Copyright and Bankruptcy – Out of Touch and Poorly Drafted: Some Comments on Section 83 of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act


COPYRIGHTANDBANKRUPTCY

OUTOFTOUCHANDPOORLYDRAFTED:SOMECOMMENTSONSECTION83OF
THEBANKRUPTCYANDINSOLVENCYACT

by
LaurentCarrière*

LEGERROBICRICHARD,Lawyers,
ROBIC,Patent&TrademarkAgents
CentreCDPCapital
1001Square-Victoria-BlocE–8
thFloor
Montreal,Quebec,CanadaH2Z2B7
Tel.(514)9876242-Fax(514)8457874
www.robic.ca-info@robic.com

TextofSection
1.0RelatedSections
2.0RelatedRegulations
3.0PriorLegislation
3.1CorrespondingSectioninPriorLegislation
3.2LegislativeHistory
3.2.1S.C.1919,c.36,s.19(3)
3.2.2R.S.C.1927,c.11,s.48
3.2.3S.C.1949,c.7,s.52
3.2.4R.S.C.1952,c.14,s.52
3.2.5R.S.C.1970,c.B-3,s.61
3.3ProposedLegislation
4.0Purpose
5.0Commentary
5.1General
5.1.1Introduction
5.1.2Property
5.1.3Crown
5.2History
5.3ConstitutionalIssues
5.4GeneralOperationoftheSection
5.4.1OntheMarketorNot
5.4.2StateofPublication
5.4.3ObligationsoftheTrustee
5.4.4Summary
5.5ReversiontoAuthor:83(1)
5.5.1″NotwithstandinganythinginthisAct”
5.5.2″Author’smanuscriptsandanycopyright”
5.5.3″assignedto”

LaurentCarrière,1995-2003.
*Lawyerandtrademarkagent,LaurentCarrièreisaseniorpartnerinthelawfirmLEGER
ROBICRICHARD,g.p.andinthepatentandtrademarkagencyfirmROBIC,g.p.Publication
104.


5.5.4″apublisher,printer,firmorperson”
5.5.5″becomingbankrupt”
5.6WorknotPublished:83(1)(a)
5.6.1ConditionsofApplication
5.6.2Publication
5.6.3″putonthemarket”
5.6.4″noexpensesincurred”
5.6.5″reverttotheauthor”
5.6.6″anyagreement…isterminated”
5.7WorkPutintoType:83(1)(b)
5.7.1ConditionsofApplication
5.7.2″intotype”
5.7.3″Expenseshavebeenincurred”
5.7.4PaymentandTiming
5.7.5″product…shallbealsodelivered”
5.7.6″anyagreement…isterminated”
5.8Worknotcarriedout:83(1)(c)
5.8.1ConditionsofApplication
5.8.2″nottocarryoutthecontract”
5.8.3″reverttotheauthor”
5.8.4″anyagreement…isterminated”
5.9Workpublished:83(2)
5.9.1ExploitationbytheTrustee:83(2)(a)
5.9.2AssignmentbytheTrustee:83(2)(b)
5.9.3″anyagreement…isterminated”:83(2)(c)
5.9.4DisposalofMarketablecopies:83(2)(c)
5.10Marketablecopiestobeoffered:83(3)
5.10.1″Shallofferinwriting”
5.10.2″totheauthor”
5.10.3″therighttopurchase”
5.10.4″atsuchprice”
5.10.5″beforedisposinginthemanner”
6.0CaseLaw
6.1CaseLaw-Canada
6.2CaseLaw-UnitedKingdom
7.0ListofCases
7.1ListofCases-Canada
7.2ListofCases-UnitedKingdom
7.3ListofCases-UnitedStatesofAmerica
7.4ListofCases-France
8.0Authors
8.1Authors-Canada
8.1.1CopyrightIssues
8.1.2ConstitutionalIssues
8.1.3InterpretationIssues
8.2Authors-UnitedKingdom
8.3Authors-UnitedStatesofAmerica
8.4Authors-France
8.5Authors-Australia
8.6Authors-Varia
8.6.1Law
8.6.2Art&Techniques
9.0ComparativeLegislation


9.1ComparativeLegislation-Canada
9.1.1AnActrespectingtheProfessionalStatusofArtistsintheVisualArts,ArtsandCrafts
andLiterature,andtheirContractswithPromoters,S.Q.1988,c.69,s.36
9.2ComparativeLegislation-UnitedKingdom
9.2.1BankruptcyAct,1914,s.60
9.2.2InsolvencyAct,1986,c.45,Sch.11,s.15
9.3ComparativeLegislation-France
9.3.1CopyrightAct,1957,s.61
9.3.2Codedelapropriétéintellectuelle,1992
9.4Australia
9.4.1BankruptcyAct1966,c.33,s.138
9.5Germany
9.5.1ActConcerningtheLawofPublicationofJune19,1901,s.36-37
9.6Belgium
9.6.1CopyrightAct,1994,section30

BANKRUPTCYANDINSOLVENCYACT

COPYRIGHTANDMANUSCRIPTTOREVERT
TOAUTHOR
83.(1)Notwithstandinganythinginthis
Actorinanyotherstatute,theauthor’s
manuscriptsandanycopyrightorany
interestinacopyrightinwholeorinpart
assignedtoapublisher,printer,firmor
personbecomingbankruptshall,
(a)iftheworkcoveredbythecopyright
hasnotbeenpublishedandputon
themarketatthetimeofthe
bankruptcyandnoexpensehas
beenincurredinconnection
therewith,revertandbedelivered
totheauthororhisheirs,andany
contractoragreementbetweenthe
authororhisheirsandthebankrupt
shallthenterminateandbevoid;
(b)iftheworkcoveredbythecopyright
hasinwholeorinpartbeenputinto
typeandexpenseshavebeen
incurredbythebankrupt,revertand
bedeliveredtotheauthoron
paymentoftheexpensesso
incurredandtheproductofthose
expensesshallalsobedeliveredto
LEDROITD’AUTEURETLESMANUSCRITS
RETOURNENTÀL’AUTEUR
83.(1)Nonobstantlesautresdispositions
delaprésenteloioutouteautreloi,les
manuscritsdel’auteurettoutdroit
d’auteurouintérêtdansundroitd’auteur
totalementoupartiellementcédéàun
éditeur,àunimprimeur,àunefirmeouà
unepersonnedevenueenfaillite:
a)retournentetsontremisàl’auteurou
àseshéritiers,sil’ouvrageque
couvrecedroitd’auteurn’apasété
publiéetmisdanslecommerceau
momentdelafailliteets’iln’apas
occasionnédedépenses;tout
contratouconventionentrel’auteur
ouseshéritiersetcefaillicessealors
etdevientnul;
b)retournentetsontremisàl’auteursur
paiementdesdépensessubies,si
l’ouvragequecouvrecedroit
d’auteuraétécomplètementou
partiellementcomposéen
typographieetaoccasionnédes
dépensesaufailli,etleproduitde
cesdépensesestaussiremisà


theauthororhisheirsandany
contractoragreementbetweenthe
authororhisheirsandthebankrupt
shallthenterminateandbevoid,
butiftheauthordoesnotexercise
hisrightsunderthisparagraphwithin
sixmonthsofthedateofthe
bankruptcy,thetrusteemaycarry
outtheoriginalcontract;or
(c)ifthetrusteeattheexpirationofsix
monthsfromthedateofthe
bankruptcydecidesnottocarryout
thecontract,revertwithoutexpense
totheauthorandanycontractor
agreementbetweentheauthoror
hisheirsandthebankruptshallthen
terminateandbevoid.
IFCOPIESOFTHEWORKAREONTHE
MARKET
(2)Where,atthetimeofthebankruptcy
referredtoinsubsection(1),thework
waspublishedandputonthemarket,
thetrusteeisentitledtosell,orauthorize
thesaleorreproductionof,anycopies
ofthepublishedwork,ortoperformor
authorizetheperformanceofthework,
but
(a)thereshallbepaidtotheauthoror
hisheirssuchsumsbywayof
royaltiesorshareoftheprofitsas
wouldhavebeenpayablebythe
bankrupt;
(b)thetrusteeisnot,withoutthewritten
consentoftheauthororhisheirs,
entitledtoassignthecopyrightor
transfertheinterestortograntany
interestthereinbylicenceor
otherwise,exceptontermsthatwill
guaranteetotheauthororhisheirs
paymentbywayofroyaltiesor
shareoftheprofitsataratenotless
thantheratethebankruptwas
liabletopay;and
(c)anycontractoragreement
betweentheauthororhisheirsand
thebankruptshallthenterminatel
’auteurouàseshéritiers;toutcontrat
ouconventionentrel’auteurouses
héritiersetlefaillicessealorset
devientnul;maissil’auteurn’exerce
pas,dansundélaidesixmoisà
compterdeladatedelafaillite,la
prioritéqueluiconfèreleprésent
alinéa,lesyndicpourramettreà
exécutionlecontratoriginal;
c)retournentàl’auteursansfrais,sile
syndic,aprèsundélaidesixmoisà
compterdeladatedelafaillite,
décidedenepasmettrelecontratà
exécution;toutcontratouconvention
entrel’auteurouseshéritiersetce
faillicessealorsetdevientnul.
SIDESEXEMPLAIRESDEL’OUVRAGESONT
DANSLECOMMERCE
(2)Si,aumomentdelafaillite,l’ouvrage
étaitpubliéetmisdanslecommerce,le
syndicalepouvoirdevendrel’ouvrage
publiéoud’enautoriserlaventeoula
reproductiond’exemplaires,oude
représentercetouvrageoud’en
autoriserlareprésentation,mais:
a)ilestverséàl’auteurouàseshéritiers
lesmontants,sousformede
redevancesoudetantièmessurles
profits,quiauraientétépayablespar
lefailli;
b)lesyndicn’apaslepouvoir,sansle
consentementécritdel’auteuroude
seshéritiers,decéderledroit
d’auteuroudetransporterou
d’accorderunintérêtdanscedroit
d’auteurparlicenceouautrement,
saufàdestermesquigarantissentà
l’auteurouàseshéritiersdes
paiements,sousformede
redevancesoudetantièmessurles
profits,àuntauxnoninférieuràcelui
quelefailliétaittenudepayer;
c)toutcontratouconventionentre
l’auteurouseshéritiersetlefailli
cesseetdevientnul,saufencequi


andbevoid,exceptwithrespectto
thedisposal,underthissubsection,
ofcopiesoftheworkpublishedand
putonthemarketbeforethe
bankruptcy.
MARKETABLECOPIESTOBEFIRSTOFFERED
FORSALETOTHEAUTHOR
(3)Thetrusteeshallofferinwritingtothe
authororhisheirstherighttopurchase
themanufacturedormarketablecopies
ofthecopyrightworkcomprisedinthe
estateofthebankruptatsuchpriceand
onsuchtermsandconditionsasthe
trusteemaydeemfairandproper
beforedisposingofthemanufactured
andmarketablecopiesinthemanner
prescribedinthissection.
c
oncernel’aliénation,sousl’autorité
duprésentparagraphe,des
exemplairesdel’ouvragepubliéset
misdanslecommerceavantla
faillite.
LESEXEMPLAIRESDESTINÉSAU
COMMERCESONTD’ABORDOFFERTSEN
VENTEÀL’AUTEUR
(3)Avantd’aliéner,conformémentau
présentarticle,desexemplaires
manufacturésetdestinésaucommerce
del’ouvragefaisantl’objetd’undroit
d’auteuretquitombedansl’actifdufailli,
lesyndicoffreparécritàl’auteurouà
seshéritiersl’optiond’acheterces
exemplairesauxprixetconditionsquele
syndicpeutjugerjustesetraisonnables.

R.S.C.1985,c.B-3,s.83

§1.0RelatedSections
Section2—Definitions:“legalrepresentatives”,“performance”,“work”;
section3—Definitionof“copyright”;section4—Definitionof“publication”;
section13—Ownershipofcopyright;section14—Limitationwhenauthorisfirst
ownerofcopyright.

§2.0RelatedRegulations

None.

§3.0LegislativeHistory
§3.1CorrespondingSectioninPriorLegislation
Section19(3)from1920.07.07to1928.01.31;section48from1928.02.01to
1950.06.30;section52from1940.07.01to1971.07.14;section61from
1971.07.15to1988.12.11;section83from1988.12.12topresent.
§3.2LegislativeHistory


§3.2.1S.C.1919,c.36,s.19(3).

COPYRIGHT
(3)Wherethepropertyofabankruptor
authorizedassignorcomprisesthe
copyrightinanyworkoranyinterestin
suchcopyright,andheisliabletopayto
theauthoroftheworkroyaltiesora
shareoftheprofitsinrespectthereof,
thetrusteeshallnotbeentitledtosell,or
authorizethesaleof,anycopiesofthe
work,ortoperformorauthorizethe
performanceofthework,exceptonthe
termsofpayingtotheauthorsuchsums
bywayofroyaltyorshareoftheprofits
aswouldhavebeenpayablebythe
bankruptorauthorizedassignor,norshall
he,withouttheconsentoftheauthoror
ofthecourt,beentitledtoassignthe
rightortransfertheinterestortogrant
anyinterestintherightbylicense,
exceptupontermswhichwillsecureto
theauthorpaymentsbywayofroyalty
orshareoftheprofitsataratenotless
thanthatwhichthebankruptor
authorizedassignorwasliabletopay.

DROITSD’AUTEUR
(3)Lorsquelesbiensd’unfaillioucédant
autorisécomprennentlesdroitsd’auteur
detoutouvrageouunintérêtdansces
droitsd’auteur,etlorsqu’ilesttenude
payeràl’auteurdel’ouvragedesdroits
régaliensouunepartdesprofitsàcet
égard,lesyndicn’aledroitdevendreni
d’autoriserlavented’aucunexemplaire
del’ouvrage,nidefairel’ouvrage,nide
donnerl’autorisationdelefaire,saufà
conditiondepayeràl’auteurles
sommes,sousformededroitsrégaliens
oudepartdesprofitsquieussentété
payablesparlefaillioulecédant
autorisé,etiln’estpas,sansle
consentementdel’auteuroudutribunal,
admisàcéderledroit,niàtransporter
l’intérêt,niàconcéderunintérêt
quelconquedansledroitpar
autorisation,saufàdesconditionsqui
assurentàl’auteurdespaiementssous
formededroitsrégaliensoudepartdes
profitsàuntauxpasmoindrequecelui
quelefaillioulecédantautoriséétait
tenudepayer.

§3.2.2R.S.C.1927,c.11,s.48.

COPYRIGHT
48.Wherethepropertyofabankruptor
authorizedassignorcomprisesthe
copyrightinanyworkoranyinterestin
suchcopyright,andheisliabletopayto
theauthoroftheworkroyaltiesora
shareoftheprofitsinrespectthereof,
thetrusteeshallnotbeentitledtosell,or
authorizethesaleof,anycopiesofthe
work,ortoperformorauthorizethe
performanceofthework,exceptonthe
termsofpayingtotheauthorsuchsums
bywayofroyaltyorshareoftheprofits
aswouldhavebeenpayablebythe
bankruptorauthorizedassignor,norshall
he,withouttheconsentoftheauthoror
ofthecourt,beentitledtoassignthe
DROITD’AUTEUR
48.Lorsquelesbiensd’unfaillioucédant
autorisécomprennentledroitd’auteur
detoutouvrageouunintérêtdansce
droitd’auteur,etlorsqu’ilesttenude
payeràl’auteurdel’ouvragedes
tantièmesouunepartdesprofitsàcet
égard,lesyndicn’aledroitdevendreni
d’autoriserlavented’aucunexemplaire
del’ouvrage,nidereprésenter
l’ouvrage,nid’enautoriserla
représentation,saufs’ilpayeàl’auteur
lessommes,sousformedetantièmesou
departdesprofitsquieussentété
payablesparlefaillioulecédant
autorisé,etiln’estpas,sansle
consentementdel’auteuroudutribunal,


rightortransfertheinterestortogrant
anyinterestintherightbylicense,
exceptupontermswhichwillsecureto
theauthorpaymentsbywayofroyalty
orshareoftheprofitsataratenotless
thanthatwhichthebankruptor
authorizedassignorwasliabletopay.
a
dmisàcéderledroit,niàtransporter
l’intérêt,niàconcéderunintérêt
quelconquedansledroitparunpermis,
saufàdesconditionsquiassurentà
l’auteurdespaiementssousformede
tantièmesoudepartdesprofitsàun
tauxnoninférieuràceluiquelefaillioule
cédantautoriséétaittenudepayer.

§3.2.3S.C.1949,c.7,s.52.

