The Copyright Anxiety Study is a collaboration between the Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford, City, University of London and the University of Alberta. The research project will be taking place from spring 2023 until early 2024.
Professionals in the UK higher education sector are invited to complete the survey which will be open until 18 August 2023.
The aim of this project is to explore levels of copyright anxiety across the UK and Canadian higher education sector, and determine the extent to which copyright law ‘chills’ innovative research and teaching practice. The research will compare UK responses with those in Canada to investigate the extent to which legal and cultural differences impact on copyright anxiety as a phenomenon.
It will ask the following research questions:
- Is copyright anxiety an observable phenomenon in the UK and Canadian higher education sector?
- Are there differences in copyright anxiety levels based on professional identity?
- Are there differences in copyright anxiety levels based on geographic location?
- What interventions could help alleviate copyright anxiety in the higher education sector?
The research will use a revised version of the copyright anxiety scale survey which was developed at the University of Alberta in 2019. In addition the research team will hold focus groups to determine whether “hampered” copyright scenarios were the result of legal chill and what interventions might help alleviate copyright anxiety.
The research team comprises:
- Chris Morrison – Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
- Dr Jane Secker – City, University of London
- Amanda Wakaruk – University of Alberta
- Céline Gareau-Brennan – University of Alberta
- Rose Zhang – Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Please contact chris [dot] morrison [at] bodleian.ox.ac.uk if you have any questions about the research.
Copyright Literacy 