Teresa Scassa - Blog

Displaying items by tag: Internet

"The Best Things in Law are Free:  Towards Quality Free Public Access to Primary Legal Materials in Canada", (2000) 23 Dalhousie Law Journal 301-336

This paper examines the move, in the 1990s in Canada, towards making primary legal materials freely available to the public over the internet.   The paper begins by assessing the situation in Canada at the time of writing, and the need for a centralized and harmonized electronic portal for primary legal materials.  I consider initiatives in other jurisdictions aimed at providing comprehensive free public access, and explore the rationales for developing and providing such access.  I explore some of the implications and questions raised by the provision of publicly accessible primary legal materials.  These include the concepts of  “public” and “access”, concerns about information monopolies, the role of lawyers as "infomediaries" and the normative implications of "freeing" the law.

Published in Refereed Articles

"Intellectual Property on the Cyber-Picketline:  A Comment on British Columbia Automobile Assn v. Office and Professional Employees' International Union, Local 378", (2002) 39 Alberta Law Review 934-962

This paper is a lengthy and critical comment on the decision of the British Columbia Supreme Court, British Columbia Automobile Assn v. Office and Professional Employees' International Union, Local 378.. The case remains an important decision on issues of passing off, trademark and copyright infringement relating to websites, domain names and meta tags.  In this paper I explore these issues, all of which may commonly arise in situations of alleged competition between websites.  The case thus provides a context for exploring legitimate and unlawful uses of domain names and meta tags, copyright infringement, and web site design, and touches on the role of s. 22 of the Trade-marks Act.  Because BCAA also occurs in the context of a labour dispute, it raises further issues about intellectual property rights and freedom of expression.  In this context, I examine the balance being struck between monopolistic intellectual property rights and the fundamental right of freedom of expression.

Published in Refereed Articles

“Global Reach, Local Grasp: Constructing Extraterritorial Jurisdiction in the Age of Globalization” (2007) 6 Canadian Journal of Law and Technology 29-60. (With Stephen Coughlan, Robert Currie and Hugh Kindred) PDF Available here.

The reach of national law is often greater than its grasp. Canada, like other countries, has effective legal power over its territory and all within it. However, one consequence of the current process of globalization, for good or ill, is that Canadian interests are no longer contained exclusively within Canadian borders. Canada thus finds it increasingly necessary to consider asserting its legal jurisdiction beyond its frontiers. In this we consider issues of jurisdiction, distinguishing between territorial and extraterritorial jurisdiction, and defining and discussing legislative/prescriptive jurisdiction, executive/enforcement jurisdiction, investigative jurisdiction and judicial/adjudicative jurisdiction. We discuss the mechanics of extraterritorial action, and  the means by which extraterritorial action is taken.  We also consider the policy justifications which have primarily motivated Canada to act extraterritorially in the past. In the second part of the paper, we consider whether the lessons of the past are applicable to the future. Primarily we will do this by pursuing four “case studies” of areas of law which raise new and challenging issues. These include i) the internet; ii) personal data protection, iii) human rights and iv) competition in the marketplace.

Published in Refereed Articles

“The Inadvertent Disclosure of Personal Health Information through Peer-to-peer File Sharing Programs”, in JAMIA 2010 17: 148-158 ( Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association) (with K. El Emam, E. Neri, E. Jonker, M. Sokolova, L. Peyton, & A. Neisa)

There has been a consistent concern about the inadvertent disclosure of personal information on peer-to-peer file sharing networks. Examples of personal health and financial information being exposed have been published. This paper estimates the extent to which personal health information (PHI) is leaking in this way, and compare that to the extent of leakage of personal financial information (PFI). The paper concludes that there is a real risk of PHI leakage on peer-to-peer file sharing networks, although the risk is not as large as for PFI. Custodians of PHI should not install file sharing applications on their computers, and individuals need to be educated about the proper use of file sharing tools to avoid inadvertent disclosure of their, their family’s, their clients’, or patients’ PHI.