COPYRIGHTANDMANUSCRIPTTO
REVERTTOAUTHOR
52.(1)Notwithstandinganythinginthis
Actorinanyotherstatute,theauthor’s
manuscriptsandanycopyrightorany
interestinacopyrightinwholeorinpart
assignedtoapublisher,printer,firmor
personbecomingbankruptshall,
(a)iftheworkcoveredbysuch
copyrighthasnotbeenpublished
andputonthemarketatthetime
ofthebankruptcyandnoexpense
hasbeenincurredinconnection
therewith,thereuponrevertandbe
deliveredtotheauthororhisheirs,
andanycontractoragreement
betweentheauthororhisheirsand
suchbankruptshallthenterminate
andbenullandvoid;
(b)iftheworkcoveredbysuch
copyrighthasinwholeorinpart
beenputintotypeandexpenses
havebeenincurredbythe
bankrupt,revertandbedelivered
totheauthoronpaymentofthe
expensessoincurredandthe
productofsuchexpensesshallalso
bedeliveredtotheauthororhis
heirsandanycontractor
agreementbetweentheauthoror
hisheirsandthebankruptshallthen
terminateandbenullandvoid;but
iftheauthordoesnotexercisehis
rightsunderthisparagraphwithinsix
monthsofthedateofthe
LECOPYRIGHTETLESMANUSCRITS
RETOURNENTÀL’AUTEUR
52.(1)Nonobstanttoutedispositiondela
présenteloioudetoutautrestatut,les
manuscritsdel’auteurettoutdroit
d’auteur(copyright)ouintérêtdansun
droitd’auteurtotalementou
partiellementcédéàunéditeur,àun
imprimeur,àunefirmeouàune
personnedevenueenfaillite:
a)retournentautomatiquementet
doiventêtreremisàl’auteurouàses
héritiers,sil’ouvragequecouvrece
droitd’auteurn’apasétépubliéet
misdanslecommerceaumoment
delafailliteets’iln’apasoccasionné
dedépenses;ettoutcontratou
conventionentrel’auteurouses
héritiersetcefaillicessealorset
devientnulleetdenuleffet;
b)retournentetdoiventêtreremisà
l’auteursurpaiementdesdépenses
subies,sil’ouvragequecouvrece
droitd’auteuraétécomplètement
oupartiellementcomposéen
typographieetaoccasionnédes
dépensesaufailli,etleproduitde
cesdépensesdoitêtreaussiremisà
l’auteurouseshéritiersettoutcontrat
ouconventionentrel’auteurouses
héritiersetlefaillicessealorset
devientnulleetdenuleffet;maissi
l’auteurn’exercepas,dansundélai
desixmoisàcompterdeladatede
lafaillite,laprioritéqueluiconfèrele
présentalinéa,lesyndicpourra


bankruptcy,thetrusteemaycarry
outtheoriginalcontract;
(c)ifthetrusteeattheexpirationofsix
monthsfromthedateofthe
bankruptcydecidesnottocarryout
thecontract,revertwithout
expensetotheauthorandany
contractoragreementbetween
theauthororhisheirsandsuch
bankruptshallthenterminateand
benullandvoid.
IFCOPIESOFTHEWORKAREONTHE
MARKET
(2)Where,atthetimeofthe
bankruptcy,theworkwaspublishedand
putonthemarket,thetrusteeisentitled
tosell,orauthorizethesaleor
reproductionof,anycopiesofthe
publishedwork,ortoperformor
authorizetheperformanceofthesaid
work,butthereshallbepaidtothe
authororhisheirssuchsumsbywayof
royaltiesorshareoftheprofitsaswould
havebeenpayablebythebankrupt;
andthetrusteeisnot,withoutthe
writtenconsentoftheauthororhisheirs,
entitledtoassignthecopyrightor
transfertheinterestortograntany
interestthereinbylicenceorotherwise,
exceptupontermswhichwillguarantee
totheauthororhisheirspaymentby
wayofroyaltiesorshareoftheprofitsat
aratenotlessthanthatwhichsuch
bankruptwasliabletopay,andany
contractoragreementbetweenthe
authororhisheirsandsuchbankrupt
shallthenterminateandbenulland
void,exceptastothedisposal,under
thissubsection,ofcopiesofthesaid
workpublishedandputonthemarket
beforethebankruptcy.
MARKETABLECOPIESTOBEFIRST
OFFEREDFORSALETOTHEAUTHOR
(3)Thetrusteeshallofferinwritingtothe
authororhisheirstherighttopurchasem
ettreàexécutionlecontrat
original;
c)retournentàl’auteursansfrais,sile
syndic,aprèsundélaidesixmoisà
compterdeladatedelafaillite,
décidedenepasmettrelecontratà
exécution;ettoutcontratou
conventionentrel’auteurouses
héritiersetcefaillicessealorset
devientnulleetdenuleffet.
SIDESEXEMPLAIRESDEL’OUVRAGESONT
DANSLECOMMERCE
(2)Si,aumomentdelafaillite,l’ouvrage
étaitpubliéetmisdanslecommerce,le
syndicalepouvoirdevendrel’ouvrage
publiéoud’enautoriserlaventeoula
reproductiond’exemplaires,oude
représenterleditouvrageoud’en
autoriserlareprésentation,maisildoit
êtreverséàl’auteurouàseshéritiersles
montants,sousformederedevancesou
detantièmessurlesprofits,quiauraient
étépayablesparlefailli;etlesyndicn’a
paslepouvoir,sansleconsentement
écritdel’auteuroudeseshéritiers,de
céderledroitd’auteuroudetransporter
oud’accorderunintérêtdanscedroit
d’auteurparlicenceouautrement,sauf
àdestermesquigarantissentàl’auteur
ouseshéritiersdespaiements,sousforme
deredevancesoudetantièmessurles
profits,àuntauxnoninférieuràceluique
lefailliétaittenudepayer.Ettout
contratouconventionentrel’auteurou
seshéritiersetlefaillicesseetdevient
nulleetdenuleffet,saufencequi
concernel’aliénation,sousl’autoritédu
présentparagraphe,desexemplaires
duditouvragepubliésetmisdansle
commerceavantlafaillite.
LESEXEMPLAIRESDESTINÉSAU
COMMERCEDOIVENTD’ABORDÊTRE
OFFERTSENVENTEÀL’AUTEUR
(3)Avantd’aliéner,delamanière
prescriteauprésentarticle,des


themanufacturedormarketablecopies
ofthecopyrightworkcomprisedinthe
estateofthebankruptatsuchpriceand
uponsuchtermsandconditionsasthe
trusteemaydeemfairandproper
beforedisposingofsuchmanufactured
andmarketablecopiesinthemanner
prescribedinthissection.
e
xemplairesmanufacturésetdestinésau
commercedel’ouvragefaisantl’objet
d’undroitd’auteuretquitombedans
l’actifdufailli,lesyndicdoitoffrirparécrit
àl’auteurouseshéritiersl’option
d’achetercesexemplairesauprix,aux
termesetconditionsquelesyndicpeut
jugerjustesetraisonnables.

§3.2.4R.S.C.1952,c.14,s.52.

COPYRIGHTANDMANUSCRIPTTO
REVERTTOAUTHOR
52.(1)Notwithstandinganything
containedinthisActorinanyother
statute,theauthor’smanuscriptsand
anycopyrightoranyinterestina
copyrightinwholeorinpartassignedto
apublisher,printer,firmorperson
becomingbankruptshall,
(a)iftheworkcoveredbysuch
copyrighthasnotbeenpublished
andputonthemarketatthetime
ofthebankruptcyandnoexpense
hasbeenincurredinconnection
therewiththereuponrevertandbe
deliveredtotheauthororhisheirs,
andanycontractoragreement
betweentheauthororhisheirsand
suchbankruptshallthenterminate
andbenullandvoid;
(b)iftheworkcoveredbysuch
copyrighthasinwholeorinpart
beenputintotypeandexpenses
havebeenincurredbythe
bankrupt,revertandbedelivered
totheauthoronpaymentofthe
expensessoincurredandthe
productofsuchexpensesshallalso
bedeliveredtotheauthororhis
heirsandanycontractor
agreementbetweentheauthoror
hisheirsandthebankruptshallthen
terminateandbenullandvoid;
Providedthatiftheauthordoesnot
exercisehisrightsunderthis
LECOPYRIGHTETLESMANUSCRITS
RETOURNENTÀL’AUTEUR
52.(1)Nonobstanttoutedispositiondela
présenteloioudetoutautrestatut,les
manuscritsdel’auteurettoutdroit
d’auteur(copyright)ouintérêtdansun
droitd’auteurtotalementou
partiellementcédéàunéditeur,àun
imprimeur,àunefirmeouàune
personnedevenueenfaillite:
a)retournentautomatiquementet
doiventêtreremisàl’auteurouàses
héritiers,sil’ouvragequecouvrece
droitd’auteurn’apasétépubliéet
misdanslecommerceaumoment
delafailliteets’iln’apasoccasionné
dedépenses;ettoutcontratou
conventionentrel’auteurouses
héritiersetcefaillicessealorset
devientnulleetdenuleffet;
b)retournentetdoiventêtreremisà
l’auteursurpaiementdesdépenses
subies,sil’ouvragequecouvrece
droitd’auteuraétécomplètement
oupartiellementcomposéen
typographieetaoccasionnédes
dépensesaufailli,etleproduitde
cesdépensesdoitêtreaussiremisà
l’auteurouàseshéritiers;ettout
contratouconventionentrel’auteur
ouseshéritiersetlefaillicessealorset
devientnulleetdenuleffet.
Toutefois,sil’auteurn’exercepas,
dansundélaidesixmoisàcompter
deladatedelafaillite,laprioritéque


paragraphwithinsixmonthsofthe
dateofthebankruptcy,thetrustee
maycarryouttheoriginalcontract;
(c)ifthetrusteeattheexpirationofsix
monthsfromthedateofthe
bankruptcydecidesnottocarryout
thecontract,revertwithout
expensetotheauthorandany
contractoragreementbetween
theauthororhisheirsandsuch
bankruptshallthenterminateand
benullandvoid.
IFCOPIESOFTHEWORKAREONTHE
MARKET
(2)If,atthetimeofthebankruptcy,the
workwaspublishedandputonthe
market,thetrusteeshallbeentitledto
sell,orauthorizethesaleorreproduction
of,anycopiesofthepublishedwork,or
toperformorauthorizetheperformance
ofthesaidwork,providedthatthere
shallbepaidtotheauthororhisheirs
suchsumsbywayofroyaltiesorshareof
theprofitsaswouldhavebeenpayable
bythebankrupt;andthetrusteeshall
not,withoutthewrittenconsentofthe
authororhisheirs,beentitledtoassign
thecopyrightortransfertheinterestor
tograntanyinterestthereinbylicence
orotherwise,exceptupontermsthatwill
guaranteetotheauthororhisheirs
paymentbywayofroyaltiesorshareof
theprofitsataratenotlessthanthat
whichsuchbankruptwasliabletopay,
andanycontractoragreement
betweentheauthororhisheirsandsuch
bankruptshallthenterminateandbe
nullandvoid,exceptastothedisposal,
underthissubsection,ofcopiesofthe
saidworkpublishedandputonthe
marketbeforethebankruptcy.
MARKETABLECOPIESTOBEFIRST
OFFEREDFORSALETOTHEAUTHOR
(3)Thetrusteeshallofferinwritingtothe
authororhisheirstherighttopurchasel
uiconfèreleprésentalinéa,lesyndic
pourramettreàexécutionletraité
original;
c)retournentàl’auteursanspaiement,
silesyndic,aprèsundélaidesixmois
àcompterdeladatedelafaillite,
décidedenepasmettreletraitéà
exécution;ettoutcontratou
conventionentrel’auteurouses
héritiersetcefaillicessealorset
devientnulleetdenuleffet.
SIDESEXEMPLAIRESDEL’OUVRAGESONT
DANSLECOMMERCE
(2)Si,aumomentdelafaillite,l’ouvrage
étaitpubliéetmisdanslecommerce,le
syndicalepouvoirdevendrel’ouvrage
publiéoud’enautoriserlaventeoula
reproductiond’exemplaires,oude
représenterleditouvrageoud’en
autoriserlareprésentation,àlacondition
deverseràl’auteurouàseshéritiersles
montants,sousformederedevancesou
detantièmessurlesprofits,quelefaillilui
ouleurauraitpayés;etlesyndicn’apas
lepouvoir,sansleconsentementécritde
l’auteuroudeseshéritiers,decéderle
droitd’auteuroudetransporterou
d’accorderunintérêtdanscedroit
d’auteurparlicenceouautrement,sauf
àdestermesquigarantissentàl’auteur
ouseshéritiersdespaiements,sousforme
deredevancesoudetantièmessurles
profits,àuntauxnoninférieuràceluique
lefailliétaittenudepayer.Ettout
contratouconventionentrel’auteurou
seshéritiersetlefaillicesseetdevient
nulleetdenuleffet,saufencequi
concerneladisposition,sousl’autoritédu
présentparagraphe,desexemplaires
duditouvragepubliésetmisdansle
commerceavantlafaillite.
LESEXEMPLAIRESDESTINÉSAU
COMMERCEDOIVENTD’ABORDÊTRE
OFFERTSENVENTEÀL’AUTEUR
(3)Avantdedisposer,delamanière
prescriteauprésentarticle,des


themanufacturedormarketablecopies
ofthecopyrightworkcomprisedinthe
estateofthebankruptatsuchpriceand
uponsuchtermsandconditionsasthe
trusteemaydeemfairandproper
beforedisposingofthemanufactured
andmarketablecopiesinthemanner
prescribedinthissection.
e
xemplairesmanufacturésetdestinésau
commercedel’ouvragefaisantl’objet
d’undroitd’auteuretquitombedans
l’actifdufailli,lesyndicdoitoffrirparécrit
àl’auteurouseshéritiersl’option
d’achetercesexemplairesauprix,aux
termesetconditionsquelesyndicpeut
jugerjustesetraisonnables.

§3.2.5R.S.C.1970,c.B-3,s.61.

COPYRIGHTANDMANUSCRIPTTO
REVERTTOAUTHOR
61.(1)Notwithstandinganythinginthis
Actorinanyotherstatute,theauthor’s
manuscriptsandanycopyrightorany
interestinacopyrightinwholeorinpart
assignedtoapublisher,printer,firmor
personbecomingbankruptshall,
(a)iftheworkcoveredbysuch
copyrighthasnotbeenpublished
andputonthemarketatthetime
ofthebankruptcyandnoexpense
hasbeenincurredinconnection
therewith,thereuponrevertandbe
deliveredtotheauthororhisheirs,
andanycontractoragreement
betweentheauthororhisheirsand
suchbankruptshallthenterminate
andbevoid;
(b)iftheworkcoveredbysuch
copyrighthasinwholeorinpart
beenputintotypeandexpenses
havebeenincurredbythe
bankrupt,revertandbedelivered
totheauthoronpaymentofthe
expensessoincurredandthe
productofsuchexpensesshallalso
bedeliveredtotheauthororhis
heirsandanycontractor
agreementbetweentheauthoror
hisheirsandthebankruptshallthen
terminateandbevoid;butifthe
authordoesnotexercisehisrights
underthisparagraphwithinsix
LEDROITD’AUTEURETLESMANUSCRITS
RETOURNENTÀL’AUTEUR
61.(1)Nonobstanttoutedispositiondela
présenteloioudetouteautreloi,les
manuscritsdel’auteurettoutdroit
d’auteurouintérêtdansundroit
d’auteurtotalementoupartiellement
cédéàunéditeur,àunimprimeur,àune
firmeouàunepersonnedevenueen
faillite:
a)retournentautomatiquementet
doiventêtreremisàl’auteurouàses
héritiers,sil’ouvragequecouvrece
droitd’auteurn’apasétépubliéet
misdanslecommerceaumoment
delafailliteets’iln’apasoccasionné
dedépenses;ettoutcontratou
conventionentrel’auteurouses
héritiersetcefaillicessealorset
devientnul;
b)retournentetdoiventêtreremisà
l’auteursurpaiementdesdépenses
subies,sil’ouvragequecouvrece
droitd’auteuraétécomplètement
oupartiellementcomposéen
typographieetaoccasionnédes
dépensesaufailli,etleproduitde
cesdépensesdoitêtreaussiremisà
l’auteurouàseshéritiers;ettout
contratouconventionentrel’auteur
ouseshéritiersetlefaillicessealorset
devientnul;maissil’auteurn’exerce
pas,dansundélaidesixmoisà
compterdeladatedelafaillite,la
prioritéqueluiconfèreleprésent


monthsofthedateofthe
bankruptcy,thetrusteemaycarry
outtheoriginalcontract;
(c)ifthetrusteeattheexpirationofsix
monthsfromthedateofthe
bankruptcydecidesnottocarryout
thecontract,revertwithout
expensestotheauthorandany
contractoragreementbetween
theauthororhisheirsandsuch
bankruptshallthenterminateand
bevoid.
IFCOPIESOFTHEWORKAREONTHE
MARKET
(2)Where,atthetimeofthe
bankruptcy,theworkwaspublishedand
putonthemarket,thetrusteeisentitled
tosell,orauthorizethesaleor
reproductionof,anycopiesofthe
publishedwork,ortoperformor
authorizetheperformanceofthesaid
work,butthereshallbepaidtothe
authororhisheirssuchsumsbywayof
royaltiesorshareoftheprofitsaswould
havebeenpayablebythebankrupt;
andthetrusteeisnot,withoutthe
writtenconsentoftheauthororhisheirs,
entitledtoassignthecopyrightor
transfertheinterestortograntany
interestthereinbylicenceorotherwise,
exceptupontermsthatwillguarantee
totheauthororhisheirspaymentby
wayofroyaltiesorshareoftheprofitsat
aratenotlessthanthatwhichsuch
bankruptwasliabletopay,andany
contractoragreementbetweenthe
authororhisheirsandsuchbankrupt
shallthenterminateandbevoid,
exceptastothedisposal,underthis
subsection,ofcopiesofthesaidwork
publishedandputonthemarketbefore
thebankruptcy.
MARKETABLECOPIESTOBEFIRST
OFFEREDFORSALETOTHEAUTHOR
(3)Thetrusteeshallofferinwritingtothea
linéa,lesyndicpourramettreà
exécutionlecontratoriginal;
c)retournentàl’auteursansfrais,sile
syndic,aprèsundélaidesixmoisà
compterdeladatedelafaillite,
décidedenepasmettrelecontratà
exécution;ettoutcontratou
conventionentrel’auteurouses
héritiersetcefaillicessealorset
devientnul.
SIDESEXEMPLAIRESDEL’OUVRAGESONT
DANSLECOMMERCE
(2)Si,aumomentdelafaillite,l’ouvrage
étaitpubliéetmisdanslecommerce,le
syndicalepouvoirdevendrel’ouvrage
publiéoud’enautoriserlaventeoula
reproductiond’exemplaires,oude
représenterleditouvrageoud’en
autoriserlareprésentation,maisildoit
êtreverséàl’auteurouàseshéritiersles
montants,sousformederedevancesou
detantièmessurlesprofits,quiauraient
étépayablesparlefailli;etlesyndicn’a
paslepouvoir,sansleconsentement
écritdel’auteuroudeseshéritiers,de
céderledroitd’auteuroudetransporter
oud’accorderunintérêtdanscedroit
d’auteurparlicenceouautrement,sauf
àdestermesquigarantissentàl’auteur
ouseshéritiersdespaiements,sousforme
deredevancesoudetantièmessurles
profits,àuntauxnoninférieuràceluique
lefailliétaittenudepayer.Ettout
contratouconventionentrel’auteurou
seshéritiersetlefaillicesseetdevientnul,
saufencequiconcernel’aliénation,
sousl’autoritéduprésentparagraphe,
desexemplairesduditouvragepubliéset
misdanslecommerceavantlafaillite.
LESEXEMPLAIRESDESTINÉSAU
COMMERCEDOIVENTD’ABORDÊTRE
OFFERTSENVENTEÀL’AUTEUR
(3)Avantd’aliéner,delamanière


authororhisheirstherighttopurchase
themanufacturedormarketablecopies
ofthecopyrightworkcomprisedinthe
estateofthebankruptatsuchpriceand
uponsuchtermsandconditionsasthe
trusteemaydeemfairandproper
beforedisposingofsuchmanufactured
andmarketablecopiesinthemanner
prescribedinthissection.
p
rescriteauprésentarticle,des
exemplairesmanufacturésetdestinésau
commercedel’ouvragefaisantl’objet
d’undroitd’auteuretquitombedans
l’actifdufailli,lesyndicdoitoffrirparécrit
àl’auteurouseshéritiersl’option
d’achetercesexemplairesauxprixet
conditionsquelesyndicpeutjugerjustes
etraisonnables.

§3.3ProposedLegislation
InsolvencyAct(BillC-17,2ndSession,32ndParliament,32ElizabethII,1983-84),
sections193-195.

