Advocacy on public policy issues such as copyright is a common concern of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) and the Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL). Duane Webster has been instrumental in facilitating a collaborative approach to such advocacy. Part of this involves concerted efforts to ensure that fair use (United States of America) and fair dealing (Canada) are not narrowed in a digital era. In Canada, a focus on the common good bolsters this work. Recent decisions of the Supreme Court of Canada (Theberge 2002 and CCH 2004) have laid the groundwork for the progressive exercise and exploration of fair dealing rights in Canada. (Contains 13 notes.)