From: Sean Andrews <[log in to unmask]> Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2012 07:56:39 -0500 Michael Geist calls the agreement just minted by the Associated Universities and Colleges Canada and the Access Copyright collective license "The most expensive copyright insurance policy in Canadian history." http://www.thestar.com/business/article/1165965--geist-the-most-expensive-copyright-insurance-policy-in-canadian-history Can Heather or any of the other Canadians on the list give any insight into this policy and what it means? If Geist is correct, it appears to be a boondoggle for the copyright lobby with little upside for the institutions paying the fees. At $26 per student it sounded like a good deal, but the agreement evidently doesn't replace the other subscriptions they already pay for - it just provides, as he puts it, some insurance against getting sued. To make matters worse, it seems like many of the practices it licenses would be fair use under current laws and several others would be covered under the new laws. What would be the rationale for agreeing to these terms? Is this as unusual as Geist seems to think? Thanks, Sean Andrews