COPYRIGHTINUNPUBLISHEDWORK
193.(1)NotwithstandinganyAct,ruleof
law,contractoragreement,wherea
copyrightinaworkofaninterestinsuch
copyrighthasbeenassignedinwholeor
inpartandtheassigneebecomesa
bankruptbeforetheworkispublished
andputonthemarket,
(a)themanuscriptandthecopyrightor
anyinterestthereinrevertstothe
assignor,
(b)anydocumentinsupportthereof
andtheproductoranyexpense
thathasbeenincurredvestsinthe
assignor,and
(c)anycontractoragreement
betweentheassignorandthe
assigneeinconnectionwiththe
copyrightterminates
onrequestmadeinwritingbythe
assignortothetrusteelessthanthree
monthsfromthedateofbankruptcy
andonpaymenttothetrusteebefore
theexpiryofsuchperiodofany
considerationthathadbeengivenfor
thecopyrightortheinterestthereinand
ofallexpensesinrelationtheretothat,
atthedateofbankruptcy,hadbeen
DROITD’AUTEURSURUNEŒUVREINÉDITE
193.(1)Nonobstanttouteloi,règlede
droit,contratouconvention,lorsque,en
casdecessiontotaleoupartielledudroit
d’auteuroudetoutautredroits’y
rapportant,lecessionnaireestmisen
failliteavantlapublicationoulamiseen
ventedel’œuvrequienfaitl’objet:
a)lemanuscritetledroitd’auteurou
toutdroits’yrapportantretournent
aucédant,
b)lesdocumentsrelatifsaudroit
d’auteurainsiqueleproduit
provenantdesdépenseseffectuées
danslecadredel’opérationsont
dévolusaucédant,
c)toutcontratouconventionportant
surledroitd’auteuretconcluentrele
cédantetlecessionnaireestrésilié,
pourvuquelecédantenaitfaitla
demandeécriteausyndicmoinsdetrois
moisaprèsladatedelafailliteetait,
avantl’expirationdecedélai,remisau
syndictouteprestationreçuedansle
cadredelacession,ainsiquelemontant
desdépensesfaitesparlecessionnaireà
ladatedelafailliteetnonencore
rembourséesàcelui-ci.


incurredbytheassigneeandforwhich
hehadnotbeenpaid.
NOCLAIMFORDAMAGES
(2)Whereacopyrightoraninterestina
copyrightrevertstotheassignor
pursuanttosubsection(1),neitherparty
isentitledtoclaimdamagesfromthe
otheronaccountoftheterminationof
thecontractoragreement.
DISCLAIMEROFCOPYRIGHT
194.(1)Whereacopyrightinaworkor
aninterestinsuchcopyrighthasbeen
assignedinwholeorinpartandthe
assigneebecomesabankruptbefore
theworkispublishedandputonthe
marketandtheassignordoesnotmake
arequesttothetrusteepursuantto
subsection193(1),thetrusteeisdeemed
tohavedisclaimedthecontractor
agreementassigningthecopyrighton
theexpirationofsixmonthsfromthe
dateofbankruptcyunless,beforethat
time,thetrusteeelectstocarryoutthe
contractoragreementandsosignifies,
inwriting,totheassignor.
ANNULMENTOFELECTION
(2)Whereatrusteeelectstocarryouta
contractoragreementinconnection
withacopyrightandthetrusteefailsto
carryoutthecontractwithreasonable
diligence,thecourtmay
(a)annultheelectiononsuchterms
andconditionsasitthinksfit;or
(b)takeanyotheractionitthinksfit.
COPYRIGHTINPUBLISHEDWORK
195.Whereanassigneeofthewholeor
apartofacopyrightinaworkoranA
BSENCEDEDOMMAGES-INTÉRÊTS
(2)Lorsqueledroitd’auteurouundroit
s’yrapportantretourneaucédant
conformémentauparagraphe(1),
aucunedespartiesnepeutréclamerdes
dommages-intérêtsàl’autreenraisonde
larésiliationducontratoudela
convention.
RENONCIATIONÀUNDROITD’AUTEUR
194.(1)Encasdecessiontotaleou
partielledudroitd’auteuroud’undroit
s’yrapportant,silecessionnaireestmis
enfailliteavantlapublicationetlamise
enventedel’œuvrequienfaitl’objetet
quelecédantneprésentepasausyndic
lademandeprévueauparagraphe
193(1),lesyndicestréputé,àl’expiration
delapériodedesixmoisquisuitladate
delafaillite,avoirrenoncéàlacession
saufsi,avantl’expirationdecedélai,ila
choisid’exécuterlecontratoula
conventionetenafaitnotificationécrite
aucédant.
ANNULATIONDUCHOIX
(2)Lorsquelesyndic,ayantchoisi
d’exécuteruncontratouune
conventionrelatifaudroitd’auteur,
négliged’apporterunediligence
raisonnabledansl’exécution,letribunal
peut:
a)soitannuler,selonlesmodalitésqu’il
estimeopportunes,lechoixdu
syndic;
b)soitprendretouteautremesurequ’il
estimeopportune.
DROITD’AUTEURSURUNEŒUVREPUBLIÉE
195.Encasdecessiontotaleoupartielle
dudroitd’auteuroud’undroits’y


interestinsuchcopyrightbecomesa
bankruptaftertheworkispublishedand
putonthemarketandtheassigneeis
liableundertheassignmenttopay
royaltiesorashareoftheprofitsin
respectoftheworktotheassignor,the
trusteeisnotentitled,
(a)tosellorauthorizethesaleor
reproductionofanycopiesofthe
publishedwork,
(b)toperformorauthorizethe
performanceofthework,or
(c)totransferanyrightorinterestinthe
copyrightortograntanyinterest
thereinbylicenceorotherwise
exceptonthepaymentoftheroyalties
ortheshareofprofitsinrespectofthe
workthattheassigneewasliabletopay
undertheassignmentorwiththe
consentofthepersonwhoisentitledto
receivesuchpayments.
r
apportant,lorsquelecessionnaireest
misenfailliteaprèslapublicationetla
miseenventedel’œuvrequienfait
l’objetetqu’ilesttenu,envertudela
cession,deverseraucédantdes
redevancesouunepartdesbénéfices
del’œuvre,lesyndic,saufaprès
versementdesredevancesoudelapart
desbénéficesquelecessionnairedoit
payerenvertudelacessionouavec
l’accorddubénéficiairedesversements,
nepeut:
a)vendreaucunexemplairedel’œuvre
publiéenienautoriserlaventeoula
reproduction;
b)représenterl’œuvrenienautoriserla
représentation;
c)transférerdesdroitsdécoulantdu
droitd’auteurniaccordersurcedroit
desconcessionmoyennantlicence
ouautrement.

§4.0Purpose
Section83oftheBankruptcyandInsolvencyAct(R.S.C.1985,cB-3)provides
forthereversionofanauthor’smanuscriptandanyassignedcopyright
interesttotheauthorintheeventofthebankruptcyofthepersontowhom
theywereassignedaswellasforthedispositionofthemarketablecopiesof
thework.

§5.0Commentary

§5.1General
§5.1.1Introduction


Lefailliauraprivilègecommetoutautreauteur;maisl’exploitationdeson
privilègeentreradanslamassedesesbiensmobiliersetseradévolueàses
créanciers.
-Auguste-CharlesRENOUARD,Traitédesdroitsd’auteurs
danslalitérature,lessciencesetlesbeaux-arts(Paris,Jules
RenouardetCie,1839),tomesecond,p.207,no.92.
Thissectionsupersedesthegeneralruleofseizurebythetrusteeoverthe
estateofthebankruptbycreatingadistinctregimeforthatspecialkindof
propertywhichiscopyright.“Asamatterofgrammar,thephrase“assigned
to[abankruptperson]”modifieseachofthesubjects“manuscript”,
“copyright”and“copyrightinterest”becausethereisnootherconnective
betweenthosesubjectsandthe“bankruptperson”.So,thatsectiononly
appliesinrespectofsuchpropertyintereststhathavebeenacquiredbyway
ofassignmentfromanother.”SeeSongCorp.Re(2002),19C.P.R.(4th)235,
SpenceJ.(Ont.S.C.J.[CommercialList]),atparagraph24.
§5.1.2Property
Asageneralrule,thepropertyofabankruptdivisibleamonghiscreditors
shallcompriseallpropertywhereversituatedofthebankruptandsuch
powersinoroverorinrespectofthepropertyasmighthavebeenexercised
bythebankruptforhisownbenefit.Section67oftheBankruptcyand
InsolvencyActreadsasfollows:
67.(1)Thepropertyofabankrupt
divisibleamonghiscreditorsshall
notcomprise,
(a)propertyheldbythe
bankruptintrustforany
otherperson,
(b)anypropertythatasagainst
thebankruptisexemptfrom
executionorseizureunder
anylawsapplicableinthe
provincewithinwhichthe
propertyissituatedand
withinwhichthebankrupt
resides,or
(b.1)suchgoodsandservicestax
67.(1)Lesbiensd’unfailli,
constituantlepatrimoineattribué
àsescréanciers,necomprennent
paslesbienssuivants:
a)lesbiensdétenusparlefailli
enfiduciepourtouteautre
personne;
b)lesbiensqui,àl’encontredu
failli,sontexempts
d’exécutionoudesaisiesous
lerégimedesloisapplicables
danslaprovincedans
laquellesontsituéscesbiens
etoùrésidelefailli;

b.1)danslescirconstances
prescrites,lespaiementsau


creditpaymentsand
prescribedpayments
relatingtotheessential
needsofanindividualasare
madeinprescribed
circumstancesandarenot
propertyreferredtoin
paragraph(a)or(b),
butitshallcomprise
(c)allpropertywherever
situatedofthebankruptat
thedateofhisbankruptcyor
thatmaybeacquiredbyor
devolveonhimbeforehis
discharge,and
(d)suchpowersinoroverorin
respectofthepropertyas
mighthavebeenexercised
bythebankruptforhisown
benefit.
t
itredecréditsdelataxesur
lesproduitsetservicesetles
paiementsprescritsquisont
faitsàdespersonnes
physiquesrelativementàleurs
besoinsessentielsetquine
sontpasvisésauxalinéasa)
etb),
maisilscomprennent:
c)touslesbiens,oùqu’ilssoient
situés,quiappartiennentau
failliàladatedelafaillite,ou
qu’ilpeutacquérirouqui
peuventluiêtredévolus
avantsalibération;
d)lespouvoirssurdesbiensouà
leurégard,quiauraientpu
êtreexercésparlefaillipour
sonproprebénéfice.

Section2oftheBankruptcyandInsolvencyActdefines“property”asfollows:
“property”includesmoney,
goods,thingsinaction,landand
everydescriptionofproperty,
whetherrealorpersonal,legalor
equitable,andwhethersituated
inCanadaorelsewhere,and
includesobligations,easements
andeverydescriptionofestate,
interestandprofit,presentor
future,vestedorcontingent,in,
arisingoutoforincidentto
property;

«biens»Biensdetoutenature,
meublesouimmeubles,endroit
ouenéquité,qu’ilssoientsitués
auCanadaouailleurs.Leursont
assimiléslessommesd’argent,
marchandises,droitsincorporels
etterres,ainsiquelesobligations,
servitudesettouteespècede
droits,d’intérêtsoudeprofits,
présentsoufuturs,acquisou
éventuels,dansdesbiens,ouen
provenantous’yrattachant.

Therefore,copyright,grantofinterestinacopyrightorlicenceofacopyright
areassetscomprisedinthepropertyofabankrupt.


§5.1.3Crown
Section4.1oftheBankruptcyandInsolvencyActprovidesthatthesaidActis
bindingonHerMajestyinrightofCanadaoraprovince.Comparewith
section12oftheCopyrightActwhichspecificallyreservestherightsand
privilegesoftheCrown.
§5.2History
Thissectionwasinitiallyintroducedassubsection19(3)oftheBankruptcyAct,
1919(S.C.1919,c.36),thefirstcomprehensivestatuteonbankruptcyenacted
bytheParliamentofCanada.Subsection19(3)wasamereduplicationof
section60oftheUnitedKingdomBankruptcyAct,1914and,savefor
grammaticalchanges,remainedunaltereduntil1949.
TheBankruptcyAct(S.C.1949,c.7),whichcameintoforceonJuly1,1950,
wassubstantiallymodifiedandtheactualsection83thenintroducedas
section52.
Astotheoriginofthesection,itwasoncewritteninNOTE,Législation
intérieure—Canada(1950),63LeDroitd’Auteur14:
Lesdifférentesloiscanadiennesayantétéremisesenchantier
auxfinsd’unerefontegénérale,M.deMontignyenaprofité
pourfaireproposerparlesénateurAthanaseDavid,deses
amis,unamendementtendantàmettrelesauteursàl’abrides
conséquencesattachéesàlafaillitedeséditeurs.Depuisla
deuxièmeguerremondiale,alorsquelesimportations
françaisesavaientcessé,unebonnedouzainedemaisons
d’éditionss’étaientconstituéesauCanadaquiobtinrent
facilementduséquestrecanadiendeslicencesvisantla
réimpressiondesromanslespluspopulairesdeFrance.Plusieurs
deceséditeursimproviséspubliaientaussidesouvrages
canadiensetsedéclaraientenfaillitedèsquelesprofitsne
répondaientplusàleurattente.Lecopyrightdel’auteur
canadientombaitalorsdansl’actifdufailli,pourêtrevenduau
mieuxdesintérêtsdescréanciers.C’estafindeprotégerles
auteurscontredetelsdommagesquel’article52aété
introduitdanslanouvellelégislationcanadiennetraitantdela
faillite.


Amendmentstosection83wereproposedsinceatleast1980(seeInsolvency
Act(BillC-12,1stSession,32ndParliament,29ElizabethII,1980),sections193-
195;InsolvencyAct(BillC-17,2ndSession,32ndParliament,32ElizabethII,
1983-84),sections193-195),but,despitetherecentamendmentstothe
BankruptcyandInsolvencyAct(S.C.1992,c.1and1992,c.27)werenot
carriedout.
§5.3ConstitutionalIssues
Subsection91(21)oftheConstitutionAct,1867confersupontheParliamentof
Canadaexclusivejurisdictiontoenactlawsinrelationto“bankruptcyand
insolvency”.Theexerciseofsuchajurisdiction,asisthecasewithsection83,
mayaffectpropertyandcivilrightswhichareofexclusiveprovincial
jurisdictionundersubsection91(13)oftheConstitutionAct,1867.However,as
summarizedbyHOULDEN(LloydW.)etal.,BankruptcyLawofCanada,3rd
ed.(Toronto,Carswell,1989),atp.1-10.
IndeterminingwhetherornotanenactmentofParliamentis
intraviresascomingwithins.91(21),orultraviresascoming
withins.92(13),thegeneralprincipleisthat“theprimaryobject
andpurpose”orthe“pithandsubstance”ofthelegislation
mustbelookedat.Iftheprimarypurposeorpithand
substanceofthelegislationcomeswithinoneofthe
enumeratedsubjectsins.91,eventhoughitmayincidentally
trenchuponasubjectmatterexclusivelyassignedtothe
provincesbys.92isintravires.[Emphasisadded.]

Ongeneralissuesrelatingtotheconstitutionalityofbankruptcyand
insolvencylegislation,seegenerallyBEAUDOIN(Gérald-A.),LaConstitutiondu
Canada(Montréal,Wilson&Lafleur,1990),atpp.395-398;HOGG(PeterW.),
ConstitutionalLawofCanada,3rded.(Toronto,Carswell,1992),atch.25;see
alsomorespecificallyBOHÉMIER(Albert),Lafailliteendroitconstitutionnel
canadien(Montréal,P.U.M.,1972);CARIGNAN(Pierre),Lacompétence
législativeenmatièredefailliteetd’insolvabilité(1979),57CanadianBar
Review47.
Thisquestionisofspecialinterestinviewofpotentialconflictsinthe
enforcementofcontractsbetweenauthorsandthecopyrightowneronone
hand,andthecopyrightownerandpublishersontheother.Itisofevenmore
acuteinterestsincetheenactmentinQuébecofAnActrespectingthe
ProfessionalStatusofArtistsintheVisualArts,ArtsandCraftsandLiterature,
andtheirContractswithPromoters(S.Q.1988,c.69),section36ofwhichsets
itsownconsequencetotheterminationofacontractbetweenacreatorand
apromoterincaseofthebankruptcyofthelatter.SeeDUBÉ(Marcel),Le


pouvoirquébécoisdelégiférerenmatièredecontratd’édition(1989),1Les
cahiersdepropriétéintellectuelle317;BEAUDOIN(Gérald-A.),LaConstitution
duCanada(Montréal,Wilson&Lafleur,1990),atp.397.
Inanyevent,ifthereisaconflictbetweenaprovincialstatutedealingwith
insolvencyandtheBankruptcyandInsolvencyAct,thelatterprevails:see
CARIGNAN(Pierre),Lacompétencelégislativeenmatièredefailliteet
d’insolvabilité(1979),57CanadianBarReview47,atpp.64-73.
§5.4GeneralOperationoftheSection
§5.4.1Onthemarketornot
Section83oftheBankruptcyandInsolvencyActdealswithtwosituations,
namely,whentheworkisnotyetonthemarket(subsection83(1))andwhen
theworkisonthemarket(subsection83(2)).
§5.4.2Stateofpublication
Subsection83(1)makesfurtherdistinctionsdependingonthestateof
publicationofthework,namely:
a)whentheworkisnotpublished:paragraph83(1)(a),
b)whentheworkhasbeenputintotype:paragraph83(1)(b),
and
c)whenthecontractrelatedtotheworkisnotcarriedout:
paragraph83(1)(c).
§5.4.3Obligationsofthetrustee
Subsection83(2),dealswiththeobligationsofthetrusteewhentheworkison
themarket.Subsection83(3)deals,foritspart,withthegeneralobligationof
thetrusteetofirstoffertotheauthortherighttopurchasethemarketable
copiesofhiswork.
§5.4.4Summary
SectionConditionsConsequences
Firstsituation:theworkisnotyetonthemarket



Para.
83(1)(a)
theworkisnot
published
noexpenses
incurred

1)manuscriptandcopyright
assignedreverttothe
authororhisheirs
2)contractoragreement
terminatesandisvoid

para.
83(1)(b)
thework,inwholeor
inpart,isintype
expensesincurred
1
)manuscriptandcopyright
assignedreverttothe
authororhisheirs
2)author,orhisheirs,pays
expensesincurred
3)theproductintypeis
deliveredtotheauthoror
hisheirs
4)contractoragreement
terminatesandisvoid
5)aboverightstobe
exercisedbytheauthor
withinsixmonthsofthe
bankruptcydate
Iftherightisnotexercised,
thetrusteemaycarryout
theoriginalcontract

para.
83(1)(c)
thetrusteedecides
nottocarryoutthe
contract1
)manuscriptandcopyright
assignedreverttothe
authororhisheirs
2)thereisnoexpenseonthe
partoftheauthororhis
heirs
3)contractoragreement
terminatesandisvoid
Secondsituation:theworkispublishedandonthemarket
para.
83(2)(a)
thetrusteepays
royaltiesorshareof
1)entitledtosellcopiesofthe
publishedwork


theprofitstothe
authororhisheirs
2
)entitledtoauthorizethe
saleofcopiesofthe
publishedwork
3)entitledtoauthorizethe
reproductionofcopiesof
thepublishedwork
4)entitledtoperformthe
work
5)entitledtoauthorizethe
performanceofthework
6)contractoragreement
terminatesandisvoid

para.
83(2)(b)
writtenconsentis
givenbytheauthor
orhisheirs,or
rateofpayment
guaranteed1
)trusteemayassignthe
copyright
2)trusteemaytransferthe
interestinthecopyright
3)trusteemaygrantan
interestinthecopyrightby
licence
4)trusteemaygrantan
interestinthecopyright
otherwise
5)contractoragreement
terminatesandisvoid

Marketablecopiestobefirstoffered
Subsec.
83(3)
thetrusteeoffersin
writing
totheauthororhis
heirs
therightto
purchasethe
trusteemaythendisposeof
thecopies


marketablecopies
ofthework
onfairconditions
§5.5ReversiontoAuthor:Subsection83(1)
Subsection83(1)isdirectedtotheprotectionoftheauthor(orhisheirs)and
notthecopyrightowner.Infact,itdealswiththereversionofthemanuscript
andcopyrightinfavouroftheauthorandwouldappeartoapplyeven
thoughtheauthorwasnotthefirstownerofthecopyright(see,forinstance,
sections10-13oftheCopyrightAct),orhasassignedhiscopyright,orhassold
hismanuscripttoapartyotherthanthebankrupt.
§5.5.1“NotwithstandinganythinginthisAct”
Theapplicationoftheprovisionsofsection83isnotrestrictedtothe
BankruptcyandInsolvencyAct:seetheintroductorywords,“Notwithstanding
anythinginthis[BankruptcyandInsolvency]Actorinanyotherstatute…”.
Contrarytothereversionprovisionsofsection14oftheCopyrightAct,section
83doesnotappeartobeofpublicorder.Itwouldappearthatnothing
prohibitscontractualderogationtothisstatutoryprohibitionorawaiverofthe
rightsundersection83.
Furthermore,thelastwordsofeachofparagraphs83(1)(a),83(1)(b)and
83(1)(c)providethatanyagreementbetweentheauthorandthebankrupt
shallbeterminated,wouldnotcoveranagreementwhereathirdparty
ownergrantedsomecopyrightinteresttothebankrupt.
§5.5.2“Author’smanuscriptsandanycopyright”
Theterm“manuscript”isnotdefinedintheBankruptcyandInsolvencyAct
norintheCopyrightAct.Therefore,“manuscript”shouldbeunderstoodinits
usualmeaning,asdefinedforinstanceinthe1984thirdrevisededitionofthe
ShorterOxfordEnglishDictionary:“abook,document,orthelike,writtenby
hand;awritingofanykind,asdistinguishedfromprintedmatter”.
Suchatermshouldencompassaphotocopyofthemanuscript,atypedtext,
acomputerprintedtext,oradiskettebutnotthegalleysorproofsofprints,
whetherannotatedornot.


