Copibec—Educator Space

What is collective licensing?

Under Canada’s Copyright Act, users have to ask copyright owners for permission to use their published works. However, there are some exceptions to this general rule. Please refer to the Copyright Overview section for more details. Copyright owners often choose to join together in collective organizations to defend their rights more effectively and make it easier for users to access their works.

Copibec was formed through the collaborative efforts of Quebec authors and publishers. Thanks to copying agreements signed between Copibec and the main representatives of the province’s education sector, teachers and professors can use the works in the Copibec repertoire (catalogue) for educational or training purposes. Copibec manages the reproduction rights for works such as books, magazines and newspapers.

Other collective licensing agencies and organizations also manage the rights of various copyright owners. If you are not sure who to contact when you need permission to use copyright protected material, the categories above give you more information about the various collective licensing agencies while the list on the right gives you direct access to their websites.

Be sure to check whether your educational institution already has a comprehensive agreement with some of these agencies or associations! For instance, the Quebec Ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport has agreements with Copibec, SoQAD, SODRAC, Artisti and SOCAN.

Books, magazines and newspapers

Copibec

The Société québécoise de gestion collective des droits de reproduction, commonly referred to as Copibec, is a not-for-profit organization that is a member of the International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organisations (IFRRO). It administers the print and digital format reproduction rights for published works such as books, magazines, newspapers, etc.

Copibec manages the reproduction rights for Quebec publications as well as works published in about 30 countries under agreements signed with foreign reproduction rights organizations. Copibec’s repertoire (catalogue) includes millions of books, newspapers articles, general magazines and specialized periodicals.

Phone: 1-800-717-2022 / 514-288-1664

Website

Theatre, film, television and radio

Société québécoise des auteurs dramatiques (SoQAD)

SoQAD is the copyright licensing agency for dramatic works (plays) from Quebec and other provinces.

It administers, negotiates and grants licences authorizing educational institutions and professional or amateur theatre groups to perform plays. SoQAD is also responsible for the use of dramatic or musical theatre works as part of multimedia products, either as video recordings or as excerpts from texts that have not been professionally published.

SoQAD also operates Adel inc., a virtual bookstore where it is possible to buy theatrical works online and make copies of them under a licence from Copibec.

Phone: 514-596-0311
Website

Société des auteurs et compositeurs dramatiques (SACD)

SACD is an international French-language organization that has the authority to negotiate, collect and distribute royalties for its members (playwrights, screenwriters, composers, directors, choreographers and stage directors).

The SACD repertoire consists of works for the stage (plays, ballets, operas, operettas, reviews, musicals, mimes and sketches), audiovisual works (made-for-television movies, series, serial dramas, animation, short- and feature-length films) and radio productions. The repertoire is comprised mainly of works published outside Canada, especially in France.

Phone: 514-738-8877
Website
Contacts

Société des auteurs de radio, télévision et cinéma (SARTEC)

SARTEC is a professional association accredited as the exclusive bargaining agent for French-language authors working in the radio, television, motion picture and audiovisual sectors. It also represents translators from any language into French in the fields of dubbing, voiceovers and subtitles.

It is responsible for applying agreements, ensuring compliance with contract terms and conditions and, as necessary, acting as intermediary with producers.

Phone: 514-526-9196
Website

Audio Ciné Films

Audio Ciné Films authorizes the public performance of motion pictures and is the Canadian movie distributor for studios such as Walt Disney Pictures, Touchstone Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Columbia Pictures, Remstar and many others.

Phone: 1-800-289-8887
Website

Criterion Pictures

Criterion Pictures is the non-theatrical distributor of feature films from various studios such as Alliance Films, American Zoetrope, Artisan Entertainment, Lucas Films, Miramax Films, Paramount Pictures, New Line Cinema, Sony Pictures Classic and many others. It works closely with the public sector, including schools, school boards and universities.

Phone: 1-800-361-2788
Website

Producers Audiovisual Collective of Canada (PACC)

PACC is a not-for-profit organization that offers a royalty collection service for the secondary rights associated with audiovisual works. It primarily covers the exhibition, public performance and educational copying and performance of audiovisual works.

Phone: 416-304-0290
Website

Educational Rights Collective of Canada (ERCC)

ERCC is a not-for-profit Canadian copyright collective society that administers the Educational Rights Tariff. Parts of the Copyright Act allow educational institutions to make a single copy of radio or television broadcasts and use those copies in the classroom without the permission of the copyright owners. However, educational institutions must comply with the Educational Rights Tariff certified by the Copyright Board of Canada.

Website

Music

Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN)

SOCAN represents the performing rights (live shows, television, radio, restaurants, etc.) of millions of Canadian and international music creators and publishers. It issues licences to businesses and organizations so that they can use all the musical works they want, legally and ethically.

Phone: 514-844-8377 / 416-445-8700
Website

Society for Reproduction Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers in Canada (SODRAC) – music

SODRAC negotiates collective and individual agreements with the users of works (including educational institutions) on behalf of its members, collects the relevant royalties and redistributes them to the copyright owners it represents. It therefore controls the recording of its members’ works on any type of audio, audiovisual, visual or digital media as well as the use of those recordings. It also represents visual artists.

Phone: 514-845-3268
Website

Artisti

Artisti is a collective licensing agency created by Quebec’s Union des artistes. Its mission is to manage and distribute the royalties payable to performing artists.

Phone: 514-288-7150
Website
Contacts

Visual arts

Society for Reproduction Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers in Canada (SODRAC) – visual arts

SODRAC is a multidisciplinary organization that manages the rights of Canadian and foreign artists working in the visual arts field. It negotiates and grants licences on behalf of its members for the use of their works in various types of publications and products, including multimedia productions.

Phone: 514-845-3268
Website

Canadian Artists Representation Copyright Collective (CARCC)

CARCC negotiates the terms and conditions for the use of copyright protected works created by its affiliated visual artists and issues licences to users.

Phone: 1-866-502-2722 / 613-232-3818

Website