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Limitation Where Author is First Owner of Copyright: Reversionary Interest in the Copyright – Some Comments on Section 14 of the Canadian Copyright Act

2003-01-01

1
LIMITATIONWHEREAUTHORISFIRSTOWNEROFCOPYRIGHT:
REVERSIONARYINTERESTINTHECOPYRIGHT
SOMECOMMENTSONSECTION14OFTHECANADIAN
COPYRIGHTACT

L
AURENTCARRIÈRE*
ROBIC,
LLP
L
AWYERS,PATENT&TRADEMARKAGENTS

TextofSection
1.0RelatedSections
2.0RelatedRegulations
3.0PriorLegislation3.1CorrespondingSectioninPriorLegislation
3.2LegislativeHistory3.2.1S.C.1921,c.24,s.11(2)partand11(3).
3.2.2R.S.C.1927,c.32,s.12(3)and(4).
3.2.33.2.3R.S.C.1952,c.55,s.12(5)&(6).
3.2.4R.S.C.1970,c.C-30,s.12(5)&(6).
3.2.5R.S.C.1985,c.C-42,s.14(1)&(2).
3.3Transitional3.3.1S.C.1999,c.24,s.55(3)
4.0Purpose
5.0Commentary5.1History
5.2General
5.3Applicability5.3.1Authorfirstowner
5.3.2“AfterJune4,1921”
5.3.3“Otherwisethanbywill”
5.4PublicOrder5.4.1Agreementtothecontrary
5.4.2Contraryagreementvoid
5.4.3Assetoftheauthor’sestate
5.4.4PermanentDamagetoReversionaryInterest
5.5Exception5.5.1Collectivework
5.5.2Licence

©CIPS,2003.*Lawyerandtrade-markagent,LaurentCarrièreisapartnerwithROBIC,LLP,amultidisciplinary
firmoflawyers,patentandtrademarkagents.PublishedaspartofaRobic’sCanadianCopyright
ActAnnotated(Carswell).Publication302.

2
6.0CaseLaw6.1Canada
6.2UnitedKingdom
7.0ListOfCases7.1Canada
7.2UnitedKingdom
8.0Authors8.1Canada
8.2UnitedKingdom
8.3Varia
9.0Varia9.1UnitedKingdomCopyrightAct,1911
9.2UnitedStatesCopyrightAct

ROBIC,LLPwww.robic.ca
info@robic.com
MONTREAL
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Montreal,Quebec,CanadaH2Z2B7
Tel.:+1514987-6242Fax:+1514845-7874QUEBEC
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Tel.:+1418653-1888Fax.:+1418653-0006

LIMITATIONWHEREAUTHORISFIRST
OWNEROFCOPYRIGHTLIMITATIONDANSLECASOÙ
L’AUTEURESTLEPREMIER
POSSESSEURDUDROITD’AUTEUR

14.(1)Wheretheauthorofaworkis
thefirstownerofthecopyrighttherein,
noassignmentofthecopyrightandno
grantofanyinteresttherein,madeby
him,otherwisethanbywill,afterJune
4,1921,isoperativetovestinthe
assigneeorgranteeanyrightswith
respecttothecopyrightinthework
beyondtheexpirationoftwenty-five
yearsfromthedeathoftheauthor,and
thereversionaryinterestinthe
copyrightexpectantonthetermination
ofthatperiodshall,onthedeathofthe
author,notwithstandingany
agreementtothecontrary,devolveon
hislegalrepresentativesaspartofthe
estateoftheauthor,andany
agreemententeredintobytheauthor
astothedispositionofsuch
reversionaryinterestisvoid.14.(1)Lorsquel’auteurd’uneœuvre
estlepremiertitulairedudroitd’auteur
surcetteœuvre,aucunecessiondu
droitd’auteurniaucuneconcession
d’unintérêtdanscedroit,faiteparlui
—autrementquepartestament—
aprèsle4juin1921,n’al’effet
d’investirlecessionnaireoule
concessionnaired’undroit
quelconque,àl’égarddudroitd’auteur
surl’œuvre,pendantplusdevingt-
cinqansàcompterdelamortde
l’auteur;laréversibilitédudroit
d’auteur,enexpectativeàlafinde
cettepériode,estdévolue,àlamortde
l’auteur,nonobstanttoutarrangement
contraire,àsesreprésentantslégaux
commefaisantpartiedesesbiens;
toutestipulationconclueparlui
concernantladispositiond’unteldroit
deréversibilitéestnulle.

RESTRICTIONRESTRICTION

(2)Nothinginsubsection(1)shallbe
construedasapplyingtothe
assignmentofthecopyrightina
collectiveworkoralicencetopublish
aworkorpartofaworkaspartofa
collectivework.Leparagraphe(1)nedoitpas
s’interprétercommes’appliquantàla
cessiondudroitd’auteursurun
recueilouàunelicencedepublierune
œuvre,entotalitéouenpartie,àtitre
decontributionàunrecueil.
(3)[RepealedS.C.1997,c.24,s.11][AbrogéS.C.1997,ch.24,art.11]

(4)[RepealedR.S.C.1985,c.10(4th
Supp.),s.3][AbrogéL.R.C.(1985),ch.10(4e
suppl.),art.3

R.S.C.1985c.C-42,s.14;R.S.C.1985(4thSupp.),c.10,s.3;S.C.1997,c.24,s.11

§1.0RelatedSections

Section2—Definitions:“Collectivework”,“copyright”,“Legalrepresentatives”,“Work”;
section2.2−Definitionof“publication”;section3−Copyrightinworks;section13—
Ownershipofcopyright;section36—Protectionofseparaterights.

§2.0RelatedRegulations
None.
§3.0PriorLegislation
§3.1CorrespondingSectioninPriorLegislation
Subsections11(2)part&11(3)from1924.01.01to1928.01.31;subsections12(3),(4)
from1928.02.01to1953.09.14;subsections12(5),(6)from1953.09.15to1988.12.11;
section14from1988.12.12topresent.
Note:Section14(4)inR.S.C.1985,c.C-42wasabrogatedbysection3ofS.C.1988,c.
15andwasreplacedbysections14.1and14.2inR.S.C.1985(4thSupp.),c.10.

§3.2LegislativeHistory
§3.2.1S.C.1921,c.24,s.11(2)partand11(3).
LIMITATIONSINCASETHEAUTHORIS
FIRSTOWNEROFCOPYRIGHTLIMITATIONSDANSLECASOÙ
L’AUTEURESTLEPREMIER
POSSESSEURDUDROITD’AUTEUR
Providedthat,wheretheauthorofawork
isthefirstownerofthecopyrighttherein,
noassignmentofthecopyright,andno
grantofanyinteresttherein,madebyhim
(otherwisethanbywill)afterthepassing
oftheAct,shallbeoperativetovestinthe
assigneeorgranteeanyrightswith
respecttothecopyrightinthework
beyondtheexpirationoftwenty-fiveyears
fromthedeathoftheauthor,andthe
reversionaryinterestinthecopyright
expectantontheterminationofthatToutefois,lorsquel’auteurd’uneœuvre
estlepremiertitulairedudroitd’auteur
surcetteœuvre,aucunecessiondudroit
d’auteurniaucuneconcessiond’une
facultéinhérenteàcedroit,faiteparlui
(autrementquepartestament)après
l’adoptiondelaprésenteloi,n’aural’effet
d’investirlecessionnaireoule
concessionnaired’undroitquelconque,
comprisdansledroitd’auteursurl’œuvre,
audelàdutermedevingt-cinqans,à
compterdelamortdel’auteur;la