Asfarasthecorpusmechanicumisconcerned,theuseoftheword
“manuscripts”evokes,atleastprimafacie,theconceptofliteraryor
dramaticworks.Itisdubiousthat“manuscripts”willcoverartisticworkssuch
ascinematographs,photographsorevennegatives.However,thesynopsisor
scenarioofafilmmightverywellqualifyasmanuscripts,butnotthefilmitself.
Insuchacase,thecopyrightinthefilmmayverywellreverttoitsauthorbut
notthefilmitself,whichwouldthenbecomeanassetofthebankrupt.
Theuseofthepluralform“author’smanuscripts”suggeststhattherecanbe
morethanonemanuscriptwithrespecttoonework.
However,asremindedbySpenceJ.inSongCorp.,Re(2002),19C.P.R.(4th)
235,SpenceJ.(Ont.S.C.J.[CommercialList],atparagraph28:“Itwas
submittedthats.83appliesonlytobooksandwrittenworksandnotto
musicalworks.Theterm“manuscript”mayormaynotreadilyfitthemusic
industry,buts.83isnotlimitedtomanuscripts.Itappliestocopyrightsand
copyrightinterests.
§5.5.3“assignedto”
Foranassignmentofcopyrightoragrantofcopyrightinteresttobevalid,it
shouldbemadeinwriting:seesubsection13(3)andsection58ofthe
CopyrightAct.Thereisnosuchrequirementforwritingwithrespectto
manuscripts.InCanada,itistobenotedthatpropertyofthemanuscript
wouldnotconveypropertyofthecopyrightthereto.
Section83doesnotcoverthesituationresultingfromalicencenorfroma
distributorshiporanagencyagreement.
Finally,itshouldbenotedthatsection83doesnotspecifybywhomsuchan
assignmentorgrantofinterestinthecopyrightshouldhavebeenmadeand
itwouldappearthatthereversionprovisionwilloperateeveniftheauthor
wasnotinstrumentalorpartythereto.
§5.5.4“apublisher,printer,firmorperson”
Section83willapplyirrespectiveofthequalityoftheassignee,beita:
a)publisher(which,accordingtotheShorterOxfordEnglish
Dictionary,is“onewhosebusinessistheissuingofbooks,
periodicals,music,etc.astheagentoftheauthororofthe
owner;onewhoproducescopiesofsuchworks,anddistributes


themtothebooksellersandotherdealers,ortothepublic;
withoutqualification,usuallyabookpublisher”),
b)printer(“apersonwhoproduces(abook,picture,etc.)by
applyingtopaper,vellum,etc.inapressormachine,inked
types,blocks,orplates,bearingcharactersordesigns,one
whosebusinessistheprintingofbooks,etc.;theownerofa
printingbusiness”),
c)firm(whichcoversgenerallyunincorporatedbusiness
enterprises),or
d)person(whichincludescorporation),
aslongasitisbankrupt,whetherittradesinthebookorprintmarket,whether
itisinvolvedwithanyspecialactivitiesofcommercializationinregardtothe
work.Foralargerviewofthedefinitionof“publisher”,seeinSongCorp.,Re
(2002),19C.P.R.(4th)235,SpenceJ.(Ont.S.C.J.[CommercialList],at
paragraph28.
§5.5.5“becomingbankrupt”
“Becomingbankrupt”shallbeunderstoodinitsstatutorymeaningunderthe
BankruptcyandInsolvencyActandnotinitscivilsense,asdefined,for
instance,inarticle17(23)oftheCivilCodeofLowerCanada:seegenerally
HOULDEN(LloydW.)etal.,BankruptcyLawofCanada,3rded.(Toronto,
Carswell,1989).
Theprovisionsofsection83donotapplyeitherwithrespecttothe
CompaniesCreditorsArrangementAct(R.S.C.1985,c.C-36)ortheWinding-
upAct(R.S.C.1985,c.W-11)anddonotcoverotherinsolvencysituations.
§5.6WorknotPublished:Subsection83(1)(a)
§5.6.1Conditionsofapplication
Forsubsection83(1)(a)tocomeintooperation,severalconditionsaretobe
metatthetimeofthebankruptcy(andnotthereafter),namely:
a)theworkhasnotbeenpublished,and
b)theworkhasnotbeenputonthemarket,and
c)noexpensehasbeenincurredinconnectiontherewith.
Then,themanuscriptsandthecopyrightsorgrantsthereinshall:
a)reverttotheauthor,and
b)bedeliveredtotheauthor.


§5.6.2Publication
ContrarytotheCopyrightAct,theBankruptcyandInsolvencyActdoesnot
definewhatconstitutesthe“publication”ofawork.
Paragraph15(2)(b)oftheInterpretationAct(R.S.C.1985,c.I-21)provides
howeverthatwhereanenactmentcontainsaninterpretationprovision,this
provisionshallbereadandconstruedasbeingapplicabletoallother
enactmentsrelatingtothesamesubjectmatterunlessthecontraryintention
appears.
Thisruleofcontextualinterpretationofrelatedstatutes(or“inparimaterial”
rule)hasbeenexplainedbyCÔTÉ(Pierre-André),TheInterpretationof
LegislationinCanada,2nded.(Cowansville,Blais,1992),atpp.282-292,inthe
followingterms,atp.288:“Thelegislatureisdeemedtoenactstatutesona
givensubjectthatarecoherentnotonlyintheirformulationbutalsointhe
policieswhichtheyimplement”;seealsoDRIEDGER(ElmerA.),Constructionof
Statutes,2nded.(Toronto,Butterworths,1983),atpp.158-159.
Referenceshouldthenbemadetosection4oftheCopyrightActwhich
indicatesthatpublicationofaworkoccurswhen,withtheconsentofthe
author,copiesofaworkareissuedorcausedtobeissuedforsaletothe
public.
Thereisapparentlynorequirementthattheworkbepublishedbythe
bankrupthimself,onlythathebetheownerofagrantofinterestinthe
copyrightatthetimeofthebankruptcy.
§5.6.3“putonthemarket”
Thewords“putonthemarket”donotbearanyparticularmeaningas,for
instance,“supplythedemand”(section16oftheCopyrightAct),“printand
publish”(section17oftheCopyrightAct)or“keeponsale”(section19ofthe
CopyrightAct).Itshouldbeconstruedsimplyassellingorofferingforsale.
Furthermore,itistobenotedthatthepublicationoftheworkisnotrestricted
totheCanadianmarket.
§5.6.4“noexpenses…incurred”
Arethoseexpensesrelatedonlytothepublicationormarketingoftheworkor
dotheyincludeanyexpensesrelatingtothemanufacturingofcopiesofthe


work,includingtheadministrationofthebusinessofthebankruptorofthe
personwhopublishesthework?
§5.6.5“revert…totheauthor”
Whatwouldhappenintheeventthattheauthorpreviouslyassignedhisrights
toathirdpartyandthisthirdparty,inturn,assignedtheserightstothe
bankrupt?
Firstinterpretation.Thewordingusedinsubsection83(1)maythenleadto
strangeresults.Theword“author”doesnotequatewiththeword“owner”
and,irrespectiveofanypreviousassignment,thecopyrightsandmanuscripts
shouldreverttotheauthor.Furthermore,itcouldbearguedthatthewords
areclearandshouldbegiventheirordinarysense,andareapplicablein
favouroftheauthorinanycircumstances.
Thesectionmakesreferencetotheauthororhisheirs,whichshouldnotbe
confusedwith“legalrepresentatives”asdefinedinsubsection2(16)ofthe
CopyrightAct,foranheirisalwaysincludedinsuchadefinitionbutalegal
representativeisnotalwaysanheir.
Secondinterpretation.Amorelogicalinterpretationwouldbethatsection83
comesintooperationonlywhentheauthorhasorhisheirshaveanongoing
contractualrelationshipwiththebankrupt.
Thereferenceinparagraphs83(1)(a),(b),(c),and83(2)(c)tothetermination
ofanycontractoragreementbetweentheauthororhisheirsandthe
bankrupt,issupportforthisinterpretation.Furthersupportisfound,in
paragraphs83(2)(a)and(b),“profitsaswouldhavebeenpayablebythe
bankrupt”and“paymentbywayofroyaltiesorshareoftheprofitsatarate
notlessthantheratethebankruptwasliabletopay”.
Intheabsenceofthisongoingcontractualrelationshipbetweenthebankrupt
andtheauthororhisheirs,therewouldseemtobenoreasonwhytheauthor
orhisheirsshouldbeinvolvedinthebankruptcyproceedingswhichexistonly
tosettlemattersbetweenthedebtorandhiscreditors.Section83wouldseem
totransformwhatwouldotherwisebeanordinarydebtoftheauthorintoa
“quasi-secureddebt”.
§5.6.6“any…agreement…shallthenterminate”
Uponbankruptcy,anyagreementorcontract(presumably,butnot
necessarilydealingwiththegrantofaninterestinthecopyright)betweenthe

 
author(orhisheirs)andthebankrupt(andnotathirdparty)shallthenbe
terminatedandbevoid.
Absentaspecificprohibition(suchasinsection14,forinstance),thiswould
notappeartobeaprovisionofpublicorderandanauthorshouldbeentitled
towaivehisrightinrespectthereto.Thewording“becomevoid”(inFrench
“devientnul”)ismostunfortunateasitleavesopenmanyquestionsastothe
natureoftheterminationanditseffectsonthepaymentorrepaymentofthe
moneys(royalties,advances,etc.)dueunderthecontract.
Furthermore,thisprovisionrelatestotheterminationofacontractbetween
theauthorandthebankrupt.Itdoesnotdealwithacontract,asthecase
maybe,betweenthepreviouscopyrightownerandthebankrupt,whichwill
notbeterminatedandnotcancelled.Dependingontheinterpretationgiven
tosection83,itcouldbethatacopyrightrevertstotheauthorandroyalties
arepayablebythetrusteetotheauthorwhilethepreviousownerof
copyrighthasaclaimascreditorofthebankruptforunpaidroyalties.Sucha
potentialsituationwouldseemtobeanadditionalsupportforthesecond
interpretationofsection83(seeCommentaryunder§5.6.5,supra).
§5.7WorkPutintoType:Paragraph83(1)(b)
§5.7.1Conditionsofapplication
Forparagraph83(1)(b)tocomeintooperation,severalconditionsaretobe
metatthetimeofthebankruptcy(andnotthereafter),namely:
a)theworkhasbeenputintotype,inwholeorinpart,and
b)expenseshavebeenincurredbythebankrupt.
Thenthemanuscriptsandthecopyrightsorgrantstherein:
a)reverttotheauthor(orhisheirs)and
b)shallbedeliveredtotheauthorand
c)theproductoftheseexpensesshallbedeliveredtotheauthor.
§5.7.2“intotype”
“Putintotype”referstosettingupforprinting(inFrench,“composéen
typographie”)andrefersprincipallytoliteraryworkeventhoughitmayalso
applytomusicalworks(seesubsection2(20))andtosomeartisticworksas
engravings(seesubsection2(11))orbooks(seesubsection2(4)).Suchaterm,
itissubmitted,couldhardlyapplytocinematographicworksorvideo
production.



However,itisnotnecessarythatallthecopiesofthewholeeditionofthe
workbecompletedorthattheworkbecompletelytypesetted.Fromaliteral
construction,itwouldappearthatthissubsectionappliesassoonasthe
printingprocessstarts,irrespectiveofthestageitisat.
§5.7.3“expenseshavebeenincurred”
Doestheterm“incurredexpenses”refertoanypartofthepreparation,
publishing,marketingordistributionprocessordoesitrelateonlyto
typesetting?
Firstinterpretation.Thetextofparagraph83(1)(b)isgeneralandcouldcover
anyrelatedexpenses,asisthecasewithparagraph83(1)(a),wherethe
Frenchtextdefinitelylinkstheexpenseunincurredwiththe“work”(inFrench,
“l’ouvrage”)andnotwiththe“publishing”or“marketing”efforts.Therefore
theexpensesnotincurredunderparagraph83(1)(a)shouldnotrelatesolely
tothepublishingandmarketingefforts.Thewordingofparagraph83(1)(b)is
notasclearbutcouldbeinterpretedasreferringtoasituationcontraryto
thatofparagraph83(1)(a),whereexpensesrelatenotonlytotypesettingbut
tothework(inFrench“l’ouvrage”)ingeneral.Inotherwords,paragraph
83(1)(a)dealswithasituationwherenoexpenseshavebeenincurredwith
respecttoawork,whileparagraph83(1)(b)dealswithasituationwhere
expenseshavebeenincurred,whatevertheirnature.
Theexpenseshavetohavebeenincurredbythebankruptandnotathird
partyorthetrustee.
Secondinterpretation.Anotherinterpretationwouldbethattheauthoronly
hastoreimbursetheexpensesincurredtoputtheworkcoveredbycopyright,
inawholeorinpart,intotype.Thisinterpretationissupportedbytheuseof
theword“so”beforetheword“incurred”.Furthersupportisfoundinthe
statedobligationofthetrusteetodelivertotheauthor,uponreimbursement,
“theproductofthoseexpenses”;this“product”shouldbenothingelsebut
thetypographiccompositionofthework.Thelegislatorwouldseemtowant
theauthor,underthosecircumstances,torecuperatenotonlyhiscopyright
andmanuscriptbutcompositionofhisworkatwhateverstagethat
compositionisat:seealsotheFrenchtextofparagraph83(1)(b)“l’ouvrage”
(…)composéentypographieetaoccasionnédesdépensesaufailli,etle
produitdecesdépensesestaussiremisàl’auteur…”
However,itwasheldbySpenceJ.inSongCorp.,Re(2002),19C.P.R.(4th)235
(Ont.S.C.J.[CommercialList]),atparagraph30,that:
Intheschemeofs.83(1),ifaworkhas“beenputintotypeand
expenseshavebeenincurredbythebankrupt”,para.(b),


enablesthebankrupttorecoverthoseexpenseseitherfrom
theauthororbycarryingouttheoriginalcontract.Itappears
thattheintentisthat,ifthebankrupthadincurredexpenses
thatresultedinworkproductspecifictotheproductionofthe
workinquestionforpurposesofitspublicmarketing(as
opposedto,say,generaloverheadexpenses),thoseexpenses
shouldberecoverable.

§5.7.4Paymentandtime
Furthermore,forthissectiontooperate,twoconditionsaretobemetbythe
author,namely:
a)theincurredexpensesarepaid
and
b)theoptionisexercisedwithinsixmonthsofthebankruptcy.
Shouldtheauthororhisheirsnotexercisetheirrightsunderthesaid
subsection,thetrusteeisfreetocarryoutthecontractunderreserveof
subsections83(2)and83(3).Theuseoftheterm“may”clearlyindicatesthat
thetrusteeisundernoobligationtoexecutethecontractandcontinuethe
publicationandrelatedactivitieswithrespecttothework.
§5.7.5“product…shallbealsodelivered”
Theuseoftheword“also”isareminderthatsubsection83(1)introductive
providesforthereturntotheauthor(orhisheirs)ofthemanuscriptandthe
copyright.Paragraph83(1)(b)dealsmorespecificallywiththereturnofthe
typographiccomposition,whethercompletedornot,ofthework.
Dependingontheinterpretationgiventoparagraph83(1)(b)(see
Commentaryunder§5.7.3,infra),theword“product”couldbeunderstoodas
covering,inaddition,thephysicalresultofexpensessuchastheplates,the
filmsornegatives,thebindings,theartworkorthecover,andthelike.
Arguably,itcouldbeconstruedascoveringalsoanyreceiptsflowingfrom
theseactivities.
§5.7.6“anyagreement…shallthen…terminate”
Uponbankruptcy,anyagreementorcontract(presumably,butnot
necessarily,dealingwiththegrantofaninterestinthecopyright)between
theauthor(orhisheirs)andthebankrupt(andnotathirdparty)shallthenbe
terminatedandbevoid.