Published in Refereed Articles

Journalistic Purposes and Private Sector Data Protection Legislation: Blogs, Tweets, and Information Maps” (2010) 35 Queen’s Law J. 733-781

This paper explores how changes in the ways in which information is consumed and disseminated by myriad individuals in myriad forms may impact data protection law in Canada. The author uses examples of blogs, Twitter and information maps to illustrate the problems which will inevitably arise when trying to discern which individuals and which information will properly fit into the journalistic purposes exception in Canadian data protection statutes. She suggests that exceptions for the collection, use or disclosure of personal information for journalistic purposes raise vital questions pertaining to the purpose and scope of these exceptions. Recent case law serves to illustrate the difficulties faced by decision-makers in defining the scope of these exceptions, particularly given the need to balance the public right to be informed with individual privacy rights. The author considers the journalistic purposes exceptions in light of the role of journalists by analyzing how reporters’ privilege cases, defamation law (“responsible journalism”) and ethical codes of conduct might affect and inform current Canadian case law. She compares how journalistic purpose exceptions are configured and applied in Australia and the United Kingdom. In the conclusion, the author considers the direction that data protection law in Canada should take. She suggests that a reasonableness test, which attempts to balance the various conflicting interests, should govern decisions on whether information is being provided for a journalistic purpose or for some “other” purpose.

 

 

This paper explores how changes in the ways in which information is consumed and disseminated by myriad individuals in myriad forms may impact data protection law in Canada. The author uses examples of blogs, Twitter and information maps to illustrate the problems which will inevitably arise when trying to discern which individuals and which information will properly fit into the journalistic purposes exception in Canadian data protection statutes. She suggests that exceptions for the collection, use or disclosure of personal information for journalistic purposes raise vital questions pertaining to the purpose and scope of these exceptions. Recent case law serves to illustrate the difficulties faced by decision-makers in defining the scope of these exceptions, particularly given the need to balance the public right to be informed with individual privacy rights. The author considers the journalistic purposes exceptions in light of the role of journalists by analyzing how reporters’ privilege cases, defamation law (“responsible journalism”) and ethical codes of conduct might affect and inform current Canadian case law. She compares how journalistic purpose exceptions are configured and applied in Australia and the United Kingdom. In the conclusion, the author considers the direction that data protection law in Canada should take. She suggests that a reasonableness test, which attempts to balance the various conflicting interests, should govern decisions on whether information is being provided for a journalistic purpose or for some “other” purpose.

Published in Refereed Articles

Electronic Commerce and Internet Law in Canada, CCH Canadian Ltd., 2004 (with Michael Deturbide).

This book is the first (and only) Canadian treatise on e-commerce and internet law. It covers a range of topics which include electronic contracts, online consumer protection, data protection and privacy, internet domain names and trademark law, copyright law and the internet, software and e-business patents, the regulation of online speech, and jurisdiction and the internet. Since it was published in 2004, much has changed in this area of law. We are currently working on a second edition of the book, which we hope will be published in 2012.

Published in Books

  • Originality and Utilitarian Works: The Uneasy Relationship between Copyright Law and Unfair Competition

    “Originality and Utilitarian Works:  The Uneasy Relationship between Copyright Law and Unfair Competition”, (2004) 1 University of Ottawa Technology Law Journal 51-74 PDF Available here

    Courts have struggled with articulating the standard for “originality” in copyright law.  Some judges have leaned towards a “sweat of the brow” theory that rewards authors for their investment of labour in creating a work.  Others, most notably, the U.S. Supreme Court in the landmark decision of Feist Publications Inc. v. Rural Telephone Service Co. Inc., have held out for a standard which requires some “spark” or modicum of creativity. In this article, I examine the concept of “originality” in light of the shifting purposes of copyright law in Canada, and the historical relationship of utilitarian works to copyright law.  Works such as directories and factual compilations owe their value not to their contents, which are often in the public domain, but to the effort that has gone into collecting those contents.  The scope of protection of such “utilitarian works” to be offered under copyright law has generated controversy in case law and commentary.  By examining the treatment of the concept of “originality” in recent Canadian cases dealing with utilitarian works, the author explores the uneasy relationship between unfair competition law and copyright law in Canada.  I argue that the proliferation of utilitarian works protected by copyright, and in particular, information products, has rendered a threshold for originality extremely problematic.  I argue that the problem lies in the tension between copyright and unfair competition, primarily in relation to utilitarian works, and I conclude that copyright is an inapt vehicle for resolving issues of competition in the information economy.






    in Refereed Articles
    Tags: IP
  • Electronic Commerce and Internet Law in Canada

    Electronic Commerce and Internet Law in Canada, CCH Canadian Ltd., 2004 (with Michael Deturbide).

