Copyright and enabling remote learning and research during the Covid-19 crisis

"In the face of COVID-19, public libraries, schools, universities and research have moved online overnight. Educational establishments are working to support learning, teaching and research remotely and researchers and students are trying to access content from libraries which are now closed. Unfortunately, remote supply of information during this crisis is being inhibited by copyright law. Copyright limits how much information can be remotely supplied for educational purposes - namely that the amount has to be “fair” (usually interpreted as, for example, a few lines of a poem, or a single book chapter) or is subject to licences, which are not designed for the current unprecedented situation we all face. For example, under copyright law the following activities that are swiftly being put in place would be infringements: ● Teachers scanning entire books for hastily arranged online courses. ● Public libraries arranging the online reading of books as part of children’s story time. ● Researchers wishing to access entire works that are only available on library premises, such as paper books or certain eBooks...."