Absentaspecificprohibition(suchas,forinstance,insection14),thiswould
notappeartobeaprovisionofpublicorderandanauthorshouldbeentitled
towaivehisrightinrespectthereto.Thewording“becomevoid”(inFrench,
“devientnul”)ismostunfortunateasitleavesopenmanyquestionsastothe
natureoftheterminationanditseffectsonthepaymentorrepaymentofthe
moneys(royalties,advances,etc.)dueunderthecontract.
Furthermore,thisprovisionrelatestotheterminationofacontractbetween
theauthorandthebankrupt.Itdoesnotdealwiththeterminationofa
contract,asthecasemaybe,betweenacopyrightownerandabankrupt.
§5.8WorknotCarriedOut:Paragraph83(1)(c)
§5.8.1Conditionsofapplication
If,withinsixmonthsofthebankruptcy,thetrusteedoesnotcarryoutthe
contract,thenthemanuscriptsandthecopyrightsorgrantsthereinrevert
withoutexpensetotheauthor(orhisheirs).
§5.8.2“nottocarryoutthecontract”
Thissubsectionisdraftedinthenegativeandreferstotheintentofthetrustee
ratherthantotheactualexecutionofthecontract.
Inthiscontext,whatdoestheterms“carryoutthecontract”mean?Doesit
includethefullprocessoftyping,correcting,reviewing,printing,distributing,
marketing,sellingandkeepingonsale?Thesubsectionisalsosilentonthe
consequencesofanincompleteorfaultyexecutionofthecontractbythe
trustee.
§5.8.3“revert…totheauthor”
Contrarytoparagraph83(1)(b)whichreferstoreversionanddeliverytothe
author,subsection83(1)(c)onlyreferstoreversion.Again,itmustbestressed
thatthecopyrightandthemanuscriptsrevert,presumablyinfullownership,to
theauthor,eventhoughhemayneverhavebeentheownerofthe
manuscriptasaphysicalobjectorofthecopyrighttherein.
Dependingontheinterpretationgiventosubsections83(1)and(2)(see
Commentaryunder§5.7.3,infra)thisreversionmayleadindeedtostrange
resultsandcontractualliabilities.Letusillustrate.AnauthorAassigned,


againstroyalties,hiscopyrighttoaneditorB,who,inturn,assignedthesaid
copyrighttoapublisherC,whobecamebankrupt.Inviewofone
interpretationofparagraph83(2)(c),thecopyrightwillreturntoauthorAwho
willbefreetodisposeofthem;editorB,however,willstillbeliabletopaytoA
theagreed-uponroyalties,eventhoughthecopyrighthasrevertedtoA.
Whenparagraph83(1)(c)applies,thereversionanddeliveryofthe
manuscriptsandthecopyrightsarewithoutpaymentbytheauthororhis
heirs.
§5.8.4“any…agreement…shallthenterminate”
Uponbankruptcy,anyagreementorcontract(presumably,butnot
necessarily,dealingwiththegrantofaninterestinthecopyright)between
theauthor(orhisheirs)andthebankrupt(andnotathirdparty)shallthenbe
terminatedandbevoid.
Absentaspecificprohibition(suchas,forinstance,insection14),thiswould
notappeartobeaprovisionofpublicorderandanauthorshouldbeentitled
towaivehisrightinrespectthereto.Thewording“becomevoid”(inFrench,
“devientnul”)ismostunfortunateasitleavesopenmanyquestionsastothe
natureoftheterminationanditseffectsonthepaymentorrepaymentofthe
moneys(royalties,guestfees,advances,etc.)dueunderthecontract.
Furthermore,thisprovisionrelatestotheterminationofacontractbetween
theauthorandthebankrupt.Itdoesnotdealwiththeterminationofa
contract,asthecasemaybe,betweenacopyrightownerandabankrupt.
§5.9Workpublished:Subsection83(2)
Subsection83(2)appliesinregardtocopiesofworkswhich,atthetimeofthe
bankruptcy(andnotthereafter),havebeenpublishedandputonthe
market.
§5.9.1Exploitationbytrustee:Paragraph83(2)(a)
Thetrusteeisentitled:
a)tosellanycopiesofthepublishedwork,or
b)toauthorizethesaleofanycopiesofthepublishedwork,or
c)toauthorizethereproductionofanycopiesofthepublished
work,or


d)toperformthework,or
e)toauthorizetheperformanceofthework.
However,forsuchusestobeallowed,theauthorshallbepaidhisroyaltiesor
shareofprofitaswouldhavebeenpayablebythebankrupt.Butpayableto
whom?Thissubsectionisambiguous,initsFrenchandEnglishtexts,andcould
beconstruedinseveralways.Infact,paragraph83(2)(a)referstopaymentto
theauthorbutdoesnotstatethatthesaidroyaltiesshouldbethosepayable
totheauthorbythebankrupt;itmerelyindicatesthattheauthorshallreceive
theroyaltiesthatthebankruptshouldhavepaidtowhoeverwasentitledto
them.Again,section83wasdraftedassumingthattheauthordealtdirectly
withthebankrupt,whichisnotnecessarilythecase.“Section83(2)doesnot
purporttolimittheapplicationofs.67inthecaseofcopyrightinterests,but
onlytoprovideforthewaysinwhichtheTrusteemayrealizeuponthose
interests”:SongCorp.Re(2002),19C.P.R.(4th)235,SpenceJ.(Ont.S.C.J.
[CommercialList]),atparagraph35.
§5.9.2Assignmentbythetrustee:Paragraph83(2)(b)
Underparagraph83(2)(b),thetrusteeisentitled:
a)toassignthecopyright,or
b)totransfertheinterestinthecopyright,or
c)tograntanyinterestinthecopyrightbylicence,or
d)tograntanyinterestinthecopyrightotherwise.
However,forsuchtransfertobeallowed:
a)thetrusteeshallobtainthewrittenconsentoftheauthororhis
heirs,apparentlyirrespectiveoftherelationshipbetweenthe
authorandthebankrupt,or
b)thetrusteedoesnothavetoobtainsuchaconsentunlessthe
author(orhisheirs)isguaranteedpaymentofroyaltiesorshare
intheprofitsataratenotlessthanwhatthebankruptwould
havepaid(seediscussionunder§5.9.1,supra).
Inadecisionrenderedwithrespecttosection60oftheUnitedKingdom
CopyrightAct,1914,itwasheldthattheauthorwasentitledtosuchroyalties,
eveniftheauthorwasnotcontractingdirectlywiththebankruptpublisher.It
wasfurtherheldthatthesaidpublishercouldnot,bytransferringhisinterestto
anotherpublisherbeforehisbankruptcy,inconsiderationofaroyaltypayable
tohim,defeattherightoftheauthortopaymentinfull:seeHenhamv.Alston
RiversLtd.(1916),[1911-16]MacG.Cop.Cas.330(Ch.D.)YoungerJ.,atp.
333.


Inordertotransferaninterestinthecopyright,thetrusteeshallalsoabidewith
therequirementofawriting,asprovidedundersubsection13(3)ofthe
CopyrightAct.Suchawritingmaynotbedirectedspecificallytoagiven
copyright,butmaybedraftedintermsthatwillallowforproperidentification:
seesection58andReHisMaster’sVoiceCopyright(1921),[1917-28]MacG.
Cop.Cas.250(Ch.D.)PetersonJ.,atp.251.
Itshouldalsobenotedthatnothingpreventsatrusteetocausetobe
recordedinhisfavouranycopyrightofthebankrupt:seesections55and57.
“Specifically,inrespectofaproposedassignmentbytheTrusteetoathird
party,s.83(2)(b)imposesnorestrictionsonthenatureortheaspectsofthe
constituentcopyrightintereststhatmaybeassignedbutonlyonthe
conditionsthatmustbesatisfiedforanassignmenttobepermitted”:Song
Corp.Re(2002),19C.P.R.(4th)235,SpenceJ.(Ont.S.C.J.[CommercialList]),
atparagraph35.
§5.9.3“any…agreement…shallthenterminate”:Paragraph83(2)(c)
Uponbankruptcy,anyagreementorcontract(presumably,butnot
necessarily,dealingwiththegrantofaninterestinthecopyright)between
theauthor(orhisheirs)andthebankrupt(andnotathirdparty)shallthenbe
terminatedandbevoid.
Absentaspecificprohibition(suchas,forinstance,insection14),thiswould
notappeartobeaprovisionofpublicorderandanauthorshouldbeentitled
towaivehisrightinrespectthereto.Thewording“becomevoid”(inFrench,
“devientnul”)ismostunfortunateasitleavesopenmanyquestionsastothe
natureoftheterminationanditseffectsonthepaymentorrepaymentofthe
moneys(royalties,advances,etc.)dueunderthecontract.
Furthermore,thisprovisionrelatestotheterminationofacontractbetween
theauthorandthebankrupt.Itdoesnotdealwiththeterminationofa
contract,asthecasemaybe,betweenacopyrightownerandabankrupt.
However,itshouldbeborneinmindthatparagraph83(2)(c)comesinto
operationonlyaftertherequirementsofparagraph83(2)(a)and83(2)(b)
havebeencompliedwith.
§5.9.4Disposalofmarketablecopies:Paragraph83(2)(c)
Anyagreementorcontractbetweentheauthor(orhisheirs)andthe
bankruptshallthenbeterminatedandbevoidsavethedisposalofcopiesof


theworkpublishedbeforethebankruptcyandputonthemarketbeforethe
bankruptcy.
§5.10MarketableCopiestobeoffered:Subsection83(3)
Subsection83(3)providesforarightoffirstrefusalinfavouroftheauthororhis
heirs.
§5.10.1“shallofferinwriting”
Theofferofthetrusteetotheauthor(orhisheirs)shallbeinwriting:see
definitionof“writing”undersubsection35(1)oftheInterpretationAct(R.S.C.
1985,c.I-21).Suchanoffershallbemadetotheauthorbeforethetrustee
disposesofthecopiesoftheworks.
§5.10.2“totheauthor”
Therightiscreatedinfavouroftheauthor(orhisheirs)andnotinfavourof
thecopyrightowner.
§5.10.3“therighttopurchase”
Therightconferredbysubsection83(3)isarighttopurchasethe
manufacturedcopiesoftheworkcomprisedintheestateofthebankrupt.
Presumably,thewords“manufactured”and“marketable”arenotintended
todescribetwodifferentcategoriesofcopies:formoreclarity,comparewith
theFrenchtextwherethedisjunctiveelement“or”isabsent:“exemplaires
manufacturésetdestinésaucommerce.”Theword“or”isalsoabsentinthe
Englishtextwhentheexpressions“manufactured”and“marketable”are
usedforasecondtimeinthesection.Theword“or”isreplacedbytheword
“and”.Thereforethesubsectiondealswithonlyonecategoryofcopieswhich
ismanufacturedandmarketable.
Thissubsectiondoesnotgivetotheauthorarighttoparticipateinthe
marketingprocessorinthecommercializationofthework;itonlymakesit
possibleforhimtopurchasethemarketablecopiesofhisworktouseashe
seesfit.
Whetherornottheauthorhastopurchaseallthecopiesoftheworkwhich
aremanufactured,oronlypartofthem,isnotclear.However,thissection
doesgivetothetrusteethediscretiontoestablishtheprice,termsandthe


conditionsofthesale.Theanswertothequestionmaythenvaryaccordingto
thetermsandconditionsoftheoffermadebythetrustee.
§5.10.4“atsuchprice”
Thepriceandtermsoftheoptionsaretobesetbythetrustee,presumablyin
hisoffer,andshallbeinhisopinion,“fairandproper”,whichisquitevaguea
qualification.
§5.10.5“inthemannerprescribed”
Shouldtheauthorchoosenottoexercisehisoption,thetrusteemaydispose
ofthemarketablecopiesoftheworkbuthastorespecttheotherprovisions
ofsection83,amongstwhicharethoserelatingtothepaymentofroyalties:
seeparagraph83(2)(a).
§6.0CaseLaw
§6.1Canada
1.ÉditionsMCSLtéev.Associationdescompositeurs,auteursetéditeurs
duCanadaltée,[1987]R.J.Q.403,BellevilleJ.(Que.Sup.Ct.).
L’article2delaLoisurlafaillite(S.R.C.1970,c.B-3)définitlemot“biens”
commesuit:
“‘biens’comprendlessommesd’argent,marchandises,droits
incorporels,terres,etbiensdetoutenature,réelsoupersonnels,
meublesouimmeubles,endroitouenequity,qu’ilssoientsituésau
Canadaouailleurs,ainsiquelesobligations,servitudesettoute
espècededroits,d’intérêtsoudeprofits,présentsoufuturs,actuels
ouéventuels,dansdesbiens,ouenprovenantous’yrattachant.”

Ils’agitd’unedéfinitionfortlargequienglobelecataloguedesœuvresdu
failli.
Envertudel’art.47delaLoisurlafaillite,lecataloguedesœuvresdufailli
faitpartiedesbiensdufailli,constituantlepatrimoineattribuéàses
créanciers.
Lesyndic,conformémentauxpouvoirsquiluisontoctroyésparlaLoisurla
faillite,doitvoiràl’administrationdesbiensdufailli,danslemeilleurintérêt
delamassedescréanciers.Ilavaitlepouvoirdevendrelecataloguedes
œuvresdufaillidefaçonàdiminuerlefardeaufinancierdescréanciers.
Suiteàcettetransactionintervenueentrelarequéranteetlemis-en-cause
(R-1),larequéranteestsaisiedetouslesdroitsdepropriété,endroiteten
equitydufaillidanslecataloguedesœuvres(art.62).


Deplus,envertudel’art.12(4)delaLoisurledroitd’auteur(S.R.C.1970,c
C-30)”letitulairedudroitd’auteursuruneœuvrepeutcédercedroiten
totalité…”.
Enfin,envertudel’art.6(bis)delaConventiondeRomesurledroit
d’auteur1928,l’auteur-compositeurpeutfairecessiondesditsdroits(S.R.C.
1970,cC-30,Sched.III).
Enfaisantcessiondesesbiens,lefailliabandonnaitsesbiensàses
créanciers,ycomprislecataloguedesesœuvres.
Lesyndicsedevaitd’agirconformémentàlaLoisurlafailliteetpourle
meilleurbénéficedescréanciersàlafaillite.
LecontratdeventedecréancesR-1estconformeàlaLoisurlafaillite,àla
Loisurledroitd’auteur,ainsiqu’auxarticles1570etsuivantsduCodecivil
[duBas-Canada].
Iln’yaaucunedispositiondanslecontratR-1intervenuentrelefailliet
l’intiméequiinterditcettecession.
Lathèseavancéeparl’intiméedanssonmémoire,àl’effetques’ilya
reconnaissancedecettecession,ilyauraviolationdesrèglementsinternes
derépartitionliantlarequéranteentantquemembreéditeuretlaCapac,
nesauraitêtreretenueparleTribunal.
C’estensaqualitédemembreéditeurquelarequéranteasignéson
contratavecl’intiméeetnoncommeauteuroucompositeur.Comme
membreéditeur,ellereçoitdonclamoitiédesdroitsd’exécutionpublique
desœuvresfaisantpartiedesonrépertoire,etce,conformémentàson
contrat.Or,cen’estpasentantquemembredelaCapacqu’elles’est
portéeacquéreurducataloguedesœuvresdufailli,maiscommeun
simpleacheteur.
Lefaitquelarequérantesoitelle-mêmeàcontratavecl’intiméene
changerienàlasituation,carcen’estpasaumêmetitre.Parcettevente,
larequérantenepossèdequelesdroitsdufailli,riendeplus:soit25pour-
centcommeauteur,25pour-centcommecompositeuret50pour-cent
commemembreéditeur,envertudesoncontrat.Ilyadoncrespectdes
règlementsdelaCapac.
Dansl’opinionduTribunal,l’intiméen’estpaspropriétairedudroit
d’exécutionpubliquedesœuvresdufailli.Sonrôleconsisteàpercevoirdes
droitsd’exécutionpublique,desœuvresdemembresqu’ellegèreetdeles
distribuersuivantdesproportionsdéjàétablies.Safonctionenestunede
gestionnaire.[atpp.404-405]

2.DeGrootev.ÉditionsMartellLtée(1982),J.E.82-439,RenaudJ.(Que.
Sup.Ct.).
AucunedispositionlégaleouconventionnellenelielaBanqueMercantile
duCanadaàl’auteur.L’objetdelagarantieobtenueparlaBanque

 
MercantileduCanadapourleremboursementduprêtconsentiàl’éditeur
n’apasétélacessiondedroitd’auteurdudemandeurmaisleslivres
reproduisantsonœuvre.
L’obligationdepayerdesdroitsd’auteurdécouledel’engagementde
l’éditeuretnondeceuxqui,parlasuite,seprocurentl’œuvredansles
coursordinairedesaffaires,saufenmatièredefailliteoùlaloiprévoit
spécifiquementuneexception.[atp.5]
Deplus,l’entente,envertudelaquellel’auteurcédaitsondroitd’auteurà
l’éditeur,prévoitqu’aucasde“défautparl’éditeurd’effectuerle
paiementdesdroitsd’auteurappropriéaprèsundélaid’unanetmiseen
demeuredel’auteurconstitueunerupturedelaprésenteconvention.
L’auteurrecouvrealorslesdroitsd’auteurcédésenvertudesprésentes
sanscependantquelesdroitsauparavantcédésàdestiersensoient
affectés.”(lessoulignéssontdusoussigné)
Cetteclausepermetàl’auteurdereprendrepossessiondesondroit
d’auteuretdemettrefinàl’association,enplusd’exigerlepaiementdes
droitsd’auteurdusparl’éditeur,maisneprocureaucunprivilègeàl’auteur
surlesdroitsquel’éditeurapucéderauparavantàdestiers.[atp.7]

3.ReLeGroupeMorrowInc.v.Lafabriqued’imageltée(1992),[1993]
R.J.Q.161(Q.S.C.).
Section83(2)permitsthetrusteeofabankruptpublishertosellorauthorize
thesaleofaworkwhichatthetimeofthebankruptcyhadbeenpublished
andputonthemarket,subjecttotheobligationofremittingtotheauthor
such“royaltiesorshareofprofits”aswouldhavebeenpayabletothelatter
wereitnotforthebankruptcy.(…)
Secondly,thereisnoquestionhereofroyaltiesorshareofprofitsbythe
bankrupt;therewasafirmcontractpricecommitmentasbetweenthe
bankruptandthepetitioner.Afixedfeeisnotaroyaltyasweshallsee
shortly.[atp.164]

4.Neudorfv.NettwerkProductionsLtd.(2000),8C.P.R.(4th)154,Cohen
J.(B.C.S.C.-Costs).
[3]Inthisapplication,thedefendantsseektwoorders.Oneisforspecial
costs,oralternativelyincreasedcosts,oralternativelycostsonscale5,and
doublecosts.Theotherhastodowiththefactthattheplaintifffiledan
assignmentinbankruptcyonApril11,2000.Theamountofthedefendants’
claimforcostsisshownas“unknown”ontheplaintiff’sStatementofAffairs.
Inordertoprovetheirclaimagainsttheplaintiff’sestate,thedefendants’
claimforcostsmustbequantified.Accordingly,thedefendantsseekan
orderanddeclarationthatsection69.3oftheBankruptcyandInsolvency
Act,R.S.C.1985,c.B-3(the“Act”),nolongeroperatesinrespecttothe
defendantspursuanttosection69.4oftheAct.[…]
[4]AccordingtotheaffidavitofMs.JenniferL.Conkie,thedefendants’
counsel,swornMay4,2000,thedefendantswishtoobtainarulingontheir



entitlementtocostswithoutfurtherdelayandthereforeseekaliftingofthe
stayforthatpurpose.
[6]Dealingfirstthenwiththedefendants’applicationtoliftthestay,that
applicationisgrantedonthebasisoftheauthorityinFairviewElectronics
Ltd.v.DeBoerInternationalLimited(1983),48C.B.R.(N.S.)102(Ont.S.C.).
SeealsoPossianv.CanadianOlympicAssn.(13March1998),TorontoT-884-
96(Fed.T.D.),[1998]F.C.J.No.361(QL).InFairview,afterthedefendantwas
awardeditscostsoftheactiontheplaintiffbecameabankrupt.Thetrustee
inbankruptcysubmittedatthetaxationofthedefendant’scoststhatthe
taxationshouldnotproceedbecauseitwasstayedbytheAct.Inholding
thatthetaxationwasnottobestayed,Donkin,TaxingOffice,said,inpart,
asfollows(atpp.102-103):

Counselforthetrusteeinbankruptcyoftheplaintiffappearedas
amicuscuriaeandsubmittedthatthetaxationshouldnotproceed
becauseitwasstayedbys.49(1)oftheBankruptcyAct,R.S.C.1970,
c.B-3.Thatsectionreadsinpart:
…uponthebankruptcyofanydebtor,nocreditorwithaclaim
provableinbankruptcy…shallcommenceorcontinueany
action,executionorotherproceedingsfortherecoveryofa
claimprovableinbankruptcy…unlesswiththeleaveofthe
court…[Theitalicsaremine].

