Writer Defamation: What You Need to Know
Writer Defamation – Introduction Johnny Depp, the actor famous for portraying Captain Jack Sparrow in Disney’s beloved Pirates of the Caribbean film series, is in the news a lot lately. At the time this blog is being written, Depp is involved in a highly publicized trial against his ex-wife, Amber Heard. Depp is suing Heard […]
Canadian Copyright Law: Does Digitally Restoring Public Domain Films Revive Copyright?
Canadian Copyright Law – Introduction Canadian Copyright Law: Does Digitally Restoring Public Domain Films Revive Copyright? Copyright can be a muddy area of law, despite the Copyright Act (Canada). One reason is the difficulty the law has in keeping up with emerging technologies. The digital restoration of old films is one example. This is an […]
ABCDEF GEE, What’s The Deal with Music Interpolations?
Music Interpolations – Introduction The biggest song in the world, at the moment this is being written, is Gayle’s, abcdefu – a very catchy song about an ex-boyfriend. The song inspired talented Canadian artist Tyler Shaw, to offer his own take on the pop hit: the romantic, Love You Still (abcdefu romantic version). The Original […]
(Existing) Music in Productions – The Unsung Hero
(Existing) Music in Productions – Introduction Music may be the unsung hero (pardon the pun) of film and television productions. From short films to full length pictures, from web series to TV series, and everything in between; music more often than not plays a vital role. For a producer seeking to obtain music for use […]
10 Software Services Agreement Tips
10 Software Services Agreement Tips – Introduction If your team creates software solutions, the following service agreement tips should provide some of the key issues to cover in your initial discussions with a potential client. Statement of Work The agreement should include a statement of work, which identifies the project’s scope and the respective responsibilities […]
Moral Rights in (Canadian) Copyright Law – What You Need to Know
Moral Rights in (Canadian) Copyright Law – Introduction Moral rights in a copyright work are entirely separate from the legal or economic rights. They can not be sold or transferred, and they can only be waived, which they frequently are in entertainment law agreements. What exactly are moral rights? What are authors giving up when […]
Collaborating with Artists and Other Writers: Publishing Law
Collaborating with Artists and Other Writers – Introduction One may picture that a book is created by one person, sitting alone at a computer, passionately typing out their manuscript. Many times, this is not the case. A book (or really any written work) may have two, three or more authors. Authors may also collaborate with […]
COVID-19 Worker Income Protection Benefit – Ontario
Introduction On April 29, 2021, the Ontario COVID-19 Putting Workers First Act, 2021 came into effect. The Act amends the Employment Standards Act by introducing the COVID-19 Worker Income Protection Benefit. The new Benefit is another effort by the provincial government to alleviate the ongoing effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on Ontario’s workforce by requiring […]
NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens): An Intro into Relevant Legal Considerations
NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) – Introduction By this point, I am sure that you have heard the term NFT passed around in casual discussion. It is one of the most hot-button topics of current conversation and debate. You may have heard of individuals investing in or purchasing NFTs, perhaps others stating that they have made huge […]
Comic Book Law: The Basics
Comic Book Law – Introduction Comic books have long been a staple of our pop culture. Characters like Superman and Wonder Woman, Spider-Man and Black Panther have been around longer than many people who will read this blog have been alive. Comics may have had a renaissance in recent years with the incredible popularity of […]