periodshall,onthedeathoftheauthor,
notwithstandinganyagreementtothe
contrary,devolveonhislegal
representativesaspartofhisestate,and
anyagreemententeredintobyhimasin
thedispositionofsuchreversionary
interestshallbenullandvoid;butnothing
inthisprovisionshallbeconstruedas
applyingtotheassignmentofthe
copyrightinacollectiveworkoralicense
topublishaworkorpartofaworkaspart
ofacollectivework.
réversibilitédudroitd’auteur,encore
valableàlafindecettepériode,sera
dévolue,àlamortdel’auteur,nonobstant
toutarrangementcontraire,àses
représentantslégauxcommefaisant
partiedesesbiens;toutestipulation
conclueparluienvuededisposerd’untel
droitderéversibilitéseranulleetnon
avenue;cependant,laprésenteréserve
nedevrapasêtreinterprétécomme
s’appliquantàlacessiondudroitd’auteur
surunrecueilouàlalicencedepublier
uneœuvre,entotalitéouenpartie,àtitre
decontributionàuneœuvrecollective.
OWNERSHIPINCASEOFPARTIAL
ASSIGNMENTPOSSESSIONDANSLECASDE
CESSIONPARTIELLE
(3)Where,underanypartialassignment
ofcopyright,theassigneebecomes
entitledtoanyrightcomprisedin
copyright,theassignee,asrespectsthe
rightssoassigned,andtheassignor,as
respectstherightsnotassigned,shallbe
treatedforthepurposesofthisActasthe
ownerofthecopyrightandtheprovisions
ofthisActshallhaveeffectaccordingly.(3)Lorsque,envertud’unecession
partielledudroitd’auteur,lecessionnaire
estinvestid’undroitquelconquecompris
dansledroitd’auteur,ontraiteracomme
titulairedecedroit,pourleseffetsdela
présenteloi,lecessionnaireencequi
concerneledroitainsicédé,etlecédant
encequiconcernelesdroitsnoncédés,
etlesdispositionsdelaprésenteloi
reçoiventleurapplicationen
conséquence.

§3.2.2R.S.C.1927,c.32,s.12(3)and(4).
LIMITATIONINCASETHEAUTHORIS
FIRSTOWNEROFCOPYRIGHTLIMITATIONDANSLECASOÙ
L’AUTEURESTLEPREMIER
POSSESSEURDUDROITD’AUTEUR
3.Wheretheauthorofaworkisthefirst
ownerofthecopyrighttherein,no
assignmentofthecopyright,andnogrant
ofanyinteresttherein,madebyhim,
otherwisethanbywill,afterthefourthday
ofJune,onethousandninehundredand
twenty-one,shallbeoperativetovestin3.Lorsquel’auteurd’uneœuvreestle
premiertitulairedudroitd’auteursurcette
œuvre,aucunecessiondudroitd’auteur
niaucuneconcessiond’unefaculté
inhérenteàcedroit,faiteparlui
(autrementquepartestament)aprèsle
quatrièmejourdejuinmilneufcentvingt

theassigneeorgranteeanyrightswith
respecttothecopyrightinthework
beyondtheexpirationoftwenty-fiveyears
fromthedeathoftheauthor,andthe
reversionaryinterestinthecopyright
expectantontheterminationofthat
periodshall,onthedeathoftheauthor,
notwithstandinganyagreementtothe
contrary,devolveonhislegal
representativesaspartofhisestate,and
anyagreemententeredintobyhimasto
thedispositionofsuchreversionary
interestshallbenullandvoid;butnothing
inthissubsectionshallbeconstruedas
applyingtotheassignmentofthe
copyrightinacollectiveworkoralicense
topublishaworkorpartofaworkaspart
ofacollectivework.
etun,n’aural’effetd’investirle
cessionnaireouleconcessionnaired’un
droitquelconque,comprisdansledroit
d’auteursurl’œuvre,audelàdutermede
vingt-cinqans,àcompterdelamortde
l’auteur;laréversibilitédudroitd’auteur,
encorevalableàlafindecettepériode,
seradévolue,àlamortdel’auteur,
nonobstanttoutarrangementcontraire,à
sesreprésentantslégauxcommefaisant
partiedesesbiens;toutestipulation
conclueparluienvuededisposerd’untel
droitderéversibilitéseranulleetnon
avenue;cependant,leprésent
paragraphenedevrapasêtreinterprété
commes’appliquantàlacessiondudroit
d’auteursurunrecueilouàlalicencede
publieruneœuvre,entotalitéouen
partie,àtitredecontributionàuneœuvre
collective.
OWNERSHIPINCASEOFPARTIAL
ASSIGNMENTPOSSESSIONDANSLECASDE
CESSIONPARTIELLE
4.Where,underanypartialassignmentof
copyright,theassigneebecomesentitled
toanyrightcomprisedincopyright,the
assignee,asrespectstherightsso
assigned,andtheassignor,asrespects
therightsnotassigned,shallbetreated
forthepurposesofthisActastheowner
ofthecopyright,andtheprovisionsofthis
Actshallhaveeffectaccordingly.4.Lorsque,envertud’unecession
partielledudroitd’auteur,lecessionnaire
estinvestid’undroitquelconquecompris
dansledroitd’auteur,ontraiteracomme
titulairedecedroit,pourleseffetsdela
présenteloi,lecessionnaireencequi
concerneledroitainsicédé,etlecédant
encequiconcernelesdroitsnoncédés,
etlesdispositionsdelaprésenteloi
reçoiventleurapplicationen
conséquence.

§3.2.3R.S.C.1952,c.55,s.12(5)&(6).

LIMITATIONINCASETHEAUTHORIS
FIRSTOWNEROFCOPYRIGHTLIMITATIONDANSLECASOÙ
L’AUTEURESTLEPREMIER
POSSESSEURDUDROITD’AUTEUR
(5)Wheretheauthorofaworkisthefirst
ownerofthecopyrighttherein,no(5)Lorsquel’auteurd’uneœuvreestle
premiertitulairedudroitd’auteursurcette

assignmentofthecopyright,andnogrant
ofanyinteresttherein,madebyhim,
otherwisethanbywill,afterthe4thdayof
June,1921,isoperativetovestinthe
assigneeorgranteeanyrightswith
respecttothecopyrightinthework
beyondtheexpirationoftwenty-fiveyears
fromthedeathoftheauthor,andthe
reversionaryinterestinthecopyright
expectantontheterminationofthat
periodshall,onthedeathoftheauthor,
notwithstandinganyagreementtothe
contrary,devolveonhislegal
representativesaspartofhisestate,and
anyagreemententeredintobyhimasto
thedispositionofsuchreversionary
interestisnullandvoid;butnothinginthis
subsectionshallbeconstruedasapplying
totheassignmentofthecopyrightina
collectiveworkoralicencetopublisha
workorpartofaworkaspartofa
collectivework.
œuvre,aucunecessiondudroitd’auteur
niaucuneconcessiond’unintérêtdansce
droit,faiteparlui(autrementquepar
testament)aprèsle4juin1921,n’al’effet
d’investirlecessionnaireoule
concessionnaired’undroitquelconque,à
l’égarddudroitd’auteursurl’œuvre,
pendantplusdevingt-cinqans,àcompter
delamortdel’auteur;laréversibilitédu
droitd’auteur,enexpectativeàlafinde
cettepériode,estdévolue,àlamortde
l’auteur,nonobstanttoutarrangement
contraire,àsesreprésentantslégaux
commefaisantpartiedesesbiens;toute
stipulationconclueparluiconcernantla
dispositiond’unteldroitderéversibilité
estnulleetnonavenue;cependant,le
présentparagraphenedoitpas
s’interprétercommes’appliquantàla
cessiondudroitd’auteursurunrecueilou
àunelicencedepublieruneœuvre,en
totalitéouenpartie,àtitredecontribution
àunrecueil.
OWNERSHIPINCASEOFPARTIAL
ASSIGNMENTPOSSESSIONDANSLECASDE
CESSIONPARTIELLE
(6)Where,underanypartialassignment
ofcopyright,theassigneebecomes
entitledtoanyrightcomprisedin
copyright,theassignee,asrespectsthe
rightssoassigned,andtheassignor,as
respectstherightsnotassigned,shallbe
treatedforthepurposesofthisActasthe
ownerofthecopyright,andtheprovisions
ofthisActshallhaveeffectaccordingly.(6)Lorsque,envertud’unecession
partielledudroitd’auteur,lecessionnaire
estinvestid’undroitquelconquecompris
dansledroitd’auteur,ontraitecomme
titulairedecedroit,pourlesobjetsdela
présenteloi,lecessionnaireencequi
concerneledroitainsicédé,etlecédant
encequiconcernelesdroitsnoncédés,
etlesdispositionsdelaprésenteloi
reçoiventleurapplicationen
conséquence.