Itisclearthatthisactionisnotan“actionfortherecoveryofaclaim
provableinbankruptcy”becauseitisnotanactionagainstadebtor
whoisnowbankrupt,butratheranactionbyapersonwhoisnow
bankruptinwhichheattemptedtoestablishaclaim.
Counselforthetrusteesuggestedthatthetaxationitselfwasa
“proceedingtorecoveraclaimprovableinbankruptcy”.Irejectthis
submissiononthreegrounds.First,theactionitselfiswhatisstayedor
notstayed;noteachstepintheaction.Secondly,Iquestionwhether
anunquantifiedclaimforcostsisa“claimprovableinbankruptcy”.
Thirdly,thetaxationitselfisnota“proceedingfortherecovery”ofa
claim,butmerelyasteptoquantifythatclaimwhichhasalready
beenestablished.

5.KeddyMotorInnsLtd.,Re,2000CarswellNS286,NunnJ.(N.S.S.C.[In
Chambers]).
[1]ThisisanappealbytheSocietyofComposers,AuthorsandMusic
PublishersofCanada(“SOCAN”)fromthedisallowancebytheTrusteeofa
claimagainstthebankruptestatebySOCAN.
[17]Itisnotunreasonabletoconcludethattheacceptanceofthepost-
datedchequesandachequeforcostswould,inthesecircumstances,
amounttoacompletesatisfactionofthatpartofthesettlement
agreement.Theresult,ofcourse,isthatthebankruptisentitledtoa
satisfactionpiecereleasingthewholeofthejudgmentandnoclaimfor
profitsunderthejudgmentsurvives.


[18]IfIamwronginmyinterpretationofthecontractIwouldstillfind
againstSOCANonthebasisofestoppel.SOCAN’sconductthroughoutthe
periodinvolvedherewithregardtotheagreement,alreadydiscussed,and
itsfailuretoinvokeanyoftheprovisionsforthetimelyresolutionofany
problemsrelatingtopastamountswithwhichitwasconcernedtogether
withtheacceptanceofthevariouspost-datedchequesandthecheque
forpaymentofcosts,itsfailuretosubmittotheReferencedirectedinthe
judgment,anditsfailuretoevenmentionanyintentiontopursueaclaim
forprofitsunderthejudgmentdirectlyuntilverylateintherelationshipall
operatetocreateanestoppel.ItwouldnotbejusttopermitSOCANto
claimthisverylargesumofmoneyundertheaegisthataclaimforprofits
underthejudgmentstillexists.InmyviewSOCANisestoppelfromasserting
thisclaim.
[23]Inmyviewitwouldbemostunfairtosimplyassesstheamountclaimed
bySOCANastheamountofdamagesundertheprofitsaspectofthe
judgment.Itwouldbeunfairtothebankruptwhenotherevidencemight
verywellbeproducedbytheTrusteebutalsoitwouldbeunfairtothe
othercreditors.
[24]Therefore,toconclude,ratherthanassessthisdamageclaimIwould
order,ifmydismissaloftheclaimweresetaside,thattherebean
assessmentofdamagesintheSupremeCourtofNovaScotiatodetermine
theactualprofitsearnedwhichareattributabletotheprofitsaspectofthe
judgmentfortheperioditrelatedto
.

6.SongCorp.Re(2002),19C.P.R.(4th)235,SpenceJ.(Ont.S.C.J.
[CommercialList]).
[24]Section83oftheActappliesonlyto“theauthor’smanuscriptandany
copyrightoranycopyrightinterestinwholeorpartassignedto”abankrupt
person.(Emphasisadded).Asamatterofgrammar,thephrase“assigned
to[abankruptperson]”modifieseachofthesubjects“manuscript”,
“copyright”and“copyrightinterest”becausethereisnootherconnective
betweenthosesubjectsandthe“bankruptperson”.So,thesectiononly
appliesinrespectofsuchpropertyintereststhathavebeenacquiredby
wayofassignmentfromanother.Thisapplicationofthesectionisalso
evidentfromthedesignoftheoperativepartsoftheprovision,whichdeal
withtherespectiveinterestsoftheassigneebankruptsandtheassignor
authors.Accordingly,thesectionwouldnotapplytocopyrightinterestsof
thetypementionedin(b)above[i.e.,Copyrightinterestsinsound
recordingsbyreasonofbeingthemakerofsuchrecordings,pursuanttos.
18(1)oftheCopyrightAct.],becausethoseinterestsareacquiredthrough
theoriginatingactivityofmaking,andnotbywayofassignmentfrom
another.
[25]Onthisbasis,theresultcouldbethatthecompanies’copyrights,as
maker,inthesoundrecordingsisnotsubjecttos.83but(subjecttowhatis
saidbelow)itsinterestintheassignedcopyrightstothemusicalworksis
subjecttos.83.
[28]Itwassubmittedhats.83appliesonlytobooksandwrittenworksand
nottomusicalworks.Theterm“manuscript”mayormaynotreadilyfitthe



musicindustry,buts.83isnotlimitedtomanuscripts.Itappliestocopyrights
andcopyrightinterests.Thesearerecognizedins.3oftheCopyrightActto
pertaintomusicalworks,amongothers.Theterm“publisher”isusedins.83,
butthattermisnotlimitedbytheCopyrightActtobookpublishers.Indeed
itisusedins.3oftheCopyrightActinrespectofmusicalworks.
[29]Thewords“putintotype”ins.83(1)wouldseemnottoapplyveryaptly
tothemusicindustry.Indeed,withchangesintechnology,theymaynot
applyveryaptlytobookpublishing.Areadingofs.83initsentiretysuggests
thatitisintendedtodealwithcopyrightinterestsgenerally,without
distinctionastokind.Soitwouldseemundulyrestrictivetoallowthewords
“putintotype”tonarrowtheapplicationofthesectiontoexcludemusical
works,withoutthemostcarefulconsideration.
[30]Intheschemeofs.83(1),ifaworkhas“beenputintotypeand
expenseshavebeenincurredbythebankrupt”,para.(b),enablesthe
bankrupttorecoverthoseexpenseseitherfromtheauthororbycarrying
outtheoriginalcontract.Itappearsthattheintentisthat,ifthebankrupt
hadincurredexpensesthatresultedinworkproductspecifictothe
productionoftheworkinquestionforpurposesofitspublicmarketing(as
opposedto,say,generaloverheadexpenses),thoseexpensesshouldbe
recoverable.
[31]Thisintentmaynotbeexpressedaswellaspossibleinthesection,
havingregardtochangesintechnologyanddifferingpracticesof
productioninrespectofdifferentkindsofcopyrightworks.Thatshouldnot
beallowedtoimpedethereasonableapplicationoftheAct.

7.SongCorp.Re(2002),19C.P.R.(4th)235,SpenceJ.(Ont.S.C.J.
[CommercialList]).
[35]TheTrusteesubmitsthat,onthebasisoftheinitialpartofs.83(2),i.e.the
partpriortopara.(a),s.83(2)istobeinterpretedasgrantingonlyrightsto
sellcopiesoftheworkandtoperformtheworkandnottootheraspectsof
copyrightwhichareequallyimportantinthecaseofmusicalworks,suchas
thesynchronizationoftheworkincinematographicalworks.Section83(2)
cannotbeinterpretedinapiecemealfashion.Whenreadinitsentirety,s.
83(2)must,likeallprovisionsoftheAct,bereadinthelightofs.67ofthe
Actwhichvestsallofthebankrupt’spropertyintheTrustee.Section83(2)
doesnotpurporttolimittheapplicationofs.67inthecaseofcopyright
interests,butonlytoprovideforthewaysinwhichtheTrusteemayrealize
uponthoseinterests.Specifically,inrespectofaproposedassignmentby
theTrusteetoathirdparty,s.83(2)(b)imposesnorestrictionsonthenature
ortheaspectsoftheconstituentcopyrightintereststhatmaybeassigned
butonlyontheconditionsthatmustbesatisfiedforanassignmenttobe
permitted.Inthepresentcase,theTrusteeseekstorealizeonthecopyright
interestsbyassigningthemtotheproposedbuyer;subjecttowhatissaid
below,thisisconsistentinprinciplewiththeschemeins.83(2).
[36]TheTrusteesubmitsthats.83(2)(c)wouldworkahardshipuponthe
Trusteebyleavingitwithoutcompensationfortheamountspreviouslypaid
bythebankruptcompanies.Itisnotevidenthowthesituationwouldbe
differentfromthatofabankruptbookpublisherinsuchcircumstances.


Section83(2)(c)comesintooperationonlyaftertherequirementsof
subparas.83(2)(a)and(b)havebeencompliedwithandsatisfied.

8.SongCorp.Re(2002),19C.P.R.(4th)235,SpenceJ.(Ont.S.C.J.
[CommercialList]).
[47](…)Herethequestiontobeaddressedconcernstheproper
applicationofs.83incircumstancesinvolvingthemusicindustry.Nothingin
thetermsofs.83byitselfsuggeststhecourtistoexerciseadiscretionasto
howthecompetinginterestsofauthorsandothercreditorsaretobe
weighed,forpurposesofdeterminingwhethertheActappliestocopyright
interestsinthemusicindustry.Indeed,areadingofs.83suggeststhaton
thecontrary,Parliamenthastriedtosetoutaregimeapplicabletoall
assignedcopyrightinterestsregardlessoftheparticularindustryinvolved
andthatthecourtisdirectedtofollowthatregime.Itiscorrectlysaidthatin
interpretingandapplyingtheBankruptcyandInsolvencyActthecourt
shouldtrytoachievearesultthatmakessensecommercially,butthat
admonitionshouldnotbetakenasaninvitationtothecourttoexercisea
discretionaryauthoritytobalancecompetinginterestswherethestatutory
provisiondoesnotcreatesuchanauthoritywithreferencetotheparticular
matterinissue.

§6.2UnitedKingdom
1.Millarv.Taylor(1769),4Burr.2303,WillesJ.(K.B.).
Thisisnotthecaseofanunpublishedmanuscripttakeninexecutionby
creditors,orclaimedbyassigneesunderacommissionagainstabankrupt-
author.Whenaquestionofthatsortarises,theCourtwillconsiderwhatis
right.Andthesamequestionmayequallyariseuponthetermgrantedby
theActofParliament.Andthereforethisisnotadoubtwhichsubsists
merelyonthecommonlawright.
Ifthecopyofthebookbelongedtotheauthor,thereisnodoubtbutthat
hemighttransferittotheplaintiff.Andiftheplaintiff,bythetransfer,is
becometheproprietorofthecopy,thereisaslittledoubtthatthe
defendanthasdone
himaninjury,andviolatedhisright:forwhich,
thisactionistheproperremedy.[atp.2311]

2.Gibsonv.Carruthers(1842),8M.&W.343,AbinjerJ.(Ex.).
Suppose,forexample,thatamanofwealth,bywayofencouraging
bankerswhomhewishestopatronize,shouldagreewiththemforacertain
termofyearstokeephiscashwiththem,uponthefaithofwhich
agreementtheytakeashop,purchasestrongboxes,andincurother
expensesnecessarytocarryonthetrade.Upontheirbankruptcy,their
assigneeswouldsurelyhavenorighttoinsistuponkeepinghiscashforthe
remainderoftheterm,orupontheirrighttofindhimabanker.Aninstance
ofanotherkind,butdependingonthesameprinciple,occurredbetween
thelateSirWalterScottandhisbooksellers,whohadbecomebankrupts.


Hehadengagedtowriteanovel,whichtheyweretohavethebenefitof
publishing,inconsiderationofwhichtheyweretopayhim£4000,forwhich
theyhadgivenhimtheiracceptancesinanticipation.Beforetheworkwas
finishedtheybecamebankrupt,whereuponSirWalterScotttookupallthe
billshehadnegotiated.Upontheconclusionofhiswork,whenitwasready
forthepress,theassigneescontended,thatbyvirtueofthecontractthey
hadarighttotheprofitofpublishingit,whichtheywerereadyto
undertake.SirWalterScottsuggestedseveralgroundstoshowthatthe
credit,theskill,thejudgment,integrity,andpersonalcharacterand
reputationofapublisherweremattersofgreatimportancetoanauthor,
onwhichthesuccessandreputationofhisworksmightgreatlydepend,
andthereforeinsistedthat,theconsiderationforhiscontracthaving
respecttothepersonalcreditandqualitiesofthebookseller,hewasby
theirbankruptcydischargedfromhiscontract.Imustownthathisreasoning
appearedsatisfactorytome;butamoreobviousillustrationoftheprinciple
onwhichitrestedwouldhavebeenaffordedbyreversingthecase,and
supposingthatSirWalterScotthadbeenthebankruptandhisbooksellers
solvent,wouldtheyhavebeencontenttopaytheir£4000,andtaketherisk
ofpublishinganovelwrittenbytheassigneesofthenovelist?Without,
therefore,presumingtosuggestanyrulethatwouldgovernallpossible
contractsupontheeventoftheinsolvencyofeitherparty,Ishallconfine
myselftothesinglecaseofacontractforthesaleofgoods,wherethe
bankruptcyorinsolvencyofthebuyerintervenesbeforetheperiodforthe
paymenthasarrived,andbeforethegoodshavecometotheactual
possessionofthebuyerorhisassignees,ortotheultimateplaceoftheir
destination.Inotherwords,Iconfinemyselftothesinglecasewherethe
rightofstoppageintransitu,afterthetransithascommenced,maybe
exercised;anditappearstomeveryplain,thatwhereverthatrightmaybe
exercised,itisaproof,afortiori,thatthevendorisdischargedbythe
insolvencyofthevendeefromtheobligationofdeliveringthegoodsatall,
andconsequentlyfromtheobligationofmakingthetransituscommence.
Ifitbenecessarytolookforanyprincipleonwhichthisrightdepends,it
maybefoundintheimpliedconditionineverysaleofgoods,thatthe
buyerifhelives,orhisestateifhedies,willbeabletopayforthem.Tohim
andtohisabilityalonethevendortrusts,andheisnotboundtotakethe
creditofanyotherman.Hemay,ifhethinkfit,dispatchthegoodstothe
assigneesupontheirrequest,andtakethemforhispaymasters;butifhe
doessohemakesanewcontractwiththem.Inthecasewherethevendor
isnottopartwithhispersonalpossessionofthegoodstillheispaid,itis
clearthatneitherthebankruptnorhisassigneescanhavethegoods
withoutpayment.Therecreditisnopartofthecontract,andthepositionof
thevendorisnotchangedbytheinsolvency.Butwherethegoodsareto
bepaidforatafutureday,orwherethevendoristopartwiththeactual
possessionofthembysendingthembyacarrier,thoughheistoreceive
themoneyupondeliveryaftertheirarrival,ineitherofthesecaseshetrusts
tothecreditofthebankrupt;theassigneesarenotboundtopayforthe
goodswhentheyarrive.Thevendorhasnotcontractedeithertogivethem
credit,ortotaketheriskoftheirresponsibilityortheirpleasure.Theonly
considerationforhisagreementtodispatchthegoodsisthecredithegives
tothepersonalabilityofthevendeetopayforthemwhentheyarrive,and
ifthatconsiderationfails,thecontractisvoidableathispleasure.[atpp.
343-345]



3.Barkerv.Stickney(1918),[1919]1K.B.121,ScruttonJ.andWarringtonJ.
(C.A.).
Inmyopiniontherightoftheappellantundertheoriginalassignmentof
January11,1912,restsincontractonly.Accordingtowell-knownprinciples
oflawhecannotenforceagainstanassigneeofhisgranteetheobligations
enteredintobyhisgranteeintheoriginalassignment.Thisistrueinequityas
wellasatlaw.Theequitableprincipleinaccordancewithwhichrestrictive
covenantsareenforcedagainstapurchaserwithnoticeisconfinedstrictly
tosuchcovenants,anddoesnotextendtoaffirmativecovenants:
Haywoodv.BrunswickBuildingSociety[(1881)8Q.B.D.403].Theappellant,
however,insiststhatheisentitledroyaltiesbeingpaid,andonlyassignable
iftheyareprovidedfor.Asthepresentcasestandstheappellantfails,and
theappealmustbedismissed.[WarringtonJ.,atpp.128-129]
WhenIlookatthisparticulardocumentIseethatthetransfereeswereto
bethesoleownersofthecopyrightinconsiderationof1500sharesand
futureroyalties,someofwhichhavenoreferencetothepricerealisedon
sale,becausetheyareinrespectofcopiesgivenaway.Readingthe
documentcarefully,Ifindinitnointentiontoreservetothetransferorany
interest,legalorequitable,inthechoseinactiontransferred.Consequently
thereisnoequitablechargeinthenatureofavendor’slienwhichthe
Courtcanenforcewhenthechoseinactionisinthehandsofsomeonenot
apartytotheinstrument.Itissaidthatthisleavesauthorsinadifficult
position,becauseausualwayofpublishingbooksistoassignthecopyright
inconsiderationofroyalties.Aninstanceofthishardshipcamebeforethe
CourtsinInreRichards[[1907]2K.B.33],wherethetransfereeofthe
copyrightbecamebankrupt;anditwasheld,inaccordancewithlegal
principles,thatthetrusteeinbankruptcycouldnotbemadetopaythe
royalties.Thiswasremediedbys.60oftheBankruptcyAct,1914.Authors
mightperhapsseeksimilarprotectionagainstassigneeswhopublishwithout
payingtheroyalties.Otherwiseletthemkeepthecopyrightthemselves,
andassignnomorethanarighttopublishconditionaluponroyaltiesbeing
paid,andonlyassignableiftheyareprovidedfor.[ScruttonJ.,atpp.133-
134]

4.ReRichards:ExparteDeeping,[1907]2K.B.33,BighamJ.(K.B.D.).
Ithinkthisapplicationmustbedismissed.Mr.Deepingwroteabook,and
hewasentitledtothecopyrightofthatbook;thatwasallthepropertythat
hepossessed.Hethendesiredtosellit,andhesoldthecopyrighttoMr.
GrantRichards,whowasapublisher,bytheagreementofApril23,1903.
Thefirstclauseofthatagreementisinthesewords.[Thelearnedjudgeread
theclause,andcontinue:—].NowbythosewordsIthinkMr.Deeping
divestedhimselfoftheonlypropertyhehadinthebook,namely,theentire
copyright.Hestipulatedforapricetobepaidforthatwhichhewasselling,
justasamanwhoissellinggoodswouldstipulateforthepricetobepaid
forhisgoods.Thepricewastodependuponcertainevents,andwasto
varyaccordingtothoseevents.Mr.GrantRichardsthenbecamea
bankrupt.Whatistheeffectofthat?Inmyopiniontheeffectistovestinthe
trusteethatwhichwasvestedinthebankrupt,namely,thepropertyinthe


copyrighttodowithitwhathepleased.Thecontractualobligationwhich
hadbeencreatedbythecontractformsthebasisofaclaimagainstthe
bankrupt,forwhichMr.Deepingcanproveagainsttheestate.Theamount
oftheproofmaybedifficulttoascertain.Itmustbeascertainedwith
referencetothedamageswhichMr.Deepingmaybesaidtohave
sustainedbythebreachofcontracttopaytheroyalties.Forthepurposes
ofthiscaseIregardthetransactionasanalogoustoasaleofgoodsupon
thetermsthattheyaretobepaidforaccordingtodifferentscalesin
differentevents.Mr.Deeping’sclaim,therefore,mustbelimitedtoaclaim
forthedamageshehassustainedbythebreachoftheagreement.[atp.
35]

5.PerformingRightSocietyLtd.v.Rowland,[1997]AllE.R.336,WalkerJ.
(Eng.Ch.Div.).
[
50]Inowcomebacktotheimportantissueofthepre-bankruptcyworks.I
havealreadysetoutmypreliminaryviewthattherighttodistributionsfrom
theSocietyinrespectofcompletedpre-bankruptcyworksis(inlinewithRe
Trytel[(1952)2TLR32])atransmissiblepropertyright,notdependingonthe
performanceoffurtherobligationsonthepartofthewriter-member,andso
vestinginthetrusteeonhisappointment.
[52]ThesecondsubmissionseemstometoshowamisunderstandingofRe
Trytel[(1952)2TLR32].Inthatcasethecomposerhadnotassignedhis
copyrights(existingorfuture)tothiscompany,buthadmadeanoral
agreement(recordedinaminute)that“allincomeaccruingtohim
personallyforfees,copyrights,royaltiesandperformingrightsinrespectof
hiscompositionsandwritingsshouldbetheincomeofthecompany.”Soin
thatcasethecomposeragreedtogiveupownershipofthefruitofthetree
withoutceasingtobetheownerofthetreeitself(exceptsofarashehad
passedthatownershiptotheSociety).

