This section of the website has been created to provide more information on copyright procedures in the Law Society Libraries in Saskatchewan. Members should note the new procedures which begin in February 2003.

The procedures and exemptions from infringement relate to copies made using reprographic technologies (generally photocopies and fax copies). The provisions do not allow for electronic copies and transfer to end users.

The purpose of copyright legislation is to afford creators or owners certain legal rights over their works. It is recognized that in order to develop new ideas, researchers need to access and at times to copy segments from other works. If all rights to access and copying were denied or required large fees, it would be unlikely that researchers would be able to afford to analyze and develop their ideas. There is a “public good” aspect of being able to use another’s work. Therefore exemptions exist to allow certain instances where copying is permitted without receiving the permission of the author or owner of the copyright. In order to qualify for certain exemptions, the library must follow particular procedures. The procedures include signing of a photocopy declaration by members of our Law Society and for other users of the library’s stand-alone photocopiers.