We have multiple content subscriptions. Don't they provide all the permissions we need?

Subscriptions are essential to how many organizations access content. However, the terms attached to them typically limit who has access to content under those subscriptions and how that content can be reused, shared, or adapted. An Access Copyright licence complements your existing subscriptions by extending reuse, sharing and storage rights under them with a consistent set of rights across your organization.

We always cite our sources. Isn't that sufficient to be compliant with copyright?

Citing your sources is neither a substitute to nor an exemption to ensuring you have obtained permission from the copyright owner(s) of published material you are copying and sharing.

What types of works are covered through Access Copyright's licences?

Our licences provide coverage to copy and share published literary and artistic works in Access Copyright's repertoire, including books, journal articles, newspapers, magazines, reproductions of visual artwork in books or other publications, and digital publications.

What types of uses does Access Copyright's licence cover?

Generally, our licence covers both print and digital uses of published work in our repertoire, including photocopying, scanning, printing, or uploading to a secure network.

We only share content internally. Does that mean we don't need to worry about copyright or licensing?

No. Copyright and licensing need to be considered even if content use is limited to internal sharing. Copyright law does not distinguish between a copy being made and shared with colleagues or with external clients, for example.

Why not contact publishers or authors directly?

Identifying individual rightsholders, negotiating permissions, and managing multiple licences is time-consuming and impractical for most organizations. Collective licensing streamlines and simplifies this process by providing blanket permission to copy and share content from a repertoire of works under clear and consistent licence terms.

How are creators and publishers paid?

Royalties to creators and publishers are distributed based on a combination of usage data submitted by licensees and statistical models that estimate what is being copied in different sectors. Our distribution models are in keeping with best practices established by the International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organizations, of which Access Copyright is a member.

Need to confirm permissions before using a work?

Check Permissions by searching our repertoire using a publication title or an ISBN/ISSN →

Need to copy, share, or distribute published content but aren’t sure how to do it legally? Access Copyright makes it simple. We give Canadian organizations the permissions they need to copy and share books, articles, and reports, all under one licence.

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Why Licensing Matters

Copyright law gives creators and publishers control over how their work is used. When using a copyright-protected work, permission is required from the copyright holder beyond simply citing the source.

Employees expect organizations to take copyright compliance seriously so they can download, copy, or share content to help them do their job with confidence. In fact, 72% of them believe their organizations should be doing more to ensure they are fulfilling their obligations related to copyright.

Access Copyright can help. With one simple licence, organizations can better manage content responsibly.

Key benefits:

One licence. Organization-wide coverage – A single licence covers copying and sharing of over 100 million works in Access Copyright’s repertoire.
Legal clarity and protection – Reduce the risk of copyright infringement, protecting your organization and employees.
Do the right thing, effortlessly – Ensure your organization is compliant with copyright law while supporting creators.
Easy and efficient – Integrates with existing workflows without undue cost or administrative burden.

Licences by Type

Business & Organizations

Ninety-one percent of office workers in Canada regularly access published content such as newspaper articles, industry reports, and journal articles to do research, create presentations, and communicate and share information so they can do their job. Proper legal clearance is required for these uses, yet most organizations do not have the necessary licences or permissions in place, putting them at significant legal and reputational risk.

Our business licence can provide the critical coverage that organizations need to use content responsibly while minimizing risk.

What you get:

Broad usage rights across print and digital formats, including internal sharing.
One licence that covers multiple works without needing to seek individual permissions.
Legal certainty and compliance for your operations.

Industries we serve: Our licence supports organizations across a wide range of sectors, including finance, biotech, engineering, government, consulting, non-profits, and many more.

Explore Business Licensing

Universities & Colleges

Our Access Premium licence provides access to materials for classrooms, research, and digital learning platforms.

What you get:

Permission to copy, scan, distribute, or share curricular content.
Broad and comprehensive coverage to over 100 million published works in our repertoire.

Explore University Licensing

Independent Schools

A licence designed for K-12 independent schools.

What you get:

Pre-approved permissions to augment lessons via handout, email, learning management systems, or custom coursepacks.
Pre-cleared coverage for the print and digital copying of over 100 million published works.

Explore School Licensing

Copyshops

A licence for copyshops that prepare course materials for staff and students at educational institutions.
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What you get:

Legal clearance for copying, printing, or scanning content for coursepacks.
Simplified reporting and royalty management.

Explore Copyshop Licensing

Adult Language Learning Centres

A licence designed for adult language learning providers.

What you get:

Permission to use published works in educational programs.
Clearance for classroom and digital distribution of published works in Access Copyright’s repertoire.

Explore Adult Learning Licensing

Languages Canada Private Sector Members

A licence for language programs offered by private institutions affiliated with Languages Canada.

What you get:

Blanket permission to copy and share from published titles in Access Copyright’s extensive repertoire to further classroom learning.
Flexibility for print and digital copying according to the licence’s limits.

Explore Languages Canada

Public Libraries

A licence that facilitates photocopying of published works by librarians and patrons at public libraries.
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What you get:

Permission for staff and patrons to photocopy from our vast repertoire of published works.
Simplified compliance with Canadian copyright law.

Explore Public Library Licensing

Frequently Asked Questions

Ready to License?

Tell us about your organization.

We’ll recommend the licence that fits your needs, explain what's covered, and get you up and running quickly.