Correction of Clerical Errors in the Copyright Office – Comments on Section 61 of the Canadian Copyright Act
CORRECTIONOFCLERICALERRORSINTHECOPYRIGHTOFFICE
COMMENTSONSECTION61OFTHECANADIANCOPYRIGHTACT
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
1.0RelatedSections
2.0RelatedRegulations
3.0PriorLegislation
3.1CorrespondingSectioninPriorLegislation
3.2LegislativeHistory
3.2.1S.C.1921,c.24,s.42.
3.2.2S.C.1923,c.10,s.4.
3.2.3R.S.C.1927,c.32,s.43.
3.2.4R.S.C.1952,c.55,s.43.
3.2.5R.S.C.1970,c.C-30,s.43.
3.2.6R.S.C.1985,c.C-42,s.61.
3.2.7S.C.1991,c.1,s.52.
4.0Purpose
5.0Commentary
5.1ErrorsoftheOffice.
5.2ComparisonwithOtherStatutes.
5.2.1IndustrialDesignAct,R.S.C.1985,c.I-9,s.20:
5.2.2PatentAct,R.S.C.1985,c.P-4,s.8:
5.2.3Trade-MarksRegulations(1996),SOR/96-195,rule33:
5.2.4IntegratedCircuitsTopography,R.S.C.1985,c.I-14.6,s.19(4):
5.2.5PlantBreedersRightsAct,R.S.C.1985,c.P-14.6,s.66(1):
5.2.6PatentRules,rule141:
5.2.7PatentRules(1996),rule32(1):
5.3ClericalError.
5.4ErrorMayBeCorrected.
5.5ErrorDoesNotInvalidate.
5.6Fee.
6.0CaseLaw
6.1CaseLaw-Canada
6.2CaseLaw-UnitedKingdom
7.0ListofCases
7.1ListofCases-Canada
©LaurentCarrière,1994-2003.
*Lawyerandtrademarkagent,LaurentCarrièreisaseniorpartnerinthelawfirmLEGERROBIC
RICHARD,g.p.andinthepatentandtrademarkagencyfirmROBIC,g.p.Publication122.
7.2ListofCases-UnitedKingdom
8.0Authors
8.1Authors-Canada
8.2Authors-UnitedStatesofAmerica
9.0ComparativeLegislation
9.1ComparativeLegislation-Canada
9.1.1CopyrightAct,1875,section20
9.1.2NewfoundlandCopyrightAct,1890,section23
9.2ComparativeLegislation-UnitedStatesofAmerica
9.2.1CopyrightAct,1976,section408(d)
9.2.2Regulation37CFR201.5
9.3ComparativeLegislation-India
9.3.1CopyrightAct,1957,section49
9.3.2Rule17
10.0Varia
10.1RectificationoftheCopyrightRegister–CIPOCircularNo.5
10.2RectificationoftheCopyrightRegister–CIPOElectronicForm
CLERICALERRORSERREURSMATÉRIELLES
CLERICALERRORSNOTTOINVALIDATELESERREURSD’ÉCRITUREN’ENTRAÎNENTPAS
L’INVALIDATION
61.Clericalerrorsinanyinstrumentof
recordintheCopyrightOfficedonot
invalidatetheinstrument,buttheymaybe
correctedundertheauthorityofthe
RegistrarofCopyrights.
61.Undocumentd’enregistrementn’estpas
invalideenraisond’erreurd’écriture:elles
peuventêtrecorrigéesousl’autoritédu
registrairedesdroitsd’auteur.
S.C.1993,C.15,S.10
§1.0RelatedSections
Section46—CopyrightOffice;section47—PowersofCommissionerand
Registrar;section52—Controlofbusinessandofficials;section57—Registration
ofassignmentorlicence;section59—Feesregulations.
§2.0RelatedRegulations
CopyrightRegulations,SOR/97-457,s.9(Fees),TariffofFees.
§3.0PriorLegislation
§3.1CorrespondingSectioninPriorLegislation
Section42from1924.01.01to1928.01.31;section43from1928.02.01to
1988.12.11;section61from1988.12.12topresent.
§3.2LegislativeHistory
§3.2.1S.C.1921,c.24,s.42.
CLERICALERRORSDONOTINVALIDATEERREURSD’ÉCRITURE
CLERICALERRORSDONOTINVALIDATELESERREURSD’ÉCRITUREN’ENTRAÎNENTPAS
L’INVALIDATION
42.Clericalerrorswhichoccurinthe
framingorcopyingofaninstrumentdrawn
byanyofficeroremployeeinorofthe
Departmentshallnotbeconstruedas
invalidatingsuchinstrument,butwhen
discoveredtheymaybecorrectedunder
theauthorityoftheMinister.
42.Leserreursd’écriturequiseglissentdans
larédactionoudanslacopied’unepièce
quelconque,faiteparunfonctionnaireou
parunemployéduMinistèreouauMinistère,
nedoiventpasêtreconsidéréescomme
invalidantcettepièce;maislorsqu’ellessont
découvertes,ellespeuventêtrecorrigées
sousl’autoritéduMinistre.
§3.2.2S.C.1923,c.10,s.4.
COPYRIGHTOFFICEBUREAUDUDROITD’AUTEUR
4.Sectionforty-twoofthesaidActis
amendedbystrikingouttheword
“Department”inthethirdlinethereofand
substitutingthereforthewords“Copyright
Office”.
4.Estmodifiél’articlequarante-deuxde
laditeloiparleretranchementdesmots
«MinistèreouauMinistère»,àlatroisième
ligneduditarticle,etleurremplacementpar
lesmots«Bureaudesdroitsd’auteurouau
Bureaudesdroitsd’auteur».
