The Incredible, Vanishing Internet (and the DMCA)

In the time that it takes you to read this paragraph Google will have removed eight sites from its search engine indexes. Sorry, make that forty.

The Context of the Supreme Court’s Copyright Cases

In the summer of 2012, the Supreme Court of Canada created history by simultaneously releasing five copyright judgments: Entertainment Software Association v Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada [ESA],[1] Rogers Communications Inc. v Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada [Rogers],[2] Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada […]

The Internet Taxi: Collective Management of Copyright and the Making Available Right, after the Pentalogy

Just after the adoption of Bill C-11,[1] the Supreme Court of Canada handed down five decisions, which are now referred to as the “pentalogy”, to follow the heretofore famous trilogy.[2] The pentalogy, like its three-legged predecessor, marked a significant shift in Canadian copyright policy. The five cases dealt in one form or another with collective […]

Will I Am: Pharrell Williams and Will.i.am In Trade-Mark Dispute

Pharrell may currently hold the #1 and #2 spots on Billboard’s Hot 100, but in the past few weeks, he made headlines due to his ongoing trade-mark dispute with Will.i.am (coincidentally, the last band to hold both the #1 and #2 spots was Will.i.am's band, The Black Eyed Peas).

Law, Culture, Critique

On May 10, 2013, York University’s Osgoode Hall Law School Graduate Law Student Association (GLSA) held a two day Graduate Student Law Conference at the Oakham House at Ryerson University in downtown Toronto.

New Book - The Copyright Pentalogy: How the Supreme Court of Canada Shook the Foundations of Canadian Copyright Law

In the summer of 2012, the Supreme Court of Canada issued a series of rulings in five major copyright cases (referred to as the “copyright pentalogy”). A new book has just been released that examines the possible long-term impact of these decisions.

How Music Can Help You, And You Can Help Music – An Interview With Graham Henderson

I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Graham Henderson, President of Music Canada, who will be inducted into the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame on Thursday, March 21 as part of Canadian Music Week 2013. In addition to representing record labels such as Sony, Universal and Warner, Music Canada’s role is to […]

IP Osgoode Speaker Series Videos

IP Osgoode would like to thank The Honourable Justice Marshall Rothstein and The Honourable Mr. Justice Roger T. Hughes for being a part of our speaker series. They both provided thought provoking commentary on intellectual property litigation from a judicial perspective.  For those who were unable to attend our speaker series events in person, analysis […]

UK Collecting Societies To Adopt Minimum Standards

The UK government has released a minimum standards document detailing codes of conduct to be implemented by all UK collecting societies. The document details collecting societies’ obligations to rights holders and licensees, and follows recommendations made in an independent report commissioned by Prime Minister David Cameron in 2010.

Webcasting IV? Update on Copyright Board of Canada Proceedings on Highly-Anticipated Webcaster Royalty Rates

On September 24, 2012, the Copyright Board of Canada (the “Board”) began a two week public hearing for two proposed Re:Sound tariffs: Tariff 8.A (Simulcasting and Webcasting) and Tariff 8.B (Semi-Interactive Webcasting). This hearing has been highly anticipated since Pandora, a popular American webcaster and an objector participating in the hearing, exited the Canadian market […]