events & Public Performance Rights page.
If you come across music, films, or videos that you would like to use but have questions or concerns about whether and how they can be used, please contact the Copyright Advisory Office for assistance: qcopy@queensu.ca.
The use of Ed Tech tools is governed by each tool's Terms of Use or Terms of Service. When a student creates an account to make use of an Ed Tech tool, they will agree to or accept the tool's Terms of Use or Terms of Service and, by doing so, they will grant the tool and its users some or all of the economic rights to the content that they make available through (share to, post to, upload to, transmit through, store within, etc.) that tool. This means that other users can make use of students' content but it also means that students can make use of others' content. When using or considering the use of these tools, it's important to be aware of how your content is treated and managed by the developers and operators of these tools as well as by any unknown third parties. Please exercise caution when making your content available through these tools and avoid making copyright-protected content and works available through these tools without authorization or permission from the copyright owners.
An Ed Tech Toolkit has been made available by the Centre for Teaching and Learning at Queen's University. The list linked below was prepared by the Copyright Advisory Office for the Ed Tech Toolkit Working Group. The list includes reviews of numerous Ed Tech tools' Terms of Use or Terms of Service and highlights the treatment and management of intellectual property (content), whether and how artificial intelligence is used, and includes links to the tools' privacy policies and any available accessibility-related information. If you are using an Ed Tech tool that is or is not included in the list below and you have questions about that tool's Terms of Use or Terms of Service, please contact the Copyright Advisory Office for assistance: qcopy@queensu.ca.