§3.2.3R.S.C.1927,c.32,s.43.
CLERICALERRORSDONOTINVALIDATELESERREURSD’ÉCRITUREN’ENTRAÎNENTPAS
L’INVALIDATION
CLERICALERRORSDONOTINVALIDATELESERREURSD’ÉCRITUREN’ENTRAÎNENTPAS
L’INVALIDATION
43.Clericalerrorswhichoccurinthe
framingorcopyingofaninstrumentdrawn
byanyofficeroremployeeinorofthe
CopyrightOfficeshallnotbeconstruedas
invalidatingsuchinstrument,butwhen
43.Leserreursd’écriturequiseglissentdans
larédactionoudanslacopied’unepièce
quelconque,faiteparunfonctionnaireou
parunemployéduBureaudesdroits
d’auteurouauBureaudesdroitsd’auteur
discoveredtheymaybecorrectedunder
theauthorityoftheMinister.n
edoiventpasêtreconsidéréescomme
invalidantcettepièce;mais,lorsqu’ellessont
découvertes,ellespeuventêtrecorrigées
sousl’autoritéduministre.
§3.2.4R.S.C.1952,c.55,s.43.
CLERICALERRORSDONOTINVALIDATELESERREURSD’ÉCRITUREN’ENTRAÎNENTPAS
L’INVALIDATION
CLERICALERRORSDONOTINVALIDATELESERREURSD’ÉCRITUREN’ENTRAÎNENTPAS
L’INVALIDATION
43.Clericalerrorsthatoccurintheframing
orcopyingofaninstrumentdrawnbyany
officeroremployeeinoroftheCopyright
Officeshallnotbeconstruedasinvalidating
suchinstrument,butwhendiscoveredthey
maybecorrectedundertheauthorityof
theMinister.
43.Leserreursd’écriturequiseglissentdans
larédactionoudanslacopied’unepièce
quelconque,faiteparunfonctionnaireou
parunemployéduBureaududroitd’auteur
ouauBureaududroitd’auteurnedoivent
pasêtreconsidéréescommeinvalidant
cettepièce;maislorsqu’ellessont
découvertesellespeuventêtrecorrigées
sousl’autoritéduMinistre.
§3.2.5R.S.C.1970,c.C-30,s.43.
CLERICALERRORSDONOTINVALIDATELESERREURSD’ÉCRITUREN’ENTRAÎNENTPAS
L’INVALIDATION
43.Clericalerrorsthatoccurintheframing
orcopyingofaninstrumentdrawnbyany
officeroremployeeinoroftheCopyright
Officeshallnotbeconstruedasinvalidating
suchinstrument,butwhendiscoveredthey
maybecorrectedundertheauthorityof
theMinister.
43.Leserreursd’écriturequiseglissentdans
larédactionoudanslacopied’unepièce
quelconque,faiteparunfonctionnaireou
parunemployéduBureaududroitd’auteur
ouauBureaududroitd’auteurnedoivent
pasêtreconsidéréescommeinvalidant
cettepièce;maislorsqu’ellessont
découvertes,ellespeuventêtrecorrigées
sousl’autoritéduMinistre.
§3.2.6R.S.C.1985,c.C-42,s.61.
CLERICALERRORSDONOTINVALIDATELESERREURSD’ÉCRITUREN’ENTRAÎNENTPAS
L’INVALIDATION
61.Clericalerrorsthatoccurintheframing
orcopyingofaninstrumentdrawnbyany
officeroremployeeinoroftheCopyright
Officeshallnotbeconstruedasinvalidating
61.Leserreursd’écriturequiseglissentdans
larédactionoudanslacopied’unepièce
quelconque,faiteparunfonctionnaireou
parunemployéduBureaududroitd’auteur
thatinstrument,butwhendiscoveredthey
maybecorrectedundertheauthorityof
theMinister.o
uauBureaududroitd’auteurnepeuvent
êtreconsidéréescommeinvalidantcette
pièce;mais,lorsqu’ellessontdécouvertes,
ellespeuventêtrecorrigéessousl’autorité
duMinistre.
§3.2.7S.C.1991,c.1,s.52.
CLERICALERRORSDONOTINVALIDATELESERREURSD’ÉCRITUREN’ENTRAÎNENTPAS
L’INVALIDATION
61.Clericalerrorsthatoccurintheframing
orcopyingofaninstrumentshallnotbe
construedasinvalidatingthatinstrument,
butwhendiscoveredtheymaybe
correctedundertheauthorityofthe
Minister.
61.Leserreursd’écriturequiseglissentdans
larédactionoudanslacopied’unepièce
quelconquenepeuventêtreconsidérées
commeinvalidantlapièce;mais,lorsqu’elles
sontdécouvertes,ellespeuventêtre
corrigéessousl’autoritéduministre.
Referencetoasimilarprovisioncouldbefoundinthepre-1921Copyright
Acts,namely:R.S.C.1906,c.70,s.27;R.S.C.1886,c.62,s.25;S.C.1875,c.88,
s.20.
§4.0Purpose
Thissectionprovidesforthecorrectionofclericalerrors,whicherrorsdonot
invalidatethedocumentinwhichtheyarefound.
