Canvas Guides

How do I set usage rights and user access for a file or folder?

If the copyright and license information requirement is enabled in your course or account, you have to set a usage right (copyright) for each file you upload to your course. Usage rights must be assigned to files before files can be published to the course.

If the copyright and license information requirement is enabled in your course, you can set usage rights for all files that currently exist within a folder. Folders themselves cannot hold a usage right attribute, so the folder passes the usage right to the existing files in the folder at the time the usage right is defined. Therefore, you can create a folder, add all files to the folder, and then define the usage right for the folder and apply the right to all files at once.

This action does not apply to any files added to the folder after the usage right is set. If additional files are added at a later time, you will have to reset the usage right for the folder or set file usage rights individually.

Notes:

If you are an instructor, you can manage course file usage rights requirements through the File Copyright course details setting.
If you are an admin, you can manage file copyright and license requirements in Account details.

Open Files

In Course Navigation, click the Files link.

Manage Usage Rights of Individual File or Folder

To manage an individual file or folder, locate the file or folder’s line item and then click the Usage Rights icon [1]. Alternatively, you can click the File Options icon [2] and then select the Manage Usage Rights option [3].

Manage Usage Rights of Multiple Files or Folders

To manage multiple files or folders, click the checkboxes next to the files or folders you wish to manage [2]. In the toolbar, click the Options icon [2] and then select the Manage Usage Rights option [3].

Select Usage Right

In the Usage Rights drop-down menu [1], select one of the following five usage rights:

I hold the copyright: file contains original content created by you
I have obtained permission to use this file: file has authorized permission by the author
The material is in the public domain: material is explicitly assigned to public domain, cannot be copyrighted, or is no longer protected by copyright
The material is subject to an exception - e.g. fair use, the right to quote, or others under applicable copyright laws: the file is an excerpt or summary used for commentary, news reporting, research, or analysis in education
The material is licensed under Creative Commons: this option also requires setting a specific Creative Commons license

If known, enter the copyright holder information in the Copyright Holder field [2].

To apply the changes, click the Save button [3].

Note: If you are an instructor and are not sure which usage right applies to your file, please consult your institutional admin for guidance.

Set Availability of Individual File or Folder

By default, the file is unpublished. To set the availability of an individual file or folder, locate the file or folder’s line item and then click the Status icon.

Alternatively, you can click the File Options icon and then select the Edit Permissions option.

Select File or Folder Availability and Visibility

In the Available drop-down menu [1], you can publish or unpublish the file or folder [2]. If you wish to restrict the file or folder, select the Only available with link or Schedule availability options [3].

Select your preferred visibility setting [4].

To apply the changes, click the Save button [5].

Note: In Course Settings, visibility defaults to course visibility. However, for individual files, the default is whatever the instructor selected in Course Settings.

Set Availability of Multiple Files or Folders

To set the availability of multiple files or folders, click the checkboxes next to the files or folders you wish to manage. In the toolbar, click the Options icon and then select the Edit Permissions option.

Select Availability and Visibility of Multiple Files or Folders

In the Available drop-down menu [1], you can publish or unpublish the files or folders [2]. If you wish to restrict the files or folders, select the Only available with link or Schedule availability options [3].