scary copyright fee

This has gone largely unnoticed but I think it's a big issue.

"Titled the Access Copyright Post-Secondary Educational Institution Tariff, this levy of $45 per student, if accepted by the board, would cover all manner of copying by students and teachers, whether digital or print, video or audio, online or offline, coursepacks or class handouts, in the library or at home, in the classroom or e-learning."

and "will apply to all manner of copying, even if the material is free to use."

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/business/copyright+will+students+more+learning+materials/2904884/story.html


1. Charging everyone a flat fee is a bit like making every driver pay a speeding fine at the beginning of the year. The assumption is that everyone will violate copyright in some way so lets pay the fine up front.

2. I believe, this will not stay with college students, it will soon every student in Alberta will be required to pay the fee to Access Copyright.

3. Once the fee is established they can up the rates.

4. This organizations protects the right of only some publishers and creators. Therefore the big players become stronger, reducing competition which is the cornerstone of a healthy free market economy.

This is something to be concerned about!