§5.0Commentary
§5.1ErrorsoftheOffice
PriortothecomingintoforceonFebruary28,1992ofsection52ofThe
MiscellaneousAmendmentAct,1991(S.C.1991,c.1),thissectioncovered
onlythecorrectionofclericalerrorsmadebytheCopyrightOffice.Theformer
sectiondidnotallowthecorrectionoferrors,whetherclericalornot,made
byanapplicant,nordiditallowthecorrectionofanerrorinadocumentof
recordintheCopyrightOfficeunlesstheerrorwasaclericaloneattributable
totheOffice.Othertypesoferrorscouldonlybecorrecteduponapplication
totheFederalCourtofCanadapursuanttosubsection57(4)oftheCopyright
Act.
Sincethis1991amendment,section61oftheCopyrightActpermitsthe
correctionofanyclericalerror,whethermadebyororiginatingfromthe
CopyrightOffice,anapplicant,hisagentorhislegalrepresentative.
§5.2ComparisonwithOtherStatutes
SimilarprovisionsarefoundinotherCanadianstatutesdealingwith
intellectualpropertybuttheyareusuallymoreliberalandallowforthe
correctionoferrorsmadeeitherbytheAdministrationorbytheapplicants.
Compare,forinstance:
§5.2.1IndustrialDesignAct,R.S.C.1985,c.I-9,s.20:
Corrections
Clericalerrorsthatoccurinthedrawingup
orcopyingofanyinstrumentunderthisAct
respectingindustrialdesignsshallnotbe
construedasinvalidatingtheinstrument,
butwhendiscovered,maybecorrected
undertheauthorityoftheMinister.
Correction
Leserreursd’écriturequiseglissentdansla
rédactionoudansl’expéditiondespièces
délivréessousl’autoritédelaprésenteloi
concernantlesdessinsindustrielsneles
invalidentpas;mais,lorsqu’ils’endécouvre,
ellespeuventêtrecorrigéessousl’autorité
duMinistre.
§5.2.2PatentAct,R.S.C.1985,c.P-4,s.8:
Clericalerrors
8.Clericalerrorsinanyinstrumentofrecord
inthePatentOfficedonotinvalidatethe
instrument,buttheymaybecorrected
undertheAuthorityoftheCommissioner.
Erreursd’écriture
8.UndocumentendépôtauBureaudes
brevetsn’estpasinvalideenraisond’erreurs
d’écriture;ellespeuventêtrecorrigéessous
l’autoritéducommissaire.
§5.2.3Trade-MarksRegulations(1996),SOR/96-195,rule33:
33.(1)TheRegistrarmaycorrectaclerical
errorinanyinstrumentofrecordwhere
33.(1)Leregistrairepeutcorrigertouteerreur
d’écriturequis’estglisséedansun
documentauxarchivessi,selonlecas:
(a)theclericalerrorisdiscoveredbythe
Registrar;or
a)ildécouvrelui-mêmel’erreur;
(b)arequestforcorrectionismadebyan
applicant,registeredownerortrade-
markagentoftheapplicantor
b)lerequérant,lepropriétaireinscritou
l’agentdemarquesdecommercede
l’unoudel’autredemandela
registeredowner.correction.
§5.2.4IntegratedCircuitsTopography,R.S.C.1985,c.I-14.6,s.19(4):
CorrectionoferrorsCorrectiondeserreurs
TheRegistrarmay,forthepurposeof
correctinganytypographicalorclerical
errorinacertificateofregistration,amend
thecertificateorissueanewcertificatein
substitutiontherefor.
Leregistrairepeutcorrigertouteerreur
matérielle,notammenttypographique,dans
lecertificatd’enregistrementouremplacer
celui-ciparunnouveau.
§5.2.5PlantBreedersRightsAct,R.S.C.1985,c.P-14.6,s.66(1):
RectificationoferrorsCorrections
Subjecttosubsection(2),theCommissioner
may,onsuchterms,ifany,asthe
Commissionerdeemsproper,authorize
Sousréserveduparagraphe(2),ledirecteur
peutautoriser,auxconditionsqu’ilestime
indiquées:
(a)thecorrectionofanyclericalerroror
errorintranslationappearingina
certificateofregistrationissued
pursuanttoparagraph27(3)(b),inan
applicationforplantbreeder’srights,in
anydocumentfiledforthepurposesof
suchanapplicationorintheregisterof
index;
a)lacorrectiondetouteerreurd’écriture
oudetraductiondansletexted’un
certificatd’obtention,d’unedemande
d’émissiond’untelcertificatouencore
toutdocumentafférentàcette
demande,ainsiquetouteinscriptionau
registreouaurépertoire;
(b)theamendmentofanydocuments
thatbelongstothePlantBreeders’
RightsOfficeandinrespectofwhich
noexpressprovisionforitsamendment
ismadeunderthisAct;and
b)lamodificationdetoutdocument
appartenantauBureaupourlequella
présenteloineprévoitpasexpressément
deprocéduredemodification;
(c)thecondonationorcorrectionofany
proceduralirregularityinany
proceedingssubjecttotheauthorityof
theCommissioner.
c)laratificationoulacorrectiondetoute
irrégularitédansuneprocéduredesa
compétence.
§5.2.6PatentRules,rule141:
Anydocumentrelatingtoanapplication,
otherthanaspecificationordrawing,may
becorrectedbytheCommissionerifheis
satisfiedthatthedocumentcontainsa
clericalerror.
Toutdocumentayanttraitàunedemande
autrequ’unmémoiredescriptifouundessin,
peutêtrecorrigéparlecommissaires’ilest
convaincuqueledocumentrenfermeune
erreurdecopiste.