§7.0ListofCases
§7.1Canada
1.ChappelMusicLtd.v.GRTofCanadaLtd.(1979),45C.P.R.(2d)145
(F.C.T.D.);(1980),53C.P.R.(2d)196(F.C.T.D.—supplementaryreasonsfor
judgment).
2.DeGrootev.ÉditionsMartellLtée(1982),J.E.82-439(Que.Sup.Ct.).
3.ÉditionsMCSLtéev.Associationdescompositeurs,auteursetéditeurs
duCanadaltée,[1987]R.J.Q.403,11C.I.P.R.322(Que.Sup.Ct.).

4.Mortilv.InternationalPhasorTelecomLtd.(1988),23B.C.L.R.(2d)354
(B.C.Co.Ct.).


5.156694CanadaInc.v.Pfeiffer(1989),J.E.89-1429(Que.Sup.Ct.).
6.ReLeGroupeMorrowInc.v.Lafabriqued’imageltée(1992),[1993]
R.J.Q.161,22C.B.R.(3d)195(Que.Sup.Ct.);inappeal500-09-000028-
936(Que.C.A.).
7.FilmsRachelInc.,Re(1995),34C.B.R.(3d)303(Que.S.C.).
8.Lapointe(Faillitede)(1988),REJB98-09986(Que.Sup.Ct.).
9.Pinardc.157476CanadaInc.(syndic),[1996]A.Q.1008(Que.Sup.Ct.).
10.DistributionexclusiveDEPltéev.LesDisquesGamma(Québec)ltée,
[1999]J.Q.1497(Que.Sup.Ct.).
11.Neudorfv.NettwerkProductionsLtd.(2000),8C.P.R.(4th)154(B.C.S.C.-
Costs).
12.KeddyMotorInnsLtd.(Bankrupt)Re,2000CarswellNS286(N.B.S.C.).
13.SongCorp.,Re(2002),2002CarswellOnt5,SpenceJ.(Ont.S.C.J.-Hill
Reversion);(2002),19C.P.R.(4th)235,SpenceJ.(Ont.S.C.J.
[CommercialList]–Trustee’sMotion).
14.Proteau(syndicde)(2002),[2002]CarswellQue663(QueSupCt).

§7.2UnitedKingdom
1.Millarv.Taylor(1769),4Burr.2303,98E.R.201,[1558-1774]AllE.R.
Reprint119(K.B.).
2.Mawmanv.Tegg(1826),2Russ.385(Ch.).
3.Gibsonv.Carruthers(1842),8M.&W.343,11L.J.Ex.139,151E.R.1061
(Ex.).
4.ReCurry:ExparteLever(1849),2Ir.Eq.R.382(Bankruptcy).
5.ReJohnson(1866),15W.R.160(Bankruptcy).
6.RePrince:ExparteGraves(1868),3L.R.642(Ch.App.).
7.Lucasv.Moncrieff(1905),21T.L.R.683,[1905-10]MacG.Cop.Cas.12
(Ch.D.).


8.ReSims:ExparteTheOfficialReceiver,[1907]2K.B.36(K.B.D.).
9.ReRichards:ExparteDeeping,[1907]2K.B.33,76L.J.K.B.643,96L.T.
712,[1905-10]MacG.Cop.Cas.82(K.B.D.).
10.Henhamv.AlstonRiversLtd.(1916),[1911-16]MacG.Cop.Cas.330
(Ch.D.).
11.MatthewBell&Co.Ltd.v.StanleyPaul&Co.Ltd.(1918),[1917-23]
MacG.Cop.Cas.504(CityofLondonCourt).
12.Barkerv.Stickney,[1918]2K.B.356(K.B.);aff’d(1918),[1919]1K.B.121,
88L.J.K.B.315,120L.T.172,62Sol.Jo.536,[1917-23]MacG.Cop.Cas.
68(C.A.).
13.Potterv.J.J.Bennett,Ltd.(1920),[1917-23]MacG.Cop.Cas.177(Ch.
D.).
14.ReHisMaster’sVoiceCopyright(1921),[1917-28]MacG.Cop.Cas.250
(Ch.D.).
15.ReHealthPromotion,Ltd.(1931),[1932]Ch.65,101L.J.Ch.790,146L.T.
211,[1928-35]MacG.Cop.Cas.473(Ch.D.).
16.ReTrytel:ExparteTheTrusteeofthePropertyoftheBankruptv.
PerformingRightSociety,Ltd.,[1952]2T.L.R.32,[1952]W.N.355(Ch.
D.).
17.PerformingRightSocietyLtd.v.Rowland,[1997]3AllE.R.336(Eng.Ch.
Div.).
§7.3UnitedStates
1.ReWaterson,Berlin&SnyderCo.(1929),36F.2d94,[1928-35]MacG.
Cop.Cas.232(N.Y.D.C.).
§7.4France
1.Nabokovv.TheOlympiaPress(1968),60R.I.D.A.144(C.A.Paris—1
re
chambre,1968.02.14);aff’d(1969),64R.I.D.A.143(Cassation
commerciale,1969.10.27).

 
§8.0Authors
§8.1Canada
§8.1.1Copyrightissues
1.BARIBEAU(Marc),Chroniquedejurisprudence:saisiededroits
d’auteur,inMémo’artMarch1991,vol.3,atno.34,atp.10.
2.BÉLANGER(PhilippeHenri),Incidencesdelafaillitesurlapropriété
intellectuelle(Montreal,AssociationduBarreaucanadien—Division
Québec),presentationmadeinMontrealon2001-03-15.
3.BÉLANGER(PhilippeHenri)etal.,Incidencesdelafaillitesurlapropriété
intellectuelle(2002),15-2Lescahiersdepropriétéintellectuelle415.
4.CARRIÈRE(Jean)etal,Propriétéintellectuelleetinsolvabilité:
cohabitationpossible?,inDeveloppementsrécentsenpropriété
intellectuelle(2002),servicedeFormationpermanenteduBarreaudu
Québec(Cowansville,Blais,2002).
5.CHROMECEK(Milan)etal.,WorldIntellectualPropertyGuide—
Canada(NewYork,MatthewBender,1991),atno.4[e].
6.CÔTÉ(PierreB.)etal.,LapropriétéintellectuelleauQuébec:
financementetréalisation(Montreal,McMasterMeighen,1998),at
pp.41-42.
7.DUBOIS(Martin),Laprotectiondesdroitsd’auteurencasdefaillite
(1989),3Revuejuridiquedesétudiantsdel’UniversitéLaval159.
8.DURANTAYE(LouisJosephdela),Traitédelafailliteenlaprovincede
Québecàl’usagedespraticiensetdescommerçants(Montréal,
Durantaye,1934),atp.259.
9.FOX(HaroldGeorge),TheCanadianLawandPracticerelatingto
LettersPatentforInventions,4thed.(Toronto,Carswell,1969),atpp.
312-313.
10.FOX(HaroldGeorge),TheCanadianLawofCopyright,1sted.
(Toronto,UniversityofToronto,1944),atpp.293-294,565-566.



11.FOX(HaroldGeorge),TheCanadianLawofCopyrightandIndustrial
Design,2nded.(TorontoCarswell,1967),atpp.295-296,565-568and
589-590.
12.FOX(HaroldGeorge),TheCanadianLawofTradeMarksandUnfair
Competition,3rded.(Toronto,Carswell,1972),atpp.267-269.
13.GOLD(E.Richard),PartialCopyrightAssignments,Safeguarding
SoftwareLicensesagainsttheBankruptcyofLicensors(2000),33
CanadianBusinessLawJournal193.
14.GOLICK(StevenG.)etal.,OverviewoftheInsolvencyProcessin
CanadaandSelectedIssuesConcerningIntellectualPropertyRights
undertheBankruptcyandInsolvencyAct,inChangesAffecting
IntellectualPropertyinCanada:ANorthAmericanPerspective
(Ottawa,CBA,1994),ch.3,atpp.16-18.
15.HOULDEN(LloydW.)etal.,BankruptcyLawofCanada,3rded.
(Toronto,Carswell,1989),undersection83.
16.HOULDEN(LloydW.)etal.,TheAnnotatedBankruptcyandInsolvency
Act,2002(Toronto,Carswell,2001),undersection83.
17.KNOPF(HowardP.),SecurityInterestsinIntellectualProperty:An
InternationalComparativeApproach,(Ottawa,LawCommisssionof
Canada,2001-10-31),atch5.;
http://www.lcc.gc.ca/en/themes/er/fsi/knopf/knopf_main.asp.
18.KYER(C.Ian),IntellectualPropertyAssetsinInsolvency(1991),8
BusinessandtheLaw45.
19.LAURENCE(HughG.),Repudiationoflicencesonbankruptcy(1986),3
CanadianComputerLawReporter59.
20.LAURENCE(HughG.),Softwareescrowagreements:PartTwo(1984),1
CanadianComputerLawReporter209.
21.NOTE,LégislationintérieureCanada—(1950),63LeDroitd’Auteur14.
22.McKEOWN(JohnS.)etal.,Copyright,inCanadianEncyclopaedic
Digest,3rdWesternEdition,(Toronto,Carswell,1991),Ch.35,atnos.95-
96.
23.MIGNAULT(Pierre-Basile),LaPropriétélittéraire(1881),3Thémis66.


24.REYES(Tony),MusicalWorks,SoundRecordingsandCopyrights-An
InterpretationofSection83oftheBIA(2002),14Commercial
InsolvencyReporter24.
25.SARNA(Lazar),AuthorsandPublishersAgreementsandLegalAspects
ofPublishing,1sted.(Toronto,Butterworths,1980),atpp.21-22,32-34.
26.TAMARO(Normand),Laloisurledroitd’auteurcommentéeet
annotée1995(Toronto,Carswell,1995),atpp.601-604.
27.TAMARO(Normand),LenouveauCodecivil,droitcommundes
contratsenmatièrededroitd’auteur(1993),96Revuedunotariat3,
atpp.40-44.
28.TAMARO(Normand),Ledroitd’auteur:fondementsetprincipes
(Montréal,P.U.M.,1994),atpp.198-201.
29.VAVER(David),Canada,inNIMMER(MelvilleB.)etal.ed.,
InternationalCopyrightLawandPractice(NewYork,MatthewBender,
1991),atno.4[e].
§8.1.2Constitutionalissues
1.BEAUDOIN(Gérald-A.),LaconstitutionduCanada(Montréal,Wilson&
Lafleur,1990),atpp.395-398.
2.BOHÉMIER(Albert),Lafailliteendroitconstitutionnelcanadien
(Montréal,P.U.M.,1972).
3.CARIGNAN(Pierre),Lacompétencelégislativeenmatièredefailliteet
d’insolvabilité(1979),57CanadianBarReview47.
4.DUBÉ(Marcel),Lepouvoirquébécoisdelégiférerenmatièrede
contratd’édition(1989),1Lescahiersdepropriétéintellectuelle317.
5.HOGG(PeterW.),ConstitutionalLawofCanada,3rded.(Toronto,
Carswell,1992),atch.25.
6.PELLAND(Léo),Problèmesdedroitconstitutionnel,PartieII:
Banquerouteetfaillite(1936),15Revuedudroit65.
7.ROMAN(AndrewJ.)etal.,TheConflictBetweenCanadianProvincial
PersonalPropertySecurityActsandtheFederalBankruptcyand
InsolvencyAct:TheWarisOver(1992),71CanadianBarReview77.



§8.1.3Interpretationissues
1.CÔTÉ(Pierre-André),TheInterpretationofLegislationinCanada,2nd
ed.(Cowansville,Blais,1992),atpp.282-292.
2.DRIEDGER(ElmerA.),ConstructionofStatutes,2nded.(Toronto,
Butterworths,1983),atpp.158-159.
§8.2UnitedKingdom
1.BELL(GeorgeJoseph),CommentariesontheLawsofScotlandandon
thePrinciplesofMercantileJurisprudence,4thed.(Edinburgh,
Constable,1821),vol.1,atp.68.
2.COPINGER(WalterArthur),TheLawofCopyrightinWorksofLiterature
andArt,2nded.(London,StevensandHaynes,1881),atpp.157-158,
610-612.
3.CORYTON(John),Stageright(London,Nutt,1873),atpp.74-77,80-82.
4.DRONE(EatonS.),ATreatiseontheLawofPropertyinIntellectual
ProductionsinGreatBritainandintheUnitedSates(Boston,Little
Brown,1879),atpp.314-322,343-361.
5.HALSBURY(Earlof),TheLawsofEngland(London,Butterworths,1909),
atpp.158-162.
6.HUNTER(Muir)etal.,WilliamsLawandPracticeBankruptcy,18thed.
(London,Stevens,1968),atpp.82-85,318-319and455.
7.LADDIE(Hugh)etal.,TheModernLawofCopyrightandDesigns,2nd
ed.(London,Butterworths,1995),atnos.12.13-12.18.
8.LESTER(David)etal.,Joynson-HicksonUKCopyrightLaw(London,
Sweet&Maxwell,1989),atnos.8.25-8.28.
9.MACGILLIVRAY(E.J.),ATreatiseupontheLawofCopyright(London,
Murray,1902),atp.83.
10.PHILLIPS(Charles)TheLawofCopyrightinWorksofLiteratureandArt
andintheApplicationofDesigns(London,Stevens,1863),atpp.16-
19.


11.ROBERTSON(GeorgeStuart),TheLawofCopyright(Oxford,
Clarendon,1912),atpp.89-90,146.
12.ROPER(Alma),Ringwood’sPrinciplesofBankruptcy,7thed.(London,
Sweet&Maxwell,1936),atpp.106-107.
13.SIMONDS(Lord),Halsbury’sTheLawsofEngland,3rded.(London,
Butterworths,1954),atno.764.
14.SKONEJAMES(EdmundPurcell)etal.,CopingerandSkoneJameson
Copyright,8thed.(London,Sweet&Maxwell,1948),atpp.104-105,
304-305and321-322.
15.SKONEJAMES(F.E.)etal.,CopingerandSkoneJamesontheLawof
Copyright,9thed.(London,Sweet&Maxwell,1958),atpp.122-125,
376-389and396-397.
16.SKONEJAMES(F.E.)etal.,CopingerandSkoneJamesontheLawof
Copyright,10thed.(London,Sweet&Maxwell,1965),atnos.344,989-
990and1028-1029.
17.SKONEJAMES(EdmundPurcell)etal.,CopingerandSkoneJameson
Copyright,11thed.(London,Sweet&Maxwell,1971),atnos.344,989-
990and1028-1029.
18.SKONEJAMES(EdmundPurcell)etal.,CopingerandSkoneJameson
Copyright,12thed.(London,Sweet&Maxwell,1980),atnos.334,394,
1159-1160and1201-1202.
19.SKONEJAMES(EdmundPurcell)etal.,CopingerandSkoneJameson
Copyright,13thed.(London,Sweet&Maxwell,1991),atno.5.5.
20.SHORTT(John),TheLawrelatingtoWorksofLiteratureandArt:
EmbracingtheLawofCopyright,theLawrelatingtoNewspapers,the
LawrelatingtoContractsbetweenAuthors,Publishers,Printers,and
theLawofLibel,2nded.(London,Reeves&Turner,1884),atpp.164-
165.
21.STERLING(J.A.L.),CopyrightLawintheUnitedKingdom,1sted.
(London,LegalBooks,1986),atno.437.
§8.3UnitedStates


1.AMDUR(LeonH.),CopyrightLawandPractice(NewYork,Clark
Boardman,1936),atpp.825-826.
2.BIGELOW(Robert),Copyrightsandsoftwarerights:Awinter’stale
(1991),8CanadianComputerLawReporter75,atpp.78-81.
3.COHEN(CharlesS.),Third-PartyComputerLeases;TheEffectofLessor’s
Bankruptcy(1986),6ComputerLawJournal573.
4.COHEN(LeslieA.),ASurveyofRecentBankruptcyDecisionsImpacting
UpontheEntertainmentIndustry,in1992-93Entertainment,Publishing
andtheArtsHandbook(NewYork,ClarkBoardmanCallaghan,1992),
atpp.405-423,spec.412-416.
5.CONLEY(JohnM.)RevisitingSection117oftheCopyrightAct:An
EconomicApproach,in11thAnnualComputerLawInstitute(NewYork,
PLI,1989),atpp.585-587.
6.COUNTRYMAN(Vern),ExecutoryContractsinBankruptcy:PartI(1973),
57MinnesotaLawReview439.
7.COUNTRYMAN(Vern),ExecutoryContractsinBankruptcy:PartII(1973),
58MinnesotaLawReview479.
8.CRAY(WilliamC.),SoftwareLicensingandtheBankruptcyLaw:EI
International,AFirstandConfusingInterpretationofthe11U.S.C.
§365(n)FixtoLubrizol(1992),9SoftwareProtection1.
9.DRABKIN(Murray)etal.,Specialproblemsincomputerindustry
bankruptciesandworkouts,inCanadianComputerLawInstitute1985
(NewYork,PLI,1985),atpp.885-969;reprintedin1987LicensingLaw
Handbook—ComputerSoftwareDistributionandAcquisitionIssues
(NewYork,ClarkBoardman,1987),atch.12.
10.ERICKSON(Brian),IsTurnaboutFairPlay?UsingBankruptcytoLevelthe
PlayingFieldBetweentheMusicIndustryandNewArtists,in
Entertainment,PublishingandtheArtsHandbook1999-2000Edition(St.
Paul,WestGroup,1999)403.
11.GERBER(DavidA.),IndustrialPropertyProtection:LicenceCan‘Rejecta
Rejection’,in1990Entertainment,PublishingandtheArtsHandbook
(NewYork,ClarkBoardman,1990),atpp.395-400.
12.HAAS(RaymondP.)etal.,HandlingDiminishedCashFlow:Bankruptcy-
ProofingSoftwareLicensesandEscrows,in1997LicensingLaw


