Canadian Originality: Remarks on a Judgment in Search of an Author

AN EMERGING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PARADIGM - PERSPECTIVES FROM CANADA, Ysolde Gendreau, ed., Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar, 2008

U Toronto, Legal Studies Research Paper No. 08-22

25 Pages Posted: 18 Nov 2008 Last revised: 3 Feb 2009

See all articles by Abraham Drassinower

Abraham Drassinower

University of Toronto - Faculty of Law

Date Written: November 16, 2008

Abstract

The standard of originality in Canadian copyright law has recently undergone significant transformation. Traditionally a jurisdiction that, in the eyes of many, had adopted a 'sweat of the brow' standard, Canada is now a 'skill and judgment' jurisdiction. This chapter (1) describes and contextualizes the shift; (2) analyzes its presuppositions in respect of the Canadian conception of the purpose of copyright law; and (3) identifies difficulties and ambiguities that may preclude its full development. I argue that the doctrinal shift is in tension with certain aspects of the vision of the purpose of copyright law in the name of which it took place. This tension between doctrine and vision generates a justificatory vacuum giving rise to difficulties and ambiguities regarding the full development of the landmark shift from 'sweat of the brow' to 'skill and judgment'. In that vein, I speculate as to the conditions for the possibility of a resolution of that tension. My point is that, contrary to appearances, the historical struggle between originality schools has not been overcome. Rather, it has transmuted into a struggle between a value paradigm and an authorship paradigm of copyright law. Moving beyond the justificatory vacuum besetting the shift from 'sweat of the brow' to 'skill and judgment' would require unambiguous adoption of the authorship paradigm.

Keywords: copyright, balance, originality, sweat of the brow, creativity, skill and judgment, CCH v. Law Society, University of London Press v. University Tutorial Press, Walter v. Lane, Canada.

Suggested Citation

Drassinower, Abraham, Canadian Originality: Remarks on a Judgment in Search of an Author (November 16, 2008). AN EMERGING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PARADIGM - PERSPECTIVES FROM CANADA, Ysolde Gendreau, ed., Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar, 2008, U Toronto, Legal Studies Research Paper No. 08-22, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1302470

Abraham Drassinower (Contact Author)

University of Toronto - Faculty of Law ( email )

78 and 84 Queen's Park
Toronto, Ontario M5S 2C5
Canada
(416) 978-4408 (Phone)

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