§5.2.7PatentRules(1996),rule32(1):
ExceptasotherwiseprovidedbytheActor
theseRules,aftertheapplicantissenta
noticepursuanttosubsection30(1)or(5),
noamendment,otherthananamendment
tocorrectaclericalerrorthatisobviouson
thefaceoftheapplication,maybemade
totheapplicationunlessthefeesetoutin
item5ofScheduleIIispaid..
SaufdispositioncontrairedelaLoioudes
présentesrègles,aprèsl expéditiond unavis
audemandeurconformémentaux
paragraphes30(1)ou(5),aucune
modification,autrequecellevisantà
corrigeruneerreurd écritureévidenteauvu
delademande,nepeutêtreapportéeàla
demandesansquelataxeprévueàl article
5del annexeIIaitétéversée..
§5.3Clericalerror
Whatconstitutesaclericalerror(inFrench:“erreursd’écriture”)isleftopenfor
judicialdeterminationsincethisareaisgenerallyfactual.However,a
misapprehensionofthefactsorofaninstrumentbytheCopyrightOffice,the
lossofadocumentinthetrackingsystemandconsequentialabandonment
notice,awronginterpretationastothenatureofarequest,orafaulty
translationmightnotfallwithintherealmofpenmanerrors.
Asdecidedundersection8ofthePatentAct,itisthenatureoftheerror
made,andnotitsimportance,thatgovernswhetherornotitmaybetreated
asaclericalerror.Therefore,aclericalerrormaynotnecessarilybeanerror
whichisobviousorunimportant;itmayverywellbeanerrorofserious
consequences.Theimportantfeatureofaclericalerroristhatitmustnotbe
intentional;itmustbetheresult,forinstance,ofamistakeinthemechanical
processofwritingortranscribing.
§5.4ErrorMayBeCorrected
ThereisnostatutoryobligationonthepartoftheCopyrightOfficetocorrect
suchanerror,section61beingpermissiveandnotmandatory.Therefore
mandamusdoesnotlietorequiretheRegistrarofCopyrightstoissuea
certificateofcorrectionundersection61.
Itisofinteresttonotethat,priortothecomingintoforceonJune9,1993of
section10oftheIntellectualPropertyLawImprovementAct(S.C.1993,c.15),
thecertificateofcorrectionwastobeissuedbytheMinisterwhileitisnowa
dutyoftheRegistrarofCopyrights.
§5.5ErrorDoesNotInvalidate
Copyrightdoesnotdependonregistrationbutonqualifiedauthorshipofa
protectedwork.Sinceregistrationisonlyoptional,anyerrorcontainedina
certificateofregistrationmaynotinvalidatethecopyrightitself,nordoesit
affecttheownershipthereof.
§5.6Fee
Item4oftheTariffofFees(ScheduletotheCopyrightRegulations,SOR/97-
457),providesthatforthecorrectionofaclericalerrorinanyinstrumentof
record,including,withoutfurtherfee,issuingacorrectedcertificateof
registrationofcopyright,pursuanttosection61oftheAct,thereisafeeof
$65.
Acertificateofcorrectionisnotsubstitutedforafaultycertificateof
registration:itisaddedtotheregistersoastoindicatethemodification.
§6.0CaseLaw
§6.1Canada
1.Gemmillv.Garland(1886),2Can.Com.R.293,BoydJ.(Ont.H.C.).
Ihavenotoverlookedtheprovisionsinthe20thsectionoftheAct38Vict.
ch.88(D.),relatingtoclericalerrorsinanyinstrumentdrawnintheofficeof
theMinisterbeingcurable,whichmayreflectdisastrouslyuponerrorsin
paperspreparedbytheapplicants.Butthisdoesnotnecessarilyfollow,for
clericalerrorsmaybeinmaterialaswellasimmaterialfacts,andmaybe
importantorunimportant.[atp.297]
2.Moreauv.St-Vincent[1950]Ex.C.R.198,ThorsonJ.(Ex.Ct.).
AthirdobjectionsubmittedbycounselwasthattheCommissionerof
Patentshadnostatutorypowertoannulthefirstcertificateofregistration
andissueasecondoneinitsplaceforadifferentworkandinthenameof
adifferentpersonandthatthesecondcertificatewasofnoeffect,I
expressnoopiniononthisobjection,butevenifitweresounditwouldnot
affecttheplaintiff’scauseofaction,ifhehasone.UndertheCopyrightAct
copyrightinaliteraryworkdoesnotdependonregistrationbutarises
automaticallyfromauthorship.If,therefore,theplaintiffhadanycopyright
hecouldbringanactionforitsinfringementevenifhehadneverobtained
anycertificateofregistration.Theregistrationofacopyrightdoesnot
conferupontheauthorofaliteraryworkanyrightthatdidnotalready
belongtohimbyvirtueofhisauthorship.[atpp.203-204]
3.BayerAktiengesellschaftv.CommissionerofPatents,(1980),[1981]1
F.C.656,MahoneyJ.(F.C.T.D.).
Thereissimplynodoubtthattheomissionofhydrogeninthetwoplaces
wheretheapplicantnowseekstoincludeitwasduetoanerror.Thereis
likewisenodoubtthatthecorrectionssoughtaremeaningful,nottrivial,
and,ifmade,wouldsignificantlywidentheapplicant’smonopoly.
(…)Thatitwasanerrorisbeyonddoubt,butwasitaclericalerror?The
respondentseemsnottohavedecidedthat.
Pertinentdictionarydefinitionsareincludedinthefollowingpassagefrom
thejudgmentofFullagarJ.,oftheHighCourtofAustraliainTheQueenv.
