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Copyright rulings will affect rights to photocopy materials, preview music

Students and online buyers rejoice: students may now photocopy class material freely and online music buyers will continue to be able to listen to 30 second previews of songs for free. 

Yesterday the Supreme Court announced five separate decisions on copyright issues, the National Post reports.

Gamers will also be spared the extra expense of music licensing fees for video games that feature music. As for recording artists, they will benefit from the “streaming” of their content over the internet. Eric Baptiste, the head of the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada,  is cautiously optimistic about what this means for his members, for whom “every penny counts.” He added that the rulings will create a “more complex environment” for consumers to locate and listen to music online. He expects a return to the courts to clarify things further.

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