Our Copyright Services

Your original literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works are protected under the Copyright Act.
We will help you to assert your copyright in those works and to assign, license, register, mark and enforce your copyright in them.

Copyright in Canada: The Basics

What is Copyright?

Copyright is the exclusive right to reproduce an original work (or substantial portion of that work) whether literary, dramatic, musical or artistic. Copyright does not protect the ideas behind the works, but rather the manner in which the works are expressed. An author has the moral right to be associated with a work as its author and to prevent any loss in its integrity.

Ownership of Copyright

The first owner of the copyright in a work is its author unless that author has created the work as an employee during the course of employment. Under these circumstances, the employer becomes the first copyright owner.

Registration

The benefits of copyright registration include obtaining a legal presumption of ownership of the copyright and an improved ability to later enforce that copyright.

Assignment

Copyright ownership may only be assigned by written instrument executed by the owner.

Waiver

Moral rights may not be assigned but may be waived in whole or in part.

Marking of Copyright

Notice should be given to the public of copyright ownership. Such notice should include the copyright symbol (©), the date on which the work was created (or the date of its first publication, if applicable) and the legal name of the copyright owner.

Copyright Infringement

Section 27 (1) of the Copyright Act of Canada states that, "it is an infringement of copyright for any person to do, without the consent of the owner of the copyright, anything that by this Act, only the owner of the copyright has the right to do."