Handbook—ComputerSoftwareDistributionandAcquisitionIssues
(NewYork,ClarkBoardman,1987),atch.13.
13.HEMNES(ThomasM.S.),ComputersoftwarelicensingoftheU.S.
enactmentoftheIntellectualPropertyBankruptcyProtectionAct:Part
One(1989),6CanadianComputerLawJournal65.
14.HEMNES(ThomasM.S.),ComputersoftwarelicensingoftheU.S.
enactmentoftheIntellectualPropertyBankruptcyProtectionAct:Part
Two(1989),6CanadianComputerLawJournal78.
15.HEMNES(ThomasM.S.),TheBankruptcyCode,TheCopyrightAct,and
TransactionsinComputerSoftware(1987),7CanadianComputerLaw
Journal327.
16.JULIS(MitchellR.)etal.,Bankruptcy:TheDeathofRecordingContracts
(1983),2CardozoArts&EntertainmentLawJournal189.
17.KUTTEN(L.J.),Feedback(SourceCodesEscrowsandBankruptcy)(1986),
9TheScottReportonComputerLaw4.
18.LEVY(LawrenceB.),ProtectionofIntellectualPropertyRightsin
Bankruptcy:ProposedLegislation(1987),2InternationalComputerLaw
Advisor20
19.NIMMER(MelvilleB.)etal.,NimmeronCopyright(NewYork,Matthew
Bender,1989),vol.3,atnos.10.04,10.12.
20.RADCLIFFE(Mark)etal.,DevelopmentsinSecuredFinancinginthe
EntertainmentIndustry,in1991Entertainment,PublishingandtheArts
Handbook(NewYork,ClarkBoardmanCallaghan,1991),atpp.15-26.
21.ROTSCHILD(Shelly),EntertainmentSoftware:HowtoProtectYourRights
asaLicenseeWhentheLicensorFilesforBankruptcyRelief,in
Entertainment,PublishingandtheArtsHandbook1999-2000Edition(St.
Paul,WestGroup,1999)453.
22.ROTSCHILD(Shelly),SwordorShield?:TheUseofBankruptcytoRejector
RenegotiatePersonalServiceContractsbyRecordingsArtists,Actors
andOtherPerformers,inVIERA(JohnDavid)etal.,ed,Entertainemnt,
PublishingandtheArtsHandbook(St-Paul,ThomsonWest,2002),pp.
409-418
23.WALD(Stuart),BankruptcyandPersonalServicesContracts:What
Works,WhatDoesn’t,andWhy,inEntertainment,Publishingandthe


ArtsHandbook1999-2000Edition(St.Paul,WestGroup,1999)435;
(1998),16-1EntertainmentandSportsLawyer.
24.WELLER(ReginaldH.)etal.,SoftwareEscrow:APracticalPrimer(1986),5
TheScottReportonComputerLaw5.
§8.4France
1.COLOMBET(Claude),Propriétélittéraireetartistiqueetdroitsvoisins,
4thed.(Paris,Dalloz,1988),atno.361.
2.COLOMBET(Claude),Propriétélittéraireetartistique,6thed.,Précis
Dalloz(Paris,Dalloz,1992),atpp.241-242.
3.CRIONNET(Marcel),Lesdroitsintellectuelsetlesrégimesmatrimoniaux
endroitfrançais(Paris,LGDJ,1975),atpp.201-202.
4.DESBOIS(Henri),Ledroitd’auteurenFrance,3rded.(Paris,Dalloz,
1978),atno.598.
5.DESBOIS(Henri),Ledroitd’auteurenFrance,2nded.(Paris,Dalloz,
1966),atnos.594-599.
6.LETARNEC(Alain),Manueldelapropriétélittéraireetartistique,2nd
ed.(Paris,Dalloz,1966),atno.134.
7.NION(Alfred),Droitscivilsdesauteurs,artistesetinventeurs(Paris,
Joubert,1846),atpp.124-126.
8.PLAISANT(Robert),Exercicedesdroitsdesauteurs—droitde
reproduction—contratd’éditiondesœuvreslittéraires,inJuris-
classeurPropriétélittéraireetartistique(Paris,éditionstechniques,
1984),fascicule330,atno.18.
9.POUILLET(Eugène),Traitéthéoriqueetpratiquedelapropriété
littéraireetartistiqueetdudroitdereprésentation,1sted.(Paris,LGJ,
1879),atnos.272,348,635and780.
§8.5Australia
1.LAHORE(James),IntellectualPropertyinAustralia:CopyrightLaw.
(Sydney,Butterworths,1988),atno.3.9.420.


2.RICKETSON(Staniforth),TheLawofIntellectualProperty(Melbourne,
LawBook,1984),atnos.13.94,13.122-13.124.
§8.6Varia
§8.6.1Law
1.BROWN(Arthur)etal.,TheLawofIntellectualPropertyinNewZealand
(Wellington,Butterworths,1989),atno.4.105.
§8.6.2Artandtechnique
1.MARTIN(Gérard),L’imprimerie,7thed.(Paris,PUF,1990).
§9.0ComparativeLegislation
§9.1ComparativeLegislation-Québec
§9.1.1AnActrespectingtheProfessionalStatusofArtistsintheVisualArts,Arts
andCraftsandLiterature,andtheirContractswithPromoters,S.Q.1988,c.69,
s.36:
Thecontract[betweenanartistandapromoterwhichhasaworkofthe
artistasitsobject]shallbeterminatedifthepromotercommitsanactof
bankruptcyorhasareceiverorderissuedagainsthimpursuanttothe
BankruptcyandInsolvencyAct(StatutesofCanada),ifhispropertyistaken
possessionaccordingtolawor,inthecaseofalegalperson,ifsuchlegal
personisliquidated.
§9.2ComparativeLegislation-UnitedKingdom
§9.2.1BankruptcyAct,1914,s.60:
60.Wherethepropertyofabankruptcomprisesthecopyrightinanywork
oranyinterestinsuchcopyright,andheisliabletopaytotheauthorofthe
workroyaltiesorashareoftheprofitsinrespectthereof,thetrusteeshallnot
beentitledtosell,orauthorisethesaleof,anycopiesofthework,orto
performorauthorisetheperformanceofthework,exceptonthetermsof
payingtotheauthorsuchsumsbywayofroyaltyorshareoftheprofitsas
wouldhavebeenpayablebythebankrupt,norshallhe,withoutthe
consentoftheauthororoftheCourt,beentitledtoassigntherightor
transfertheinterestortograntanyinterestintherightbylicence,except
upontermswhichwillsecuretotheauthorpaymentsbywayofroyaltyor
shareoftheprofitsataratenotlessthanthatwhichthebankruptwas
liabletopay.



§9.2.2InsolvencyAct,1986,c.45,Sch.11,s.15.
15.Whereapersonwhoisadjudgedbankruptonapetitionpresentedon
oraftertheappointeddayisliable,byvirtueofatransactionenteredinto
beforethatday,topayroyaltiesorashareoftheprofitstoanypersonin
respectofanycopyrightorinterestincopyrightcomprisedinthebankrupt’s
estate,section60oftheBankruptcyAct1914(limitationontrustee’spowers
inrelationtocopyright)appliesinrelationtothetrusteeofthatestateasit
appliesinrelationtoatrusteeinbankruptcyundertheActof1914.

§9.2.2InsolvencyAct,1986,c.45,Sch.11,s.15:
§9.3ComparativeLegislation-France
§9.3.1CopyrightAct,1957,s.61:
§9.3.1CopyrightAct,1957,s.61:

Nilafaillite,nilerèglementjudiciairedel’éditeurn’entraînentlarésolution
ducontrat.
Sil’exploitationdufondsestcontinuéeparlesyndic,danslesconditions
prévuesauxarticles61etsuivantsdudécretn°55-583du20mai1955,le
syndicesttenudetouteslesobligationsdel’éditeur.
Encasdeventedufondsdecommerce,danslestermesdel’article62du
décretn°55-583du20mai1955,l’acquéreurest,demême,tenudes
obligationsducédant.
Lorsquel’exploitationdufondsn’estpascontinuéeparlesyndicet
qu’aucunecessionduditfondsn’estintervenuedansledélaid’uneannéeà
partirdujugementdéclaratifdefaillite,lecontratd’éditionpeut,àla
demandedel’auteur,êtrerésilié.
Lesyndicnepeutprocéderàlaventeensoldedesexemplairesfabriqués
niàleurréalisationdanslesconditionsprévuesauxarticles61et62du
décretn°55-583du20mai1955,quequinzejoursaumoinsaprèsavoir
avertil’auteurdesonintention,parlettrerecommandéeavecdemande
d’accuséderéception.
L’auteurpossède,surtoutoupartiedesexemplaires,undroitde
préemption.Adéfautd’accord,leprixderachatserafixéàdired’experts.

§9.3.2Lecodedelapropriétéintellectuelle
ArticleL132-15
Leredressementjudiciairedel’éditeurn’entraînepaslarésiliationdu
contrat.

 
Lorsquel’activitéestpoursuivieenapplicationdesarticles31etsuivantsde
laloin°85-98du25janvier1985relativeauredressementetàlaliquidation
judiciairesdesentreprises,touteslesobligationsdel’éditeuràl’égardde
l’auteurdoiventêtrerespectées.
Encasdecessiondel’entreprised’éditionenapplicationdesarticles81et
suivantsdelaloin°85-98du25janvier1985précitée,l’acquéreuresttenu
desobligationsducédant.
Lorsquel’activitédel’entrepriseacessédepuisplusdetroismoisoulorsque
laliquidationjudiciaireestprononcée,l’auteurpeutdemanderlarésiliation
ducontrat.
Leliquidateurnepeutprocéderàlaventeensoldedesexemplaires
fabriquésniàleurréalisationdanslesconditionsprévuesauxarticles155et
156delaloin°85-98du25janvier1985précitéequequinzejoursaprès
avoiravertil’auteurdesonintention,parlettrerecommandéeavec
demanded’accuséderéception.
L’auteurpossède,surtoutoupartiedesexemplaires,undroitdepréemption.A
défautd’accord,leprixderachatserafixéàdired’expert.

ArticleL132-30
Leredressementjudiciaireduproducteurn’entraînepaslarésiliationdu
contratdeproductionaudiovisuelle.
Lorsquelaréalisationoul’exploitationdel’oeuvreestcontinuéeen
applicationdesarticles31etsuivantsdelaloin°85-98du25janvier1985
relativeauredressementetàlaliquidationjudiciairesdesentreprises,
l’administrateuresttenuaurespectdetouteslesobligationsduproducteur,
notammentàl’égarddescoauteurs.
Encasdecessiondetoutoupartiedel’entrepriseoudeliquidation,
l’administrateur,ledébiteur,leliquidateur,selonlecas,esttenud’établirun
lotdistinctpourchaqueoeuvreaudiovisuellepouvantfairel’objetd’une
cessionoud’uneventeauxenchères.Ilal’obligationd’aviser,àpeinede
nullité,chacundesauteursetdescoproducteursdel’oeuvreparlettre
recommandée,unmoisavanttoutedécisionsurlacessionoutoute
procéduredelicitation.L’acquéreurest,demême,tenuauxobligationsdu
cédant.
L’auteuretlescoauteurspossèdentundroitdepréemptionsurl’oeuvre,
saufsil’undescoproducteurssedéclareacquéreur.Adéfautd’accord,le
prixd’achatestfixéàdired’expert.
Lorsquel’activitédel’entrepriseacessédepuisplusdetroismoisoulorsque
laliquidationestprononcée,l’auteuretlescoauteurspeuventdemander
larésiliationducontratdeproductionaudiovisuelle.

§9.4ComparativeLegislation-Australia
§9.4.1BankruptcyAct1966,c.33,s.138:




138Limitationoftrustee©spowerinrespectofcopyright,patentsetc.
(1)Where:
(a)thepropertyofabankruptincludesrightsinrespectofindustrial
property;and
(b)thebankruptisliabletopayroyaltiesorashareofprofitstoapersonin
respectofthoserights;thetrusteeisnotentitled:
(c)toexercisethoserightsexceptuponconditionthatheorshepaysto
thatpersonsuchsumsbywayofroyaltyorshareofprofitsaswouldhave
beenpayablebythebankrupt;or
(d)withouttheconsentofthatpersonoroftheCourt,toassignortransfer,
orgrantanylicenceorpermissioninrespectof,thoserights,exceptupon
termsthatwillsecuretothatpersonpaymentsbywayofroyaltyorshareof
profitsataratenotlessthanthatatwhichthebankruptwasliabletopay.
(2)Inthissection:industrialpropertymeans:
(a)thecopyrightinanywork;
(b)apatentinrespectofaninvention;
(c)aregisteredtrademark;or
(d)thecopyrightinaregistereddesign.
registereddesignmeansadesignregisteredunderalawofthe
Commonwealthrelatingtoindustrialdesigns.
registeredtrademarkmeansatrademarkregisteredunderalawofthe
Commonwealthrelatingtotrademarks.
§9.5ComparativeLegislation-Germany
§9.5.1ActConcerningtheLawofPublicationofJune19,1901,s.36-37:
§36.[BankruptcyofthePublisher]
(1)Wherethepublisherisdeclaredbankrupt,theprovisionsofSection17of
theBankruptcyActshallapply,evenwheretheworkhadbeendelivered
beforethebankruptcyproceedingswerebegun.
(2)Wherethetrusteeinbankruptcyinsistsonthefulfilmentofthecontract
andtransferstherightsofpublishertoanotherperson,thetransfereeshall
becomeresponsible,inlieuofthebankruptestate,foralltheobligations
arisingoutofthecontract.Thebankruptestate,howevershallbeliable,in
themannerofasuretywhohaswaivedtheright,torequirethatrecourse
firstbetakenagainsttheprimaryobligor,fordamagestobepaidbythe
transferee,ifthetransfereedoesnotfulfilhisobligations.Wherethe
proceedingsinbankruptcyareterminated,securitymustbegivenforthe
claimsoftheauthoragainstthebankruptestate,growingoutofitsliability.
(3)Whereatthetimeofcommencingthebankruptcyproceedings,the
multiplicationhadnotbegun,theauthormayrescindthecontract.
§37.[ProvisionsRelatingtotheRescissionofContracts]


TheprovisionsofSections346to356oftheCivilCode,relativetothe
rescissionofcontracts,shallapplytotherightofrescissionprovidedin
Sections17,30,35and36.Whererescissiontakesplacethrougha
circumstanceforwhichtheotherpartyisnottobeheldresponsible,such
partyshallbeliableonlyinaccordancewiththeprovisionsrelativeto
restitutionforunjustenrichment.
§9.6Belgium
§9.6.1Loidu30juin1994relativeaudroitd©auteuretauxdroitsvoisins,
article30
Encasdefaillite,d’octroid’unconcordatoudemiseenliquidationde
l’entreprisedel’éditeur,l’auteurpeutdénoncerimmédiatementlecontrat
original,parplirecommandéàlaposteavecaccuséderéception.
Touslesexemplaires,copiesoureproductionsquifontl’objetdudroit
d’auteurdoivent,depréférence,êtreoffertsàl’achatàl’auteur,
moyennantunprixqui,encasdedésaccordentrelecurateuretl’auteur,
seradéterminéparlejugesaisi,àlarequêtedelapartielaplusdiligente,le
curateuroul’auteurdûmentappelés,et,lecaséchéant,suravisd’unou
plusieursexperts.
L’auteurperdsondroitdepréférences’ilnefaitpasconnaîtreaucurateur
savolontéd’enfaireusagedanslestrentejoursdelaréceptiondel’offre.
L’offreetl’acceptationdoiventêtrefaites,souspeinedenullité,parexploit
d’huissierouparplirecommandéàlaposteavecaccuséderéception.
L’auteurdel’oeuvrepourrarenonceràsondroitdepréférence,parexploit
d’huissierouparplirecommandéàlaposteadresséaucurateur.
Lorsqu’ilaétérecouruàlaprocédureprévueàl’alinéa2,l’auteurpourra
renoncer,selonlesmêmesvoies,àl’offrequiluiestfaitedansundélaide
quinzejours,àdaterdelanotifocationquiluiserafaite,souspli
recommandéàlaposte,parleoulesexpertsdelacopiecertifiée
conformedurapport.
Lesfraisd’expertiseserontpartagésentrelamasseetl’auteur.




ROBIC,ungrouped’avocatsetd’agentsdebrevetsetdemarquesdecommercevoué
depuis1892àlaprotectionetàlavalorisationdelapropriétéintellectuelledanstousles
domaines:brevets,dessinsindustrielsetmodèlesutilitaires;marquesdecommerce,marques
decertificationetappellationsd’origine;droitsd’auteur,propriétélittéraireetartistique,droits
voisinsetdel’artisteinterprète;informatique,logicielsetcircuitsintégrés;biotechnologies,
pharmaceutiquesetobtentionsvégétales;secretsdecommerce,know-howet
concurrence;licences,franchisesettransfertsdetechnologies;commerceélectronique,
distributionetdroitdesaffaires;marquage,publicitéetétiquetage;poursuite,litigeet
arbitrage;vérificationdiligenteetaudit;etce,tantauCanadaqu’ailleursdanslemonde.La
maîtrisedesintangibles.
ROBIC,agroupoflawyersandofpatentandtrademarkagentsdedicatedsince1892tothe
protectionandthevalorizationofallfieldsofintellectualproperty:patents,industrialdesigns
andutilitypatents;trademarks,certificationmarksandindicationsoforigin;copyrightand
entertainmentlaw,artistsandperformers,neighbouringrights;computer,softwareand
integratedcircuits;biotechnologies,pharmaceuticalsandplantbreeders;tradesecrets,
know-how,competitionandanti-trust;licensing,franchisingandtechnologytransfers;e-
commerce,distributionandbusinesslaw;marketing,publicityandlabelling;prosecution
litigationandarbitration;duediligence;inCanadaandthroughouttheworld.Ideaslive
here.
COPYRIGHTER
IDEASLIVEHERE
ILATOUTDEMÊMEFALLUL’INVENTER!
LAMAÎTRISEDESINTANGIBLES
LEGERROBICRICHARD
NOSFENÊTRESGRANDESOUVERTESSURLEMONDEDESAFFAIRES
PATENTER
R
ROBIC
ROBIC+DROIT+AFFAIRES+SCIENCES+ARTS
ROBIC++++
ROBIC+LAW+BUSINESS+SCIENCE+ART
THETRADEMARKERGROUP
TRADEMARKER
VOSIDÉESÀLAPORTÉEDUMONDE,DESAFFAIRESÀLAGRANDEURDELAPLANÈTE
YOURBUSINESSISTHEWORLDOFIDEAS;OURBUSINESSBRINGSYOURIDEASTOTHEWORLD

LAURENTCARRIÈRELAURENTCARRIÈRELAURENTCARRIÈRELAURENTCARRIÈRELAURENTCARRIÈRE
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