§3.2.4R.S.C.1970,c.C-30,s.12(5)&(6).
LIMITATIONWHEREAUTHORISFIRST
OWNEROFCOPYRIGHTLIMITATIONDANSLECASOÙ
L’AUTEURESTLEPREMIER

POSSESSEURDUDROITD’AUTEUR
(5)Wheretheauthorofaworkisthefirst
ownerofthecopyrighttherein,no
assignmentofthecopyright,andnogrant
ofanyinteresttherein,madebyhim
otherwisethanbywillafterthe4thdayof
June,1921,isoperativetovestinthe
assigneeorgranteeanyrightswith
respecttothecopyrightinthework
beyondtheexpirationoftwenty-fiveyears
fromthedeathoftheauthor,andthe
reversionaryinterestinthecopyright
expectantontheterminationofthat
periodshall,onthedeathoftheauthor,
notwithstandinganyagreementtothe
contrary,devolveonhislegal
representativesaspartofhisestate,and
anyagreemententeredintobyhimasto
thedispositionofsuchreversionary
interestisvoid;butnothinginthis
subsectionshallbeconstruedasapplying
totheassignmentofthecopyrightina
collectiveworkoralicencetopublisha
workorpartofaworkaspartofa
collectivework.(5)Lorsquel’auteurd’uneœuvreestle
premiertitulairedudroitd’auteursurcette
œuvre,aucunecessiondudroitd’auteur
niaucuneconcessiond’unintérêtdansce
droit,faiteparlui(autrementquepar
testament)aprèsle4juin1921,n’al’effet
d’investirlecessionnaireoule
concessionnaired’undroitquelconque,à
l’égarddudroitd’auteursurl’œuvre,
pendantplusdevingt-cinqans,àcompter
delamortdel’auteur;laréversibilitédu
droitd’auteur,enexpectativeàlafinde
cettepériode,estdévolue,àlamortde
l’auteur,nonobstanttoutarrangement
contraire,àsesreprésentantslégaux
commefaisantpartiedesesbiens;toute
stipulationconclueparluiconcernantla
dispositiond’unteldroitderéversibilité
estnullecependant,leprésent
paragraphenedoitpass’interpréter
commes’appliquantàlacessiondudroit
d’auteursurunrecueilouàunelicence
depublieruneœuvre,entotalitéouen
partie,àtitredecontributionàunrecueil.
OWNERSHIPINCASEOFPARTIAL
ASSIGNMENTPOSSESSIONDANSLECASDE
CESSIONPARTIELLE
(6)Where,underanypartialassignment
ofcopyright,theassigneebecomes
entitledtoanyrightcomprisedin
copyright,theassignee,asrespectsthe
rightssoassigned,andtheassignor,as
respectstherightsnotassigned,shallbe
treatedforthepurposesofthisActasthe
ownerofthecopyright,andthisActhas
effectaccordingly.(6)Lorsque,envertud’unecession
partielledudroitd’auteur,lecessionnaire
estinvestid’undroitquelconquecompris
dansledroitd’auteur,ontraitecomme
titulairedecedroit,pourlesobjetsdela
présenteloi,lecessionnaireencequi
concerneledroitainsicédé,etlecédant
encequiconcernelesdroitsnoncédés,
etlesdispositionsdelaprésenteloi
reçoiventleurapplicationen
conséquence.

§3.2.5R.S.C.1985,c.C-42,s.14(1)&(2).

LIMITATIONWHEREAUTHORISFIRST
OWNEROFCOPYRIGHT
LIMITATIONDANSLECASOÙ
L’AUTEURESTLEPREMIER
POSSESSEURDUDROITD’AUTEUR
14.(1)Wheretheauthorofaworkisthe
firstownerofthecopyrighttherein,no
assignmentofthecopyrightandnogrant
ofanyinteresttherein,madebyhim,
otherwisethanbywill,afterJune4,1921,
isoperativetovestintheassigneeor
granteeanyrightswithrespecttothe
copyrightintheworkbeyondthe
expirationoftwenty-fiveyearsfromthe
deathoftheauthor,andthereversionary
interestinthecopyrightexpectantonthe
terminationofthatperiodshall,onthe
deathoftheauthor,notwithstandingany
agreementtothecontrary,devolveonhis
legalrepresentativesaspartoftheestate
oftheauthor,andanyagreemententered
intobytheauthorastothedispositionof
suchreversionaryinterestisvoid.14.(1)Lorsquel’auteurd’uneœuvreest
lepremiertitulairedudroitd’auteursur
cetteœuvre,aucunecessiondudroit
d’auteurniaucuneconcessiond’un
intérêtdanscedroit,faiteparlui—
autrementquepartestament—aprèsle
4juin1921,n’al’effetd’investirle
cessionnaireouleconcessionnaired’un
droitquelconque,àl’égarddudroit
d’auteursurl’œuvre,pendantplusde
vingt-cinqansàcompterdelamortde
l’auteur;laréversibilitédudroitd’auteur,
enexpectativeàlafindecettepériode,
estdévolue,àlamortdel’auteur,
nonobstanttoutarrangementcontraire,à
sesreprésentantslégauxcommefaisant
partiedesesbiens;toutestipulation
conclueparluiconcernantladisposition
d’unteldroitderéversibilitéestnulle.
RESTRICTIONRESTRICTION
(2)Nothinginsubsection(1)shallbe
construedasapplyingtotheassignment
ofthecopyrightinacollectiveworkora
licencetopublishaworkorpartofawork
aspartofacollectivework.(2)Leparagraphe(1)nedoitpas
s’interprétercommes’appliquantàla
cessiondudroitd’auteursurunrecueilou
àunelicencedepublieruneœuvre,en
totalitéouenpartie,àtitredecontribution
àunrecueil.

§3.3Transitional

§3.3.1S.C.1999,c.24,s.55(3)

(3)Whereanassignmentofcopyrightor
agrantofanyinteresttherein(a)wasmadebeforethecominginto
forceofPartIIoftheCopyrightAct,as
enactedbysection14ofthisAct,and
(b)wasmadebythemakerofasound
recordingwhowasanaturalperson,
subsections14(1)and(2)ofthe
CopyrightActcontinuetoapplyin(3)Lesparagraphes14(1)et(2)dela
Loi
surledroitd’auteurcontinuentde
s’appliquer,aveclesadaptations
nécessaires,àlacessiondudroitd’auteur
ouàlaconcessiond’unintérêtdansce
droiteffectuées,avantl’entréeenvigueur
delapartieIIdelaLoisurledroitd’auteur,
édictéeparl’article14delaprésenteloi,
parleproducteurd’unenregistrement

respectofthatassignmentorgrant,
withsuchmodificationsasthe
circumstancesrequire,asifthesound
recordingwastheworkreferredtoin
thosesubsectionsandthemakerof
thesoundrecordingwasitsauthor.
sonorequiestunepersonnephysique
commesil’enregistrementsonoreétait
l’œuvreetleproducteur,l’auteurdecelle

§4.0Purpose

Subjecttocertainconditions,section14providesforthereversalofthefullownership
ofthecopyrighttothelegalrepresentativesoftheauthor,25yearsaftertheauthor’s
death.
§5.0Commentary
§5.1History

Section14,whichhasremainedrelativelyunchangedsincecomingintoforcein1924,
haditsequivalentinsubsection5(2)oftheUnitedKingdomCopyrightAct,1911which
wascommentedonasfollows:Theprovisiontosection5(2)oftheActof1911wasofcourse,
insertedintheinterestsofanauthor’sfamily,toprevent,ifpossible,a
successfulauthorfrommakingimprovidentcontractstothedetriment
ofhisdependants.Inpracticethebenefitstotheauthor’sfamilyor
dependantshavebeenfoundtobesomewhatillusory.