CommissionerofPatents;ExparteMartin,[(1953-54)89C.L.R.381atp.406]
inwhichapatenteehad,ingoodfaith,describedhimselfastheinventor,
ratherthantheinventor’sassignee,inhisapplication.Thepatentissuedand
hesoughtitscorrection.
…theerrorintheapplicationcannot,inmyopinion,bedescribedas
a“clericalerror”.Thatexpressionis,nodoubt,oneofasomewhat
elasticcharacter,butitseemstomeimpossibletosaythatitcovers
suchamistakeofsubstanceaswasheremade.IntheNewOxford
Dictionaryonemeaningattributedtotheword“clerical”is“Ofor
pertainingtoaclerkorpenman:esp.in‘clericalerror’,anerrormade
inwritinganythingout”.AccordingtoWebster,onemeaningofthe
word“clerical”is“Oforrelatingtoaclerkorcopyist”,andan
examplegivenis“clericalerror,anerrormadeincopyingorwriting”.
Probablynoonewoulddenythataclericalerrormayproducea
significant,andevenprofound,effectasforexample,inacasein
whichawriterortypistinadvertentlyomitsthesmallword“not”.But
thecharacteristicofaclericalerrorisnotthatitisinitselftrivialor
unimportant,butthatitarisesinthemechanicalprocessofwritingor
transcribing.Thereisnoevidencethatthemistakesoaroseinthe
presentcase,anditisverydifficulttoseehowitcouldhavesoarisen.
Themistake,howeverinnocentlymade,consistsinasimplemis-
statementoffact,andthatisthewholeofthematter.
Iacceptthataclericalerrorisanerrorthatarisesinthemechanicalprocess
ofwritingortranscribingandthatitscharacteristicdoesnotdependatall
onitsrelativeobviousnessortherelativegravityortrivialityofits
consequences.IacceptthedecisionoftheComptrollerinHeberleinand
CompanyA.G.’sApplication,[[1971]F.S.R.373atp.377]that:
…ifanerrororiginatesasaclericalerroritdoesnotsubsequently
changeitsnatureifitisoverlookedbysomeonecheckingthe
documentinwhichitoccursorotherwiseworkingonit.Itistheclerical
originoftheerrorwhichisimportant.[atpp.659-660]
Section8providesthat“clericalerrors…maybecorrectedbycertificate
undertheauthorityoftheCommissioner”.“May”ispermissive;itisnot
directorynormandatory.Thereisnothinginthecircumstances
contemplatedbysection8thatwouldleadmetoconcludethatthe
respondentisobligedtoissueacertificateofcorrectiononcehe
determinesthatwhatissoughttobecorrectedisaclericalerror.Itisinthis
discretiontodoso.TheCourtcannotsubstituteitsdiscretionforhis.
Mandamusdoesnotlietorequiretherespondenttoissueacertificate
undersection8ofthePatentAct.[atpp.660-661]
4.Laurinv.Champagne(1991),49F.T.R.280,DubéJ.(F.C.T.D.).
Àl’ouverturedel’auditiondecetteaffaire…j’aiimmédiatementaviséle
procureurdurequérantquejedoutaisfortquecetteCourpuisseeffectuer
unetelleradiation[d’enregistrementdudroitd’auteur]simplementaumotif
d’unbrisdecontrat.MêmesilaCourfédérale,envertudelaLoisurledroit
d’auteur,alajuridictionpourentendredeslitigesenviolationdedroit
d’auteuretdesdemandesderectificationauxregistres,iln’estsûrement
pasapparentquecetteCouraitlacompétencevouluepourviderunlitige
enmatièredecontratetbonifiersonjugementparuneordonnancede
radiationauxregistres.LaCourfédéraleestuneCourstatutaireetsa
juridictionestlimitéeauxpouvoirsquiluisontexpressémentconféréspar
uneloi.Enprincipe,lacompétenceenmatièredepropriétéetdedroitcivil
(ycompriscontratentredeuxindividus)relèvedudroitprovincial.[atp.
282]
Cettepreuveconfirmedonccequej’avaisanticipéàl’effetqu’ils’agit
biend’unlitigecontractueletnond’uneinscriptionfaiteparerreurou
restéedanslesregistresparerreur.Cen’estpassuiteàlasuited’uneerreur
quel’œuvreenquestionaétéenregistréeaunomdel’intiméàtitrede
propriétaireetaunomdurequérantàtitred’auteur,puisquecet
enregistrementreflétaitexactementlavolontédesdeuxpartiesàl’époque
del’enregistrement.Ilnes’agitpasicinonplusd’uneviolationdedroit
d’auteurpouvantêtrejugéeparlaCourfédéraleenvertudelaLoisurle
droitd’auteur.Danslescirconstances,lasolutionévidentepourle
requérantestd’obtenirunjugementdelaCoursupérieuredelaprovince
deQuébecetparaprèsdeprésentersademandederadiationau
registrairedudroitd’auteur,etsinécessaire,àcetteCour.[atp.284]
5.CelltechLtd.v.Canada(CommissionerofPatents)(1993),46C.P.R.
(3d)424MacKayJ.(F.C.T.D.).
AsthelatterhasbeendefinedbyMr.JusticeMahoneyinBayer
Aktiengesellschaftv.CommissionerofPatents(1980)53C.P.R.(2d)70atpp.
