Timely Open Education Essay As Canada Prepares to Shoot Itself in the Foot Over Copyright Regulations

Created by William J. Allen (Arkansas State University) on October 24, 2009

Colin Currie, writing in this quarter's Educause Quarterly, offers a quick survey of the history of open education, beginning with Britain's Open University.The OU's forty-year evolution (amazing list of delivery methods) reached a new and exciting phase with its OpenLearn initiative: Free education and free educational resources for teachers around the world.

A similar move at Canada's Athabasca University (Open AU). An additional move at Athabasca is the AU Press, an open source university press. At the same time the Canadian government is considering extensive changes to copyright in Canada.

"A new political development in Canada might cause a radical change in what AU and AU Press are able to achieve and how learning content can be shared in Canada. The Canadian parliament is expected to begin discussion this fall on new copyright legislation that will limit what materials can be made freely available. According to AU Associate Vice President of Research Rory McGreal:

“The very stringent copyright laws the Canadian government is currently considering are based on a U.S. model. It would make it very difficult, particularly for open and online institutions, to make use of proprietary content. We have to look for alternatives.”

AU's president said, “Countries with wiser copyright regimes that promote educational use will catapult ahead of Canada. No longer will we be internationally competitive because of the restrictions contained in the legislation.”

Currie's essay is at once encouraging and chilling.

The essay has many links and I highly recommend it for all those who contemplate the future of education.

Colin Currie:

Colin Currie

Executive Director, Administrative Information Services

Princeton University

William Allen, October 2009

William's blog
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		Timely Open Education Essay As Canada Prepares to Shoot Itself in the Foot Over Copyright Regulations Created by William J. Allen (Arkansas State University) on October 24, 2009 Colin Currie, writing in this quarter's Educause Quarterly, offers a quick survey of the history of open education, beginning with Britain's Open University.The OU's forty-year evolution (amazing list of delivery methods) reached a new and exciting phase with its OpenLearn initiative: Free education and free educational resources for teachers around the world. A similar move at Canada's Athabasca University (Open AU). An additional move at Athabasca is the AU Press, an open source university press. At the same time the Canadian government is considering extensive changes to copyright in Canada. "A new political development in Canada might cause a radical change in what AU and AU Press are able to achieve and how learning content can be shared in Canada. The Canadian parliament is expected to begin discussion this fall on new copyright legislation that will limit what materials can be made freely available. According to AU Associate Vice President of Research Rory McGreal: “The very stringent copyright laws the Canadian government is currently considering are based on a U.S. model. It would make it very difficult, particularly for open and online institutions, to make use of proprietary content. We have to look for alternatives.” AU's president said, “Countries with wiser copyright regimes that promote educational use will catapult ahead of Canada. No longer will we be internationally competitive because of the restrictions contained in the legislation.” Currie's essay is at once encouraging and chilling. The essay has many links and I highly recommend it for all those who contemplate the future of education. Colin Currie: Colin Currie Executive Director, Administrative Information Services Princeton University William Allen, October 2009 AU \| canada \| Copyright \| free open source \| Open Access \| Open Educational Resources \| OpenUniversity \| OU William's blog Login or register to post comments 62 reads
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