SeeSKONEJAMES(EdmundP.)etal.,CopingerandSkoneJamesonCopyright,
13thed.(London,Sweet&Maxwell,1991),atp.116;seesimilarcommentsatp.271
ofthe14thedition.
ThereversionaryinterestprovisionwasnotmaintainedintheUnitedKingdom
CopyrightAct,1956.InCanada,thisreversionaryprovisionhasnotyetbeenrepealed
despiteseveralrecommendations:seeforinstance,KEYES(AndrewA.)etal.
CopyrightinCanada:ProposalsforaRevisionoftheLaw(Ottawa,CCAC,1977),atp.
76;FromGutenbergtoTelidon–AWhitePaperonCopyright(Ottawa,CCAC,1984),
atp.56.Inabitingattack,TORNO(Barry),TermofCopyrightProtectioninCanada:
PresentandProposed(1980),46CanadianPatentReporter(2d)257,oncewrote:
Thus,asdemonstratedearlierins.B(x)hereof,notonlyisthe
reversionaryinterestprovisionsubjecttoamultitudeofqualifications
whichlimititsapplication,whenapplicableitappearstobeoflimited
value.Finally,andperhapsmostimportantlys.12(5)[nows.14]

reflectsanunacceptablepaternalisticapproachto
thetreatmentof
authorsonthepartofabenevolentlydisposedLegislature.Such
provisionsperpetuatethestereotypicalimageoftheauthorasthe
giftedbut“congenitallyirresponsible”[seeFisherMusicCo.v.
Witmark,318US643(1943)]artistewhocannotbeexpectedto
assumefullresponsibilityfortheconsequencesofhisactionsand
mustbeguardedagainsthimself.Itissubmittedthatsucha
perception:(a)constitutesaninsultandadisservicetoauthors.(b)is
notinkeepingwiththesocietalvalueplacedontreatingeachcitizen
asresponsibleforhisownacts,and(c)constitutesaninequitable
intrusionintotheabilityofthepartiestoagreetoexpirationtermsof
theirownchoosing,unrestrictedbyartificiallimitationswhichmay,in
fact,notbeinanauthor’sbestinterestinsofarastheymayserveto
reducetheconsiderationpaidforthecopyright.
Itisthereforerecommendedthatthereversionaryinterestprovisions
ofs.12(5)shouldberepealed.[atp.288]

§5.2General

Subsection14(1)isnotthebestexampleoflegislativeclarity.Accordingtothissection,
subjecttocertainconditionswheretheauthorofaworkisthefirstownerofthe
copyrighttherein,noassignmentofthesaidcopyrightnorgrantofanyinterestmadeby
him,isoperativetovestintheassigneeorgranteerightsrelatingtothecopyrightfor
morethan25yearsaftertheauthor’sdeath.Upontheterminationofthis25-year
period,thetitleorinterestinthecopyrightdevolvesontheauthor’slegal
representativesaspartofhisestate.Seesubsection21(6),definitionof“Legal
representatives”.
§5.3Applicability

Inorderforsection14tohavetheeffectofcancellingcopyrightassignment,certain
conditionsmustbemet:a)thedeceasedauthormusthavebeenthefirstownerofthecopyright;
b)theassignmentofcopyrightmusthavebeenmadeafterJune4,1921;
c)theassignmentofcopyrightmusthavebeenmadeotherwisethanbywill.

§5.3.1Authorfirstowner

Byvirtueofsubsection13(1)oftheCopyrightAct,theauthorofaworkisdeemedtobe
thefirstownerthereof.However,thisrulesufferscertainexceptionswherethe
provisionsofsection14willnotapply.Theseexceptionsareeitherabsoluteor
contingent.

Theabsoluteexceptionsare:
a)Workmadeinthecourseofemployment.Asprovidedbysection13,
wheretheauthorofaworkwasemployedbyanotherpersonundera
contractofservicesorapprenticeshipandtheworkwasmadeinthe
courseofhisemploymentbythatperson,thepersonbywhomtheauthor
wasemployedshall,intheabsenceofanyagreementtothecontrary,be
thefirstownerofthecopyrightasprovidedbysubsection13(3)oftheAct.
b)Orderedengraving,photographorportrait.Undersubsection13(2),inthe
caseofsuchworks,wheretheplateorotheroriginalwasorderedby
someotherpersonandwasmadeforvaluableconsiderationin
pursuanceofthatorder,intheabsenceofanyagreementtothecontrary,
thepersonbywhomtheplateorotheroriginalwasorderedshallbethe
firstownerofthecopyright.
c)WherecopyrightbelongstoHerMajesty.Byvirtueofsection12,where
anyworkis,orhasbeen,preparedorpublishedbyorunderthedirection
orcontrolofHerMajestyoranygovernmentdepartment,thecopyrightin
theworkshall,subjecttoanyagreementwiththeauthor,belongtoHer
Majesty.

Theexceptionsthatarecontingent(i.e.,thatmightapplyornot,dependingonexternal
circumstances)are:a)Posthumouswork.Section7providesthatthetermofcopyrightina
posthumousworkistheremainderofthecalendaryearofpublicationor
publicperformanceoftheworkplus50yearsthereafter.
b)Mechanicalcontrivances.Section11[asthissectionstandspriorto1997-
09-01]providesthatthetermofcopyrightistheremainderofthecalendar
yearfromthemakingoftheoriginalplateplus50yearsthereafter.The
authormaybeabodycorporate.
c)Photographs.Section10providesthatthetermforwhichcopyrightshall
subsistshallbetheremainderofthecalendaryearfromthemakingofthe
initialnegativethereof(orofinitialphotographifthereisnonegative)plus
50yearsthereafter.Theauthormaybeabodycorporate.
d)Cinematograph.Section11.1providesthatthetermofcopyrightisthe
remainderofthecalendaryearoffirstpublicationplus50yearsthereafter
(or,ifnotpublished,theremainderofthecalendaryearofitsmakingplus
50yearsthereafter).

§5.3.2“AfterJune4,1921”

Thereversionaryeffectcontemplatedbythissectionwillonlybeoperativeifthe
assignmentofthecopyrightorthegrantofanyinterestthereinismadeafterJune4,
1921(thedateofadoptionoftheCopyrightAct)andnotJanuary1,1924(thedateof
itscomingintoforce).

