HEAVYARTILLERYISN’TALWAYSTHESOLUTIONPUBLICITYRIGHTAND
COPYRIGHTACTIONBEFORETHEQUEBECSUPERIORCOURT
by
HuguesG.Richard*
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
TheSuperiorCourtoftheprovinceofQuebec
1hasrecentlyremindedthe
Plaintiffsinanactionforbreachofcopyrightandpersonalityright,thatheavy
artilleryisnotalwaysthebestsolution.Restrainandout-of-courtsettlement
maybebetteralternatives.
YvonÉthierisawell-knownartistintheprovinceofQuebec,heusesthename
PatrickNormanaspseudonym.Heandhismanagerwereseekinga
permanentinjunctionenjoiningBoutiqueàCoifferTonicInc.(TONIC)and
CommunicationsVoirInc.(VOIR)fromusinghisphotographyinassociation
withpromotionofTONIC’sservicesandproducts.Theywerealsoaskingfor
theissuanceofanorderagainsttheDefendantsenjoiningthemtopublishat
theirowncostacopyofthejudgmenttointervenewithinten(10)ofitsissue.
ThePlaintiffswerealsorequestingthefollowingmonetaryreliefs:
1.$50,000.00asliquidateddamagesandinterestsforcommercialuseof
PatrickNorman’simageinassociationwithTONIC’sproducts;
2.$250,000.00asliquidateddamagesandinterestsforprejudicetothe
honourandreputationofthePlaintiffsand,
3.$50,000.00forexemplarypunitivedamagesforintentionalbreachofthe
fundamentalrightsofthePlaintiffsinthecommercialexploitationofPatrick
Norman’simage.