73-4,[1981]1F.C.656(F.C.T.D.),a“clericalerror”withins.8[ofthePatent
Act]isone“thatarisesinthemechanicalprocessofwritingand
transcribing”;itsoriginisclerical,anditdoesnotdependonitsrelative
obviousnessorthegravityofitsconsequences.Extrinsicevidenceis
admissibletoestablishaclericalerror,withins.8andtheclericalerrorneed
notbeoneobviousfromthefaceofthedocument.”[atp.438]
6.Bristol-MyersSquibbCompanyv.Canada(CommissionerofPatents)
(1997),77C.P.R.(3d)300,PinardJ.(F.C.T.D.).
Thus,evenwhereanerrorisacceptedasclericalinnature,the
CommissionerofPatents’decisionwhethertocorrectitisdiscretionary.[at
p.304]
Furthermore,Iamoftheopinionthatingrantingthisgeneraldiscretionto
authorizethecorrectionofclericalerrorsundersection8ofthe[Patent]
Act,Parliamentclearlysignalledarelianceonthespecializedexpertiseof
theCommissioner.Accordingly,theCommissioner’sdeterminationofthe
factorstobetakenintoaccountinexercisingherdiscretionoughttobe
givencurialdeference,andshouldnotbeoverturnedunlessunreasonable
(seePezimv.B.C.SuperintendantofBrokers)(1994),114D.L.R.(4th)385,at
404-406).[atp.305]
7.Laurinv.MiseenscèneInc.(1992),J.E.1145,ChicoineJ.(Que.Ct.)
[footnotesomitted][Onmotionofplaintifftohavethenameofthe
defendantcorrected,afterjudgment,fromMiseenscèneInc.toLes
productionsmiseenscèneLtée].
[5]Surlepremierpoint,lestribunauxontdéjàdécidéquel’erreuràcorriger
peutêtrecelledelapartieoudesesprocureurs[inacaseofretractationof
judgmentunder475C.C.P.].
[6]Ledeuxièmepointapparaîtplusimportant.Peut-onqualifierd’erreur
matériellelaméprisesurlenomdel’unedesparties?
[7]Detellesméprisessurlenomdecorporationssemblentfréquentesetles
tribunauxsupérieursinterprètentlargement,dansl’espritdel’article2du
Codedeprocédurecivile,c’est-à-direfavoriserl’exerciced’undroitplutôt
quelenier.
[8]Lesdeuxnomsencauseici(“MISEENSCÈNEINC”et“LESPRODUCTIONS
MISEENSCÈNELTÉE”)sontvisuellementetphonétiquementprèsl’unde
l’autre.L’utilisationdelaparticule“Inc.”ou“Ltée”neportevraimentpasà
conséquenceetentredanslechampdecequel’article475[C.C.P.]
appelleerreurmatérielle.Utiliser“MISEENSCÈNE”oulefaireprécéderdes
mots“LESPRODUCTION”est-cebiendifférent?
[9]Celapeutêtretrèsdifférentsil’onnevisepaslamêmepersonne.Mais
ici,lesdocumentsproduitsausoutiendelarequête[pourcorrectionde
jugement],l’adressedelacorporationetl’interrogatoiredel’undes
officierslaissentvoirqu’iln’yaconfusionquedanslenom,maisnondansla
personne.
8.MyersSquibbCo.v.Canada(CommissionerofPatents)(1998),82
C.P.R.(3d)192,DesjardinsJ.(F.C.A.).
[24]Inmyview,considerationmustbegiventothephrase“…maybe
correctedundertheauthorityoftheCommissioner”(“peuventêtre
corrigéessousl’autoritéducommissaire”)foundinsection8oftheAct.
[25]TheCommissioner,pursuanttosection4oftheAct,has“thecharge
andcustody”oftherecordsbelongingtothePatentOffice.Inviewofthis,
thewords“undertheauthorityof”insection8oftheActsuggestthatthe
Commissionerisresponsiblefortheintegrityofthesystemunderhercare.
[…]
[27]Whatthefirstpartofsection8oftheActimpliesisthataninstrumentof
record,whichisotherwisevalid,doesnotbecomeinvalidbyreasonofa
clericalerror.Itistheinstrumentofrecorditself,andnottheclaimmade
withinit,thatisnotinvalidatedbyaclericalerror.Itisaclericalerrorwithin
theinstrument,andnottheinstrumentofrecorditself,whichmaybe
correctedbytheCommissioner.Onceshecametoconsidertherequestfor
correction,itisobviousthattheCommissionersawtheeffectthechange
wouldhave,ifgranted.Itwasnotachangesoastohaveeffectonthe
instrumentitself,suchasanobviouserrorinanameduetoatypingerror.
Thecorrectionrequestedhadaneffectretroactivetotheinstrumentitself.
TheCommissionerdidnotinvalidatetheinstrumentitself.Shedeclinedto
makeacorrection,whichshefoundtobeaclericalone,onthebasisthatit
wentbeyondtheinstrumentitself.
§6.2UnitedKingdom
1.Hardcarev.Armstrong(1905),21T.L.R.189,WillisJ.(K.B.Div.).
