You may provide the content to all your students who are enrolled in your course(s) at your VH-higher education institution.

It is crucial that the work is used for educational purposes, i.e., for students. The Easy Access Scheme (hbo) does not cover further use (publishing, reproducing) in contexts outside of education.

Note: This scheme applies only to regular education, commercial education and higher education institutions that are not affiliated with Vereniging Hogescholen (VH) are excluded.

The universities of applied sciences that are members of the Vereniging Hogescholen (VH) participate in the Easy Access scheme (hbo). In total, this includes 36 government-funded universities of applied sciences in the Netherlands.

• Aeres Hogeschool
• Amsterdamse Hogeschool voor de Kunsten
• ArtEZ Hogeschool voor de Kunsten
• Avans Hogeschool
• Breda University of Applied Sciences
• Christelijke Hogeschool Ede
• Codarts Rotterdam
• De Haagse Hogeschool
• Design Academy Eindhoven
• Driestar hogeschool
• Fontys Hogescholen
• Gerrit Rietveld Academie
• HAN University of Applied Sciences
• Hanzehogeschool Groningen
• HAS Hogeschool
• Hogeschool de Kempel
• Hogeschool der Kunsten Den Haag
• Hogeschool Inholland
• Hogeschool iPabo
• Hogeschool KPZ
• Hogeschool Leiden
• Hogeschool Rotterdam
• Hogeschool Utrecht
• Hogeschool van Amsterdam
• Hogeschool Viaa
• Hogeschool voor de Kunsten Utrecht
• Hotelschool The Hague
• HZ University of Applied Sciences
• Iselinge Hogeschool
• Marnix Academie
• NHL Stenden Hogeschool
• Saxion
• Thomas More Hogeschool
• Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences
• Windesheim
• Zuyd Hogeschool

Please note: This scheme only applies to regular education. Universities of applied sciences with a commercial purpose are excluded. Commercial programs associated with the institutions listed above are not covered by this scheme.

The institutional agreement is a separate set of arrangements between UvO and an individual university of applied sciences, supplementing the Easy Access framework agreement with the Netherlands Association of Universities of Applied Sciences (Vereniging Hogescholen). This agreement sets out matters such as contact persons, deadlines and reporting procedures.

If your university of applied sciences is not a member of the Vereniging Hogescholen (VH), you do not participate in the Easy Access scheme (higher education). Inquire whether your institution has an (alternative) buy-out arrangement with Stichting UvO.

The amount of the fee (the individual 'buyout sum') depends on the number of students at your VH university. These numbers are coordinated with DUO and VH.

As a result, larger educational institutions pay more than smaller ones. This is because the number of students is considered a good indicator of 'reuse'.

The Easy Access schemes for VH (universities of applied sciences) and UNL (universities) are largely the same, but there are some key differences:

• Number of pages: Members of the VH are allowed to reuse up to 50 pages or 25% of a work. For members of UNL the limit is 40 pages or 20% of a work.

• Number of images: VH members can use up to 50 images in (PowerPoint) presentations. There is no limit on the number of images for UNL members.

You may reproduce up to 50 pages from a work, provided that this does not exceed 25% of the original publication.

For example, from a 200-page book, you can reproduce 50 pages (25%) and distribute them to your students. This 'reuse' has been covered by your VH-university.

Teachers at VH-universities may use up to 50 images in presentations (PowerPoint, Prezi, etc.).

There are also two conditions:

• A maximum of 25 images from one work (e.g., a book).
• A maximum of 10 works by the same creator.

If you wish to use more, please contact the rights holder(s) of the image material.

Teachers of VH-hogescholen may use a maximum of 50 images in self-created teaching materials (handouts, assignments, exam questions, etc.).

There are two additional conditions:

• A maximum of 25 images from one work (e.g. a book).
• A maximum of 10 works by the same creator.

If you wish to use more, please contact the rights holder(s) of the images.

Within the Easy Access-agreement (hbo)  you may also distribute sheet music and poetry to your students. The same rules apply as for other 'reproductions': a maximum of 50 pages from a publication, provided that this is no more than 25% of the original publication. The number of verses, choruses, staves, lines, and/or words used does not matter: the number of pages is the determining factor.

Yes, the same conditions apply. How the material is made available does not matter. Both paper readers and electronic learning environments (such as Blackboard, Canvas, Brightspace, etc.) are allowed.

The institutional agreement is a separate set of arrangements between UvO and an individual university of applied sciences, supplementing the Easy Access framework agreement with the Netherlands Association of Universities of Applied Sciences (Vereniging Hogescholen). This agreement sets out matters such as contact persons, deadlines and reporting procedures.

The annual deadline for every University of Applied Sciences is mentioned in the Institutional Agreement.

No, not necessarily. This depends on what is agreed upon in the institutional agreement.

Specifics can be found in the institutional agreement. Most VH members use the CopyrightCheck from SURF.

Yes, this is also considered as 'other reuse.' You need to request separate permission from the rights holders (creator/publisher) or via the UvO webportal.

Also, note the conditions for using images:

• A maximum of 25 images from one work (e.g., a book)
• A maximum of 10 works from the same creator

The purpose of the annual reports is to reduce infringements, not necessarily to invoice for them. The annual report should give universities of applied sciences an opportunity to consider how they can prevent infringements in future. If no improvement is evident, Stichting UvO may proceed to invoice for the infringements.

If a university does not submit the report (fully and/or on time), you are required to provide UvO access to the digital learning environment. UvO will then map the reuse of 50+ copies.

If necessary, UvO can also assist you in preparing this report. Please contact us in advance for assistance.

Yes, your report must be complete and verifiable for Stichting UvO. Therefore, also include non-copyrighted material of 50 pages or more (incl. own work, open access publications, PowerPoints, etc.).

If you want to use more than 50 pages or more than 25% of a work, this falls outside the Easy Access scheme (higher education). Therefore, you need to request permission from the rights holder. This can easily be done through the UvO portal. 

Whether and how you receive permission depends on the request and the publisher. UvO broadly categorizes requests into three categories:

• 25% to 33% of the work: (likely) immediate permission. You will receive direct permission if the publisher has given a mandate to Stichting UvO. You will be notified directly via the portal.

• 33% to 50% of the work: UvO will handle the permission request for you. UvO will mediate with the publisher to obtain permission. Some publishers have granted mandates for the (re)use of 33% of a work, while others allow up to 50%. Therefore, in some cases, we will need to contact the publisher. Note: If the book is out of print, you will often receive direct permission.

• 50% or more: UvO will inform the publisher. Most publishers want to review large sections (>50%) on a case-by-case basis. UvO will forward the permission request for you and mediate in the process. There is a chance that your request will be rejected.

It can be both.

Via the publisher: You can directly contact a publisher to request permission. Don’t forget to ask whether you need to pay a fee.

Via UvO: You can also submit a permission request through the UvO web portal. This is particularly useful if you are using content from many different publishers. You can request all the permissions at once and also settle the payments in one go.

Always make sure to obtain permission beforehand for the use of copyrighted work.

No, unfortunately not. A verbal agreement cannot be verified by UvO. If the publisher has granted permission for the use of a longer publication in your educational material, you should request written confirmation. A (copy of a) short email will suffice. Be sure to clearly state whether the reuse is free of charge or if a fee is involved.