§5.3.3“Otherwisethanbywill”

Theassignmentofthecopyrightorthegrantofanyinterestthereinmustnotbemade
bywillforsection14tooperate.Itwouldappearthatgiftsincontemplationofdeath(Art.
820oftheCivilCodeofLowerCanada;Art.812oftheCivilCodeofQuébec)orab
intestatesuccessionsdonotconstituteabartotheoperationofthereversionary
interestprovidedforbysection14.
Thissectionissilentaboutassignmentwhichmayresultfromapplicationofthe
provisionsofamarriagecontract.Iftheprovisionscanbeassimilatedunderprovincial
lawtoawill,thennoreversionaryeffectshouldtakeplace.Inothercases,section14
shouldhavefulleffect.
§5.4PublicOrder

§5.4.1Agreementtothecontrary

Whenalltheconditionsconcerningtheapplicabilityofsection14aremet,thesaid
sectionwillapplynotwithstandinganyagreementtothecontrary.Therefore,anauthor
cannotwaiveinfavourofhisassigneethelimitationimposedbythissection.Itwould
howeverseempossibleforanauthortoobviatethisprovisionbywillorlegacyby
particulartitle,infavouroftheassignee,withtheinherentuncertaintyresultingfromthe
revocabilityofsuchmodeofdevolution.
Forthesamereasonsofpublicorder,itwouldalsoseemthatthereversionaryinterest
cannotbeassignedduringthelifetimeoftheauthor.ComparewiththeUnitedKingdom
CopyrightAct,1988,ScheduleI,subsection27(2),whichallowssuchanassignment
after1989-08-01.However,nothingpreventsthelegalrepresentativesofadeceased
authortoassignthisreversionaryinterestanytime,eitherduringorafterthefirst25
yearsafterthedeathoftheauthor:seeChappell&co.Ltd.v.RedwoodMusicLtd.
(1980),[1981]R.P.C.337(H.L.),SalmonJ.,atp.347.

§5.4.2Contraryagreementvoid

Anyagreemententeredintobytheauthorastothedispositionofthereversionary
interestisvoid.However,mechanismscouldberesortedtothattraversesuchlegal
prohibitionas,forinstance:
a)Copyrightassignmentagreementwhichprovidesforroyalty-free
exclusivelicencetobegrantedtotheassignorattheendof25years
afterthedeathoftheauthor;
b)Stipulationbytheauthorthathislegalrepresentativeswillassignback

thecopyrighttotheassignor,25yearsafterthed
eathoftheauthor(see
Art.1443oftheCivilCodeofQuébec).

Thesealternativeshaveneverbeenjudiciallytested.SeealsoROBERTSON(John
Stuart),TheLawofCopyright(Oxford,Clarendon,1912),atpp.97-98:“thisprovision
canprobablybecircumvented”andrelatedexamples.

§5.4.3Assetoftheauthor’sestate

Theillusorynatureofthebenefitsconferredbythereversionaryprovisionisfurther
illustratedbySkoneJames(EdmundP.)etal.Copinger&SkoneJamesonCopyright,
13thed.(London,Sweet&Maxwell,1991),atno.5.3[citationsomitted]:
Thisreversionaryinterest,unassignableduringtheauthor’slifetime,
thereforebecameanassetoftheauthor’sestateandassignable
immediatelyuponhisdeathbyhispersonalrepresentativesorbya
beneficiaryafterassent.Itwasconsequentlyliabletobesoldbyhis
executorsforthepaymentofhisdebts,and,evenifnotrequiredfor
thatpurpose,itwasfrequentlythedutyoftheexecutorstorealisethe
interestforthepurposeofwindinguptheauthor’sestate.Supposing
theauthormadeaspecificbequestofhisreversionaryinterestinhis
copyright,thespecificlegateewouldprobablybereadytosellthat
interestforthwith,ratherthanwaitforachanceofincome25years
later.Theonlypossiblepurchaser,atanyrateinthecaseofaliterary
work,would,saveinexceptionalcases,betheauthor’spublisher,and
theamountwhichhewouldbepreparedtogiveforareversionary
interestinacopyrightfallingintopossession25yearslaterwouldnot
belikelytobeverylarge,particularlyhavingregardtothefactthat,
evenifhedeclinedtopurchasethereversion,hewouldbeentitledto
continuetopublishthework,ifhethoughtitworthwhiletodoso,upon
paymentofaroyaltytotheownerofthecopyright,andthat,ifhedid
purchase,hecouldnotacquireanexclusivecopyright.

Seesimilarcommentsinthe14thedition,at§5.120underthetitleIllusorynatureofthe
benefitsconferredbythereverter.

§5.4.4PermanentDamagetoReversionaryInterest

Whenthereversionprovidedforbysubsection14(1)oftheCopyrightActapplies,it
maybesaidthatforthelegalrepresentativesofanauthor,thepossessionofthe
copyrightremainssuspendeduntil25yearsafterthedeathoftheauthor.To
paraphraseKLAR(LewisN.),TortLaw(Toronto,Carswell,1991),atp.71,whatwould
happenif,duringthatperiodoftimethecopyright(consideredhereasamerechattel)
overwhichthelegalrepresentativeshaveareversionaryinterestwerelostor

permanentlydamaged(e.g.voluntaryabandonmentby
theprotantoowneroradverse
rulingundersection32oftheCompetitionAct)?Arethereversioners/legal
representativesrequiredtowaituntilregainingtherighttoimmediatepossession(i.e.,
25yearsafterthedeathoftheauthor)beforebeingallowedtotakeactionagainstthe
wrongdoer?
Itwouldappearthatuntilthelegalrepresentativeshavetherighttothepossession,an
actionforconversionwillnotbeopentothemuntiltheexpirationofthetermof
reversion.AsputbyFLEMING(JohnG.),TheLawofTorts,8thed.(SydneyLawBook,
1992):Butalthoughareversionaryownercannotsueintrover[i.e.hecan
recoverneitherthevalueofthechattelnorthevalueofhisinterest],
hehasanactiononthecaseforsuchdamageashemaysustainfrom
beingdeprivedofthebenefitofhisreversionaryinterest.Thus,he
maysueifthechattelhasbeendestroyedorpermanentlydamaged,
orsodisposedofthatavalidtitletheretohasbecomevestedinathird
party,asasaleinmarketovert.Buthecannotcomplainifthechattel
ismerelybeingwrongfullytakenordetainedfromitstemporary
possessor,becauseitisholyspeculativewhetherhisown
reversionaryinterestwilltherebybeimpaired.[Ouremphasis.][atp.
65]

SeetheanalogywithMearsv.TheLondonandSouthWesternRailwayCompany
(1862),11C.B.850(C.P.)EarleJ.,atpp.853-854andWilliamsJ.,atp.854.

§5.5Exception
§5.5.1Collectivework

Subsection14(1)doesnotapplytoa)theassignmentofthecopyrightinacollective
workorb)alicencetopublishaworkorpartofa“collectivework”asdefinedinsection
2oftheCopyrightAct.

IncaselawdealingwiththeUnitedKingdomequivalentofsubsection14(2),the
expression“collectivework”wasdefinedas“onewhichassuchattractsitsown
copyrightdistinctfromanycomponents”:seeRedwoodMusicLtd.v.Francis,Day&
HunterLtd.(1980),[1981]R.P.C.337(H.L.),atp.349.

Furthermore,itwasheldthatthedefinitionof“collectivework”doesnotnecessarily
encompassallworksofjointownershipasone“cannot…squeezetheright-handfootof
aworkofjointownershipintotheleft-handshoeofacollectivework,aseachisdefined
intheActof1911”:RedwoodMusicLtd.v.FrancisDay&HunterLtd.:see[1979]
R.P.C.385(C.A.)BridgeJ.,atp.406.
Thesamereasoningwouldbeapplicableundersubsection14(2).Despitethisprinciple

andinlightofjurisprudentialhesitation,doubts
stillexistconcerningtheexactlimitsof
“collectivework”insofarasitconstitutesanexceptiontothereversibilityrule.

