|
Copyright
Copyright is the right of a creator to control the reproduction of their
creation, in all its formsnovels, paintings, music, software, speeches,
posters, motion pictures and so forth. This means that when someone
creates something original that can be copied,
the original creator
retains control over when their creation is reproduced. Regardless of the
artistic, scientific or
commercial merits, Canadian law considers all
creative products
to be worthy of copyright protection.
In Canada, the Copyright Act ensures that creative efforts are
protected, prohibiting the copying of individual work without the
creator's permission. To be covered under Canadian copyright law, the
copyright holder must be a Canadian citizen or resident, the work must be
original and in a form that has some degree of permanence. The Act was
created in 1924, and has, over the years, had many amendments to deal with
the changing nature of copyright eligibility and infringement.
As with many aspects of intellectual property, enforcing copyright
protection can be difficult. The availability of computers, photocopiers
and recording devices, to name a few, make unlawful use difficult to
curtail. Further, copyright is only one form of protecting intellectual
property, and it comes with a variety of limitations. Chiefly, it only
protects the original work, so if a published article describes a
scientific method, the article itself would be copyright, but the method
would not be. In essence, copyright protects the expression of an idea,
but not the idea itself. Complications may also arise when the employer
holds ownership of work created by an employee, or when a creative product
comes from the work of a team.
Determining copyright eligibility, ownership and duration, the
accompanying limitations and the remedies for copyright violation can make
copyright an intricate way of protecting intellectual property. It is,
therefore, in the best interest of all involved in the creative process to
be aware of their rights. Of the utmost importance is communication, so
that all parties taking part in the production of creative works are aware
of their intellectual property rights.
[<<back]
Copyright © 2003
Heritage Community Foundation All Rights Reserved
|
|
|