Lights, Camera,…Harmonize: Photography Issues in Copyright Reform

Chapter 14

Lights, camera,… harmonize: Photography issues in copyright reform
Alex Cameron

This paper provides an exploration and analysis of photography issues in proposed amendments to the Copyright Act. Three areas are covered: authorship of photographs, term of protection of photographs, and ownership of commissioned photographs. The author suggests that, in the name of "harmonization," the proposed amendments fail to adequately address important issues of balance and consumer protection, particularly in relation to ownership of commissioned works. The author offers alternative solutions to address these issues.

About the Author:

Alex Cameron is currently pursuing a Doctor of Laws degree and teaching at the University of Ottawa, on leave from Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, where he practices in a wide variety of areas including privacy, domain names, trade-marks, copyright, trade secrets, and confidential information. He has earned a B.A. and LL.B. from the University of British Columbia and an LL.M. from the University of Ottawa and is a member of the Bar of British Columbia.

Alex has regularly published papers and given presentations at conferences in many of his areas of practice and research. His current research and writing focuses on privacy, intellectual property, digital rights management technology, and Internet service providers. Alex has testified regarding copyright reform on behalf of the Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic (CIPPIC) before committees of the House of Commons and the Senate. Most recently, Alex acted as co-counsel for the CIPPIC before the Federal Court and the Federal Court of Appeal in Canada’s first case regarding P2P file-sharing, privacy, ISPs, and copyright: BMG Canada Inc. v. John Doe.

Alex is an Associate at CIPPIC, a researcher on the On the Identity Trail project at the University of Ottawa, and a past guest-lecturer at the University of British Columbia. He can be reached at acameron@uottawa.ca.

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