§5.5.2Licence

Thereversionaryprovisionofsection14onlyapplieswhenthereisanassignmentor
grantofinterestinacopyright.Itwouldseemthatthissectionwillnotoperatesoasto
diminishalicencewhichdoesnotconveyagrantofinterestinthelicensedcopyright:
seesubsection14(3).
§5.5.3Subject-matterotherthanworks

Thereversionaryprovisionofsection14oftheCopyrightActdoesnotapplyto
performers’performances,soundrecordingsmadeafter1997-09-01norto
communicationsignalsastheyarenot“works”or,asputbyGENDREAU(Ysolde)et
al.,Canada,inInternationalCopyrightLaw(NewYork,LexisNexis,2002),at§4[3][b]
sincethey“arenot‘works’having‘authors’”.
§6.0CaseLaw
§6.1Canada

1.FrancisDay&HunterLtdvTwentiethCenturyFoxCorporation(1939),[1940]
A.C.112(J.C.P.C.-Canada)WrightJ.Gilbert,thewriterandcomposerdiedintestatein1903.Underthe
thenexistinglawinEnglandthecopyrightwouldhaveexpiredin1934,
butundertheCopyrightAct,1911(Imp.),c.46,theperiodwas
changedintooneof50yearsfromtheauthor’sdeath,thatisuntil
1953.Fortheresidueofthisextendedperiod,thatisfrom1934to
1953thecopyrightvestednotintheassigneesoftherightbutinthe
authororhispersonalrepresentatives.Inthepresentcasethesewere
twodaughters.[atpp.118-119.]

2.AnneofGreenGablesLicensingAuthorityIncvAvonleaTraditionsInc(2000),4
C.P.R.(4th)289(Ont.Sup.Ct.)WilsonJ.
(83)Thiscomplexstatutoryframeworkofreversionarycopyrightwas
originallycreatedinEnglandtorelieveagainsthardshipsufferedby
theimpoverishedfamiliesofdeceasedauthors;itisknowncolloquially
asthe”Dickens”provision.Thereversionaryrightshavebeen
repealedinEngland,butremaininforceinCanada.

(84)L.M.MontgomerydiedonApril24,1942.Thecopyrighttherefore

expiredonApril24,1992.Sincecopyrighthasbeen
assignedtoa
thirdpartyinthiscase(Pageanditssuccessor,Farrar),therightsof
theassigneearelimitedbythereversionaryrightsoftheauthor’s
estate,whichcameintoeffecttwenty-fiveyearsafterthedateofthe
author’sdeath

3.KelleyEstatev.Roy(2002),[2002]CarswellNat2421(FCTD)GibsonJ.
(54)Counselfortheapplicanturgedthattheunderlinedwordsinthe
closingthree(3)linesofsubsection14(1)oftheActmustbereadas
renderinganyagreement,otherwisevalidundersubsection13(4)of
theAct,entirelyvoidwhereitpurportstoassignthereversionary
interestasdescribedinsubsection14(1).Counselurgedthis
interpretationontwo(2)grounds:first,becauseiftheclosingwords
arenotsoread,theywouldbepurelyduplicativeoftheearlierwords
inthesubsectionthatIhaveemphasized;andsecondly,becauseonly
suchaninterpretationaccordswiththegrammaticalstructureofthe
closingwords.

(55)Bycontrast,counselforFireflyurgedthatsubsections13(4)and
14(1)oftheActmustbereadtogetherandthattheinterpretation
urgedonbehalfoftheapplicantwouldbeentirelyinconsistentwiththe
objectiveofsubsection13(4)andtheobjectivesoftheAct,readasa
whole.

(56)[…]Iamsatisfiedthattheinterpretationurgedonbehalfofthe
applicantwouldsimplynotbeconsistentwiththeschemeoftheActas
awholeand,moreparticularly,withtheschemeofsubsections13(4)
and14(1)oftheAct,readtogether

§6.2UnitedKingdom

1.RedwoodMusicLtd.v.Francis,Day&HunterLtd.(1980),[1981]R.P.C.337
(H.L.),LordSalmon:IagreewiththeCourtofAppealthattheobjectoftheprovisowasto
safeguardauthorsandtheirheirsfromtheconsequencesofany
imprudentdispositionwhichauthorsmightmakeofthefruitsoftheir
talentandoriginality.
Tothisend,theprovisoenactsthatanassignmentofacopyrightby
itsfirstownershallnotbeoperativebeyond25yearsafterhisdeath;
andthecopyrightshallthendevolveforitsremaining25yearsonhis
legalpersonalrepresentativesaspartofhisestate.

[…]

Theappellantcompaniescontendthatthelastclaus
eoftheproviso
(referredtoas“theexception”)eliminatesthesafeguardwithwhich
theprovisowouldotherwiseprotecttheestateofthewritersofthe
wordsofthesongandtheestateofthecomposersofitsmusicduring
thelast25yearsoftherespectivecopyrights’existence.Iamafraid
thatIcannotagreewiththiscontention.
Itiscommongroundthattherecanneverbeacopyrightofasong
saveintheexceptionalcasewhereitswordsandmusicarewrittenby
thesameman,inwhicheventhewouldownthecopyrightofthesong
andheandhisestatewouldhavefullprotectioninrelationtoitunder
theprovisotosection5(2).Inthesecircumstancesitseemsabsurdto
methatwherethewordsofasongarewrittenbyonemanandthe
musicbyanother,andeachaccordinglyhasaseparatecopyrightin
relationrespectivelytothewordsandmusicyetneitherthemannor
hisestatehadanyprotectionundertheproviso.Idonotconsiderthat
thelanguageoftheActleadstoanysuchresult.
Muchdependsonthemeaningofthewords“collectivework”inthe
exceptionattheendoftheprovisotosection5(2)oftheAct.
“Collectivework”isdefinedinsection35(1)oftheActasfollows:
“Collectivework’means—(a)anencyclopaedia,dictionary,year
book,orsimilarwork;(b)anewspaper,review,magazine,or
similarperiodical;and(c)anyworkwrittenindistinctpartsby
differentauthors,orinwhichworksorpartsofworksofdifferent
authorsareincorporated.”
Paragraphs(a)and(b)describethecollectivework,thecompilationof
whichiscopyrightinadditiontothecopyrightofeachoftheparts
whichconstituteorareincorporatedinthecollectivework.Inmy
opinion,theexceptiontotheprovisoinsection5(2)isconfinedtothe
assignmentofthecopyrightofacollectiveworksuchasan
encyclopaedia,adictionaryandthelike.Iwouldstressthatthese
worksconstitute“workwrittenindistinctpartsbydifferentauthors,or
inwhichworksorpartsofworksofdifferentauthorsareincorporated”.
Eachsuchauthor,nodoubt,hasaseparatecopyrightintheparticular
workhehaswritten.Thecompilerofanencyclopaediahas,however,
aseparatecopyrightoftheworkwhichhehascompiledby
incorporatingotherworkinit.
Itwas,Ithink,recognisedthatparagraphs(a)and(b)mightfailto
coveralltheworkswhichconstitutecollectiveworks,andaccordingly
paragraph(c)wasaddedtoinclude,inprinciple,collectiveworks
whichmightturnouttohavebeenoverlooked,e.g.anthologiessuch
asPalgrave’sGoldenTreasuryandtheOxfordBookofEnglishVerse.