Therewasmerelyanerrorastotheplaceandtimeofitsfirstperformance,
amatterwhichwasnotinanywayessentialtotitle,butmerelymadethe
entryintheregistersuchthattheplaintiffcouldgetnoneofthebenefitsby
theActattachedtoregistration.Itmustbeborneinmindthatnoneofthe
difficultieswhichattachedtotheconstructionoftheassignmentattached
totheentryintheregister,whichwasallthatthepublicwouldhavenotice
of.Theclaimintheregisterwasplainenough,“Theadaptationknownas
theBullockversion.”Thetimeandplaceofthefirstrepresentationwereno
partofthethingclaimed.Thetimewasmaterialforfixingthedatefrom
whichthetermof42yearsorotherperiodwastorun,theplaceof
performanceforverification,butthatwasall.Hehadcometothe
conclusion,therefore,thattherewasnothingintheerroneousentriesto
preventtheplaintifffromrelyinguponhisrealtitle,andbysection21hewas
entitledtotheremediesgivenby3&4Will.IV.,c.15asfullyasiftheywere
re-enactedintheActof5and6Vict.,c.45.[atp.191]
§7.0ListofCases
§7.1Canada
1.Gemmillv.Garland(1886),2Can.Com.R.293(Ont.H.C.);(1886),12
O.R.139(Ch.D.);aff’d(1887),14S.C.R.321.
2.Moreauv.St-Vincent(1950),12C.P.R.32(Ex.Ct.).
3.BayerAktiengesellschaftv.CommissionerofPatents,(1980),53C.P.R.
(2d)70(F.C.T.D.).
4.Hoffmann-LaRocheLtd.v.CommissionerofPatents(1985),3C.P.R.
(3d)392(F.C.T.D.).
5.Laurinv.Champagne(1991),38C.P.R.(3d)193(F.C.T.D.).
6.CelltechLtd.v.Canada(CommissionerofPatents)(1993),46C.P.R.
(3d)424(F.C.T.D.),aff’d(1994),53C.P.R.(3d)59(F.C.A.).
7.Bristol-MyersSquibbCompanyv.Canada(CommissionerofPatents)
(1997),77C.P.R.(3d)300(F.C.T.D.);(1988),82C.P.R.(3d)192(F.C.A.).
8.Hoffman-LaRocheLtd.v.Canada(CommissionerofPatents)(1985),3
C.P.R.(3d)392(F.C.T.D.).
9.Laurinc.MiseenscèneInc.(1992),J.E.1145(Que.Ct.).
§7.2UnitedKingdom
1.Hardcarev.Armstrong(1905),21T.L.R.189(K.B.Div.).
§8.0Authors
§8.1Canada
1.FOX(HaroldGeorge),TheCanadianLawofCopyrightandIndustrial
Designs,2nded.(Toronto,Carswell,1967),atpp.318-323.
2.FOX(HaroldGeorge),TheCanadianLawandPracticerelatingto
LettersPatentforinventions,4thed.(Toronto,Carswell,1969),atpp.
188-189,220-221.
3.HUGHES(RogerT.)etal.,HughesandWoodleyonPatents(Toronto,
Butterworths,1984),atnos.41and116.
§8.2UnitedKingdom
1.LLOYD(R.P.),CorrectionofClericalErrorsandObviousMistakes(1981),
10CIPA—TheJournaloftheCharteredInstituteofPatentsAgents266.
§8.3UnitedStates
1.NIMMER(MelvilleB.)etal.,NimmeronCopyright(NewYork,Matthew
Bender,1989),atno.7.20.
§9.0ComparativeLegislation
§9.1Canada
§9.1.1CopyrightAct,1875,section20.
CLERICALERRORSHOWCORRECTEDCORRECTIONDESERREURS
20.Clericalerrorshappeningintheframing
orcopyingofanyinstrumentdrawninthe
officeoftheMinisterofAgriculture,shallnot
beconstruedasinvalidatingthesame,but
whendiscoveredtheymaybecorrected
undertheauthorityoftheMinisterof
Agriculture.
20.Leserreursquiauraientpuseglisserdans
larédactionoudansl’expéditiond’un
instrumentquelconquedresséaubureaudu
ministredel’Agriculture,neserontpas
censéesl’invalider;mais,aumomentdeleur
découverte,ellespourrontêtrecorrigées
sousl’autoritéduministredel’Agriculture.
§9.1.2NewfoundlandCopyrightAct,1890,section23.
Clericalerrorswhichoccurintheframingorcopyingofanyinstrument
drawnbyanofficeroremployeeinorforthedepartment,shallnotbe
construedasinvalidatingsuchinstrument;butwhendiscoveredtheymay
becorrectedundertheauthorityoftheColonialSecretary.
§9.2UnitedStates
§9.2.1CopyrightAct,1976,subsection408(d).
CORRECTIONSANDAMPLIFICATIONS.–TheRegistermayalsoestablish,by
regulations,formalproceduresforthefilingofanapplicationfor
supplementaryregistration,tocorrectanerrorinacopyrightregistrationor
toamplifytheinformationgiveninaregistration.Suchapplicationshallbe
accompaniedbythefeeprovidedforbysection708,andshallclearly
identifytheregistrationtobecorrectedoramplified.Theinformation
containedinasupplementaryregistrationaugmentsbutdoesnot
supersedethatcontainedintheearlierregistration.
§9.2.2Regulation37CFR201.5.
Correctionsandamplificationsofcopyrightregistrations;applicationfor
supplementaryregistration.
(a)General.(1)Thissectionprescribesconditionsrelatingtothefilingof
anapplicationforsupplementaryregistrationtocorrectanerrorina
certificateofregistrationortoamplifytheinformationgivenina
registration,undersection408(d)(…)(2)Nocorrectionor
amplificationoftheinformationinabasicregistrationwillbemade
exceptpursuanttotheprovisionsofthis§201.5.Asanexception,
whereitisdiscoveredthattherecordofthebasicregistration
containsanerrorthattheCopyrightOfficeitselfshouldhave
recognizedatthetimeregistrationwasmade,theOfficewilltake
appropriatemeasurestorectifyitserror.
