This course is a study of the limited statutory monopoly granted to the authors of musical, literary, dramatic and artistic works under the Canadian copyright regime. From art and entertainment to education and information, copyright law affects almost every aspect of our lives. Through analysis of the Copyright Act and cases, the course aims to introduce students to substantive copyright law while critically assessing the copyright system in terms of its justifications and its public policy objectives. The course will examine the requirements for copyright protection, the kinds of works that qualify for protection (including computer software), and the scope of the rights granted to the copyright owner. Among the subjects to be explored are: the nature of the owner’s "right" in her work; the role of the public interest and the public domain; the meaning of authorship and originality; the dichotomy between protected expression and unprotected ideas; and the freedom of users to deal fairly with copyrighted works. By the end of the course, students will be familiar with the fundamentals of copyright doctrine as well as the theoretical and political controversies that surround copyright in the modern age.
Pre/anti-requisites
NCA equivalence:
Terms Offered
Winter 25
Video conference available
Course Section: M
6.0 credits
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