Inmyopinion,anessentialingredientof“collectivework”referredtoin
theexceptiontotheprovisoinsection5(2)wasthatitshouldhavea
copyrightofitsown,whichisnotsurprisingascopyrightiswhatthe
Actisallabout.Theonlyassignmentofanycopyrightwhichis
expectedfromtheprotectionoftheprovisoistheassignmentofa
copyrightofacollectivework.
Asong,asinthepresentcase,hasitswordswrittenbyonemanand
itsmusicbyanother;itswordshaveacopyright,andsohasitsmusic.
Butthesetwocopyrightsareentirelyseparatefromeachotherand
cannotbemerged.Itfollowsthatthesongitselfhasnocopyrightand
doesnotthereforefallwithintheexceptiontotheprovisoinsection
5(2).Accordingly,thewritersofthewordsofthesonghavingthe
copyrightofthosewordsandthecomposersofthemusicofthesongs
havingthecopyrightofthatmusic,theyandtheirestatesare,inmy
opinion,entitledtotheprotectionconferredbytheproviso.[atpp.334-
346]

2.RedwoodMusicLtd.v.Francis,Day&HunterLtd.(1980),[1981]R.P.C.337
(H.L.),LordRusselofKillowen[afterhavingreferredtosubsection5(2)ofthe
CopyrightAct,1911]:
Thusitismadeimpossiblefortheauthoreithertoassignorlicense,or
tocontracttoassignorlicense,inmannerextendingintothe
reversionary25yearperiod,thoughhislegalpersonalrepresentatives
(orabeneficiaryafterassent)candosoatanytimeaftertheauthor’s
death.

§7.0ListofCases

§7.1Canada

1.FrancisDay&HunterLtdvTwentiethCenturyFoxCorporation(1937),[1937]4
D.L.R.700(Ont.H.C.J.);rev’d(1938),[1938]3D.L.R.375(Ont.C.A.);(1939),8
F.L.J.163(J.C.P.C.-MotionforLeave);aff’d(1939),[1940]A.C.112(J.C.P.C.-
Canada)

2.RedwoodMusicLtd.v.Bourne,(1995),63C.P.R.(3d)380(Ont.Gen.Div.);affd
(1999),84C.P.R.(3d)414.

3.AnneofGreenGablesLicensingAuthorityIncvAvonleaTraditionsInc(1998),

[1998]CarswellOnt3928(OntSC-SummaryJudgement
);(2000),4C.P.R.(4th)
289&5C.P.R.(4th)iii(Ont.Sup.Ct.);(2000),6C.P.R.(4th)57(Ont.C.A.-
Stay);appealabandonned(2000),5C.P.R.(4th)iii(Ont.C.A.)

4.WingvVanVelthuizen(2000),[2000]CarswellNat2873(FCTD)

5.KelleyEstatev.Roy(2002),[2002]CarswellNat2421(FCTD)

§7.1UnitedKingdom

1.Mearsv.TheLondonandSouthWesternRailwayCompany,(1862),142E.R.
1029(C.P.).

1.Coleridge-Taylorv.Novello&Co.Ltd.,[1938]2AllE.R.318(Ch.D.);[1938]3All
E.R.506(C.A.).

2.CampbellConnelly&Co.v.Noble,(1962),[1963]1W.L.R.252,[1963]1All
E.R.237(Ch.D.).

3.RedwoodMusicLtd.v.B.Feldman&Co.,(1978),[1979]R.P.C.1(Q.B.D.);
[1979]R.P.C.385(C.A.);[1980]2AllE.R.817,[1981]R.P.C.337(H.L.).

4.RedwoodMusicLtd.v.Francis,Day&HunterLtd.,(1977),[1978]R.P.C.429
(Q.B.D.);[1979]R.P.C.385(C.A.);[1980]2AllE.R.817,[1981]R.P.C.337
(H.L.).

§8.0Authors
§8.1Canada

1.FOX(HaroldGeorge),TheCanadianLawofCopyrightandIndustrialDesigns,
2nded.(Toronto,Carswell,1967),atpp.287-295.

2.GENDREAU(Ysolde),Laprotectiondesphotographiesendroitd’auteur
français,américain,britanniqueetcanadien,Coll.Bibliothèquededroitprivéno.
246(Paris,L.G.D.J.,1994,atno.238.

3.GENDREAU(Ysolde)etal.,Canada,inInternationalCopyrightLaw(NewYork,
LexisNexis,2002),at§4[3][b].

4.HALE(Chris),Heirsof’AnneofGreenGables’AuthorPrevailOverLicensee
(2000),14WorldIntellectualPropertyReport139

5.HARRIS(Rosina),ReversionaryRightsintheUnitedKingdomandCanada

(1982),30BulletinoftheCopyrightSocietyofthe
USA544.

6.HEIGHINGTON(Strachan)etal.,ReversionaryInterestsundertheCanadian
CopyrightAct(1989),9Estates&TrustsJournal176.

7.HUGHES(RogerT.),HughesonCopyrightandIndustrialDesign,(Toronto,
Butterworths,1984),under§14.

8.KEYES(AndrewA.)etal.,CopyrightinCanada:ProposalsforaRevisionofthe
Law,(Ottawa,CCAC,1977),atpp.59-63,76.

9.KLAR(LewisN.),TortLaw(Toronto,Carswell,1991),atpp.71-72.

10.KNOPF(Howard),WhatisInfringement?,inIntellectualProperty:CopyrightLaw
(Ottawa,NationalJudicialInstitute,1993),ch.8,atpp.29-30.

11.LÉTOURNEAU(Danielle),Ledroitd’auteurdel’audiovisuel:unecultureetun
droitenévolution—étudecomparative,Coll.Minerve(Cowansville,Blais,1995),
atp.12.

12.MANN(Fraser),Acquisition,OwnershipandCollectiveAdministrationof
Copyright,inCopyrightLawofCanada(Toronto,Carswell,1994),ch.3,atpp.
109-110;reprintedfromIntellectualProperty:CopyrightLaw(Ottawa,National
JudicialInstitute,1993),ch.4,atpp.17-18.

13.McKEOWN(JohnS.),FoxCanadianLawofCopyrightandIndustrialDesigns,
3rded.(Toronto,Carswell,2000),atpp.382-383.

14.MIKUS(Jean-Philippe),Lescontratsindividuelsdesauteursetdesartistes
interprètes–Ledroitquébecois,inProtectionofAuthorsandPerformers
throughContracts–ContractualPracticesintheDigitalWorld(Montebello,ALAI,
1997),CanadianReport,atpp.17,23-24.

15.ROGERS(Samuel),PerformingRights(1936),14CanadianBarReview791,at
p.799.

16.SANDERSON(Paul),MusiciansandtheLawinCanada,2nded.(Toronto,
Cawswell,1992),atp.10.

17.TAMARO(Normand),Ledroitd’auteur:fondementsetprincipes(Montréal,
P.U.M.,1994),atpp.188-190.

18.TAMARO(Normand),TheAnnotatedCopyrightAct,2002(Toronto,Carswell
2002),inder§14.

19.TAMARO(Normand),LadissociationdelapropriétéduCodecivildesdroits

d’auteur:l’exempledelasaisie
,inDéveloppementsrécentsendroitdela
propriétéintellectuelle(1991)–ServicedelaformationpermanenteduBarreau
duQuébec,vol.28(Cowansville,Blais,1991),atpp.205-206.

20.TORNO(Barry),TermofCopyrightProtectioninCanada:PresentandProposed,
(1980),46CanadianPatentReporter(2d)256,atpp.266-268.

21.VAVER(David),CopyrightLaw,(Toronto,Irwin,2000),atpp.110-116.

§8.2UnitedKingdom

1.ABRAHAMS(RobertJ.),TheUnitedKingdomCopyriaghtLaw,inComparative
StudyofCopyrightRegulationsintheMainCountriesoftheWorldwith
EmphasisonPracticalLegalProblemsArisingintheShowBusiness(Cannes,
Midem-IAEL,1978),atp.6.

2.BRAGIEL(Edward),TheRedwoodCases–TheCommercialSignificanceofthe
ReversionaryProvisionoftheCopyrightAct1956,[1981]3European
IntellectualPropertyReview91.

3.EASTON(J.M.),Copinger’sTheLawofCopyright,inWorksinLiterature,Art,
Architecture,Photography,MusicandDrama(London,StevensandHaynes,
1915),atpp.128-130.

4.FEATHER(John),Authors,PublishersandPoliticians:TheHistoryofCopyright
andtheBookTrade(1988),12EuropeanIntellectualPropertyReview377,atp.
380.