(b)Personsentitledtofileanapplicationforsupplementaryregistration;
groundsofapplication.(…)(2)(i)A“correction”isappropriateif
informationinthebasicregistrationwasincorrectatthetimethat
basicregistrationwasmade,andtheerrorisnotonethatthe
CopyrightOfficeitselfshouldhaverecognized.(…)
(d)(2)Asprovidedinsection408(d)oftitle17,theinformationcontainedin
asupplementaryregistrationaugmentsbutdoesnotsupersedethat
containedinthebasicregistration.Thebasicregistrationwillnotbe
expungedorcancelled.
§9.3India
§9.3.1CopyrightAct,1957,section49.
CorrectionofentriesintheRegisterofCopyrights.TheRegistrarof
Copyrightsmay,intheprescribedcasesandsubjecttotheprescribed
conditions,amendoraltertheRegisterofCopyrightsby
(a)correctinganyerrorinanyname,addressorparticulars;or
(b)correctinganyothererrorwhichmayhavearisenthereinby
accidentalsliporomission.
§9.3.2Rule17.
CorrectionofentriesintheRegisterofCopyrights.TheRegistrarof
Copyrightsmay,onhismotionoronapplicationofanyinterestedperson,
amendoraltertheRegisterofCopyrightsinthemannerspecifiedinsection
49aftergiving,whereverpracticable,tothepersonaffectedbysuch
amendmentoralteration,anopportunitytoshowcauseagainstsuch
amendmentoralterationandcommunicatetosuchpersonthe
amendmentoralterationtobemade.
§10.0Varia
§10.1RectificationoftheCopyrightRegister–CIPOCircularNo.5
AvailablefromCIPOattheURLaddress
http://strategis.gc.ca/sc_mrksv/cipo/cp/circ5b.pdf
Circular5
RectificationsoftheCopyrightRegister
April6,2000
Rectificationinaregistration
Onceacopyrighthasbeenregistered,theFederalCourtmayonrequestmodifya
registration(subsection57(4)oftheCopyrightAct).
TheprocedureforobtainingaCourtOrderisoutlinedintheFederalCourtRules.TheseRules
maybeavailablethroughanylocalpubliclibraryandcopiesmaybepurchasedfromany
bookstoresellinggovernmentpublications,orfrom:
CanadianGovernmentPublishing
PublicWorksandGovernmentServicesCanada
Ottawa,OntarioK1A0S9
Tel.:(819)956-4802
Fax:(819)994-1498
FormoredetailsconcerningaFederalCourtorder,pleaseaddressyourrequesttoaFederal
CourtIntellectualPropertyOfficerat(613)992-4238.
ChangesofAddress
ChangesofaddressarenotenteredintheCopyrightRegisterbut,ifbroughttotheattention
oftheCopyrightOfficer,willbenotedinofficerecordsfortheconvenienceofsearches.
ClericalErrors
Undersection61oftheCopyrightAct,acorrectingcertificatemaybeissuedincaseswhere
aclericalerrorhasbeenmadeinpreparinganapplicationorregistrationdocument.Inthese
casesiftheerrorwasmadebytheCopyrightOfficer,theOfficewillsendyouwithoutany
chargeacorrectingcertificatebearingthesameregistrationnumber.Ontheotherhand,if
theerrorwasmadebyanotherparty,theCopyrightOfficewillissueacorrectingcertificate
bearingthesameregistrationnumberatacostofC$65.Regardlessofthesourceoftheerror,
ifcorrectionisacceptable,changeswillbeenteredontheRegister.
§10.2RectificationoftheCopyrightRegister–CIPOElectronicForm
AvailablefromCIPOattheURLaddress
https://strategis.ic.gc.ca/sc_mrksv/cipo/copyright-
filing/application/engdoc/cp_correction_certificate-e.html
REQUESTFORCERTIFICATEOFCORRECTION
Acertificateofcorrectionmaybeissuedincaseswhereaclericalerrorhasbeenmade
inpreparinganapplicationorregistrationdocument.
NotethataddresschangesarenotenteredintheRegisterofCopyrightsbutwillbe
notedinofficerecordsfortheconvenienceofsearches.
Requestforcertificateofcorrection
(*MandatoryField)
*RegistrationNumber
IMPORTANTNOTE:
Pleasenotethatonlyclericalerrorsmaybecorrectedunderthe
authorityoftheRegistrarofCopyrights.
Descriptionofthecorrection
Enteryourtextdescribingthecorrectionintheboxbelow:
*Requestby
A.FamilyNameFirstNameInit.
ORB.Nameoffirm
Address
City/TownProv./State
CountryPostal/ZipCode
TelephoneNo.FaxNo.
E-Mailaddress
ClosingDetails
*PaymentMethod
Nocharge
CreditCard
(Yourcreditcardinformationisenteredafter
thevalidationprocess.)
DepositAccount
(OnlyifassignbyCIPO)
AuthorizationStatement
TheRegistrarofCopyrightsonbehalfofthe
ReceiverGeneralofCanadaishereby
authorizedtodeducttheprescribedfilingfee
fromthisfirm©sdepositaccount.
DepositAccount
Comments
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ROBIC,ungrouped avocatsetd agentsdebrevetsetdemarquesdecommerce
vouédepuis1892àlaprotectionetàlavalorisationdelapropriétéintellectuelle
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diligenteetaudit;etce,tantauCanadaqu ailleursdanslemonde.Lamaîtrisedes
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patents,industrialdesignsandutilitypatents;trademarks,certificationmarksand
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arbitration;duediligence;inCanadaandthroughouttheworld.Ideaslivehere.
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