Invoice FAQs for Elementary and Secondary Schools

These FAQs are intended for school boards in Ontario, ministries of education in all other provinces and territories except Quebec, and any elementary and secondary school administrators interested in learning more about the Access Copyright Elementary and Secondary School Tariffs. Currently, all K-12 schools in Canada (outside of Quebec) are operating and being invoiced under the Access Copyright Elementary and Secondary School Tariff, 2005-2009.

For broader FAQs about your school's tariff for reprographic reproduction, click here.

Access Copyright has filed a proposed tariff with the Copyright Board for every elementary and secondary school outside Quebec for 2010-2012.

Schools and school boards in all provinces and territories except Quebec are entitled to make copies from portions of published works under theAccess Copyright Elementary and Secondary School Tariffsby virtue of payments made to Access Copyright by school boards in Ontario and ministries of education in all other provinces and territories except Quebec. 

This tariff has not yet been certified by the Copyright Board of Canada.

What is a Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) student and how is it calculated?

A FTE student is a full-time student or the equivalent of one student qualifying as a full-time student of your institution as determined in accordance with the policies of your Ministry of Education, related to the funding of educational institutions under its jurisdiction.

Is submission of the FTE students necessary?

Yes. The tariff requires your school board or Ministry of Education to submit the number of FTE students to Access Copyright as of January 31st of each school year.

How are the invoices calculated?

The current rate is $5.16 per FTE student, as set by the tariff. The total amount payable is the result of multiplying the FTE student figure by the rate.

When are the payments for the invoice due?

Payment of the tariff is in two installments per year. The first installment is due on April 30th. Payment for the second installment is due on October 31st.

What is a calendar year versus academic year?

Royalties must now be calculated on a calendar year basis (January-December), whereas royalties were previously paid on an academic year basis (September-August). Royalties must be calculated using the reported FTE student number for the academic year that straddles the beginning of the calendar year (i.e. royalties for 2005 are calculated using the 04/05 academic year reported FTE student numbers).

 In accordance with the certified tariff, any amount not received by the due date shall bear interest from that date until the date the amount is received. Interest will be calculated daily, at a rate equal to one percent above the Bank of Canada Rate effective on the last day of the previous month. Interest will not be compounded.