5.FLINT(Michael)etal.,CaseComment:Rewoodv.Feldman(1979),1European
IntellectualPropertyReview338.

6.FREITAS(Denisde),LettreduRoyaume-Uni(1984),97LeDroitd’Auteur16,at
pp.21-23.

7.GARNETT(Kevin)etal.,CopingerandSkoneJamesonCopyright,14thed.
(London,Sweet&Maxwell,1999),atnos.5-110to5-21.

8.KRASILOVSKY(M.William),Reversion:TheSleepingGiantofBritishCopyright
(1979),9PerformingArtsReview1.

9.LADDIE(Hugh)etal.,TheModernLawofCopyright(London,Butterworths,
1980,atnos.10.49-10.52.

10.LADDIE(Hugh)etal.,TheModernLawofCopyrightandDesigns,2nded.
(London,Butterworhts,1995),atnos.13.28-13.45.

11.LESTER(David)etal.,
Joynson-HicksonUKCopyrightLaw(London,Sweet&
Maxwell,1989),atpp.226-231.

12.RICKETSON(Sam),TheCopyrightTerm(1992),23InternationalReviewof
IndustrialPropertyandCopyrightLaw753,atpp.761-763.

13.ROBERTSON(JohnStuart),TheLawofCopyright(Oxford,Clarendon,1912),
atpp.95-98.

14.SKONEJAMES(EdmundP.)etal.,CopingerandSkoneJamesonCopyright,
12thed.,(London,Sweet&Maxwell,1980),atpp.160-164.

15.SKONEJAMES(EdmundPurcell)etal.,CopingerandSkoneJameson
Copyright,13thed.(London,Sweet&Maxwell,1991),atno.7.14.

§8.3Authors–UnitedStatesofAmerica

1.ALTER(Lisa),CopyrightReversions–ProtectingYourMusicalCopyrights
(1998);availableattheURLaddress
http://www.wixenmusic.com/coyright_reversions.htm.

2.DAVIS(MichaelH.),TheScreenwriter’sIndestructibleRighttoTerminateHer
AssignmentofCopyright:OnceaStoryis”Pitched”,aStudiocanNeverObtain
A
lCopyrightsintheStory(2000),18CardozoArts&EntertainmentLawJournal
93;reprintedinVIERA(JohnDavid)etal.,ed.Entertainment,Publishingandthe
ArtsHandbook,2001-2002edition(NewYork,West,2001)93-126.

§8.4Varia

1.LAHORE(James),CopyrightLaw(Sydney,Butterworths,1996),at§3.9.90-
3.9.130.

2.RICKETSON(Staniforth)etal.,TheLawofIntellectualProperty:Copyright,
Designs&ConfidentialInformation,
2nded.(Pyrmont,Lawbook,2002),under§
14.260-14.300.

§9.0Varia

§9.1UnitedKingdomCopyrightAct,1911,s.5(2)
Ownershipofcopyright,&c.

[…]Providedthat,wheretheauthorofaworkis
thefirstownerofthe
copyrighttherein,noassignmentofthecopyright,andnograntofany
interesttherein,madebyhim(otherwisethanbywill)afterthepassing
ofthisAct,shallbeoperativetovestintheassigneeorgranteeany
rightswithrespecttothecopyrightintheworkbeyondtheexpiration
oftwenty-fiveyearsfromthedeathoftheauthor,andthereversionary
interestinthecopyrightexpectantontheterminationofthatperiod
shall,onthedeathoftheauthor,notwithstandinganyagreementto
thecontrary,devolveonhislegalpersonalrepresentativesaspartof
hisestate,andanyagreemententeredintobyhimastothe
dispositionofsuchreversionaryinterestshallbenullandvoid,but
nothinginthisprovisoshallbeconstruedasapplyingtothe
assignmentofthecopyrightinacollectiveworkoralicencetopublish
aworkorpartofaworkaspartofacollectivework.

§9.2UnitedStatesCopyrightAct,1976(asamended),s.203
203.Terminationoftransfersandlicensesgrantedbytheauthor
(a)ConditionsforTermination.-Inthecaseofanyworkotherthana
workmadeforhire,theexclusiveornonexclusivegrantofatransferor
licenseofcopyrightorofanyrightunderacopyright,executedbythe
authoronorafterJanuary1,1978,otherwisethanbywill,issubjectto
terminationunderthefollowingconditions:(1)Inthecaseofagrantexecutedbyoneauthor,terminationof
thegrantmaybeeffectedbythatauthoror,iftheauthorisdead,
bythepersonorpersonswho,underclause(2)ofthis
subsection,ownandareentitledtoexerciseatotalofmorethan
one-halfofthatauthor’sterminationinterest.Inthecaseofa
grantexecutedbytwoormoreauthorsofajointwork,
terminationofthegrantmaybeeffectedbyamajorityofthe
authorswhoexecutedit;ifanyofsuchauthorsisdead,the
terminationinterestofanysuchauthormaybeexercisedasa
unitbythepersonorpersonswho,underclause(2)ofthis
subsection,ownandareentitledtoexerciseatotalofmorethan
one-halfofthatauthor’sinterest.
(2)Whereanauthorisdead,hisorherterminationinterestis
owned,andmaybeexercised,asfollows:(A)thewidoworwidowerownstheauthor’sentire
terminationinterestunlessthereareanysurvivingchildren
orgrandchildrenoftheauthor,inwhichcasethewidowor
widowerownsone-halfoftheauthor’sinterest;
(B)theauthor’ssurvivingchildren,andthesurvivingchildren
ofanydeadchildoftheauthor,owntheauthor’sentire
terminationinterestunlessthereisawidoworwidower,in
whichcasetheownershipofone-halfoftheauthor’sinterest
isdividedamongthem;
(C)therightsoftheauthor’schildrenandgrandchildrenare

inallcasesdividedamongthemandexercisedona
per
stirpesbasisaccordingtothenumberofsuchauthor’s
childrenrepresented;theshareofthechildrenofadead
childinaterminationinterestcanbeexercisedonlybythe
actionofamajorityofthem.
(D)intheeventthattheauthor’swidoworwidower,
children,andgrandchildrenarenotliving,theauthor’s
executor,administrator,personalrepresentative,ortrustee
shallowntheauthor’sentireterminationinterest.
(3)Terminationofthegrantmaybeeffectedatanytimeduringa
periodoffiveyearsbeginningattheendofthirty-fiveyearsfrom
thedateofexecutionofthegrant;or,ifthegrantcoverstheright
ofpublicationofthework,theperiodbeginsattheendofthirty-
fiveyearsfromthedateofpublicationoftheworkunderthegrant
orattheendoffortyyearsfromthedateofexecutionofthegrant,
whichevertermendsearlier.
(4)Theterminationshallbeeffectedbyservinganadvance
noticeinwriting,signedbythenumberandproportionofowners
ofterminationinterestsrequiredunderclauses(1)and(2)ofthis
subsection,orbytheirdulyauthorizedagents,uponthegrantee
orthegrantee’ssuccessorintitle.
(A)Thenoticeshallstatetheeffectivedateofthe
termination,whichshallfallwithinthefive-yearperiod
specifiedbyclause(3)ofthissubsection,andthenotice
shallbeservednotlessthantwoormorethantenyears
beforethatdate.Acopyofthenoticeshallberecordedin
theCopyrightOfficebeforetheeffectivedateoftermination,
asaconditiontoitstakingeffect.
(B)Thenoticeshallcomply,inform,content,andmannerof
service,withrequirementsthattheRegisterofCopyrights
shallprescribebyregulation.
(5)Terminationofthegrantmaybeeffectednotwithstandingany
agreementtothecontrary,includinganagreementtomakeawill
ortomakeanyfuturegrant.

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