    This book is the first (and only) Canadian treatise on e-commerce and internet law. It covers a range of topics which include electronic contracts, online consumer protection, data protection and privacy, internet domain names and trademark law, copyright law and the internet, software and e-business patents, the regulation of online speech, and jurisdiction and the internet. Since it was published in 2004, much has changed in this area of law. We are currently working on a second edition of the book, which we hope will be published in 2012.






    in Books
    Tags: Internet IP
  • Recalibrating Copyright Law?: A Comment on the Supreme Court of Canada’s Decision in CCH Canadian Ltd. v. Law Society of Upper Canada

    “Recalibrating Copyright Law?:  A Comment on the Supreme Court of Canada’s Decision in CCH Canadian Ltd. v. Law Society of Upper Canada”, (2004) 3 Canadian Journal of Law and Technology 89-100 PDF Available here

    The Supreme Court of Canada’s unanimous decision in CCH Canadian Ltd. et. al. v. Law Society of Upper Canada  has had  major implications for the development of copyright law in Canada.  In this comment, I critically examine the decision of the court, and its implications for the law around originality, fair dealing, and authorization.






    in Refereed Articles
    Tags: IP
  • A Mouse is a Mouse is a Mouse: A Comment on the Supreme Court of Canada’s Decision on the Harvard Mouse Patent

    “A Mouse is a Mouse is a Mouse:  A Comment on the Supreme Court of Canada’s Decision on the Harvard Mouse Patent”, (2003) 3 Oxford University Commonwealth Law Journal 105-118

    On December 5, 2002, the Supreme Court of Canada handed down its long awaited decision in President and Fellows of Harvard College v. Canada (Commissioner of Patents). Known as the Harvard Mouse case, it had its genesis in the Canadian Patent Commissioner’s decision to deny a patent over a genetically engineered creature known as the “oncomouse”.  The mouse, which has been patented in the United States, numerous European countries, and Japan, brought to the forefront in Canada the issue of whether a higher life form could be the subject of a patent.  After dividing opinions below, the issue also split the Supreme Court of Canada, resulting in a somewhat surprising 5-4 ruling that the definition of “invention” in the Patent Act  did not extend to include a higher life form such as the oncomouse.  The split is a profound one.  While the majority of the Court reflects what can almost be characterized as a precautionary approach to patenting higher life forms, the dissenting justices emphasize the economic and global imperatives of interpreting Canada’s patent legislation consistently with that of other Western nations, so as to recognize patents over virtually all forms of innovation. This paper is a comment on the decision in the case.






    in Refereed Articles
    Tags: IP
  • Book Review: The Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act: A Comprehensive Guide, by William Charnetski, Patrick Flaherty, and Jeremy Robinson

    The Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act: A Comprehensive Guide, by William Charnetski, Patrick Flaherty, and Jeremy Robinson (Toronto:  Canada Law Book Inc., 2001) 272pp., (2002) 1:2 Canadian Journal of Law and Technology 101-103. PDF available here






    in Book Reviews
    Tags: IP
<< Start < Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Next > End >>
Published in Publications-Display
Thursday, 10 June 2010 15:35

Canadian Trademark Law

 Canadian Trademark Law, LexisNexis (Butterworths) Canada, Inc., 2010.

This book is a treatise on Canadian trademark law. While a primary focus of the book is necessarily the Trade-marks Act, a number of other statutes are considered, as well as the extensive body of common law relating to trademarks. The book aims to provide a solid grounding in the basic principles of trademark law, while at the same time exploring some of the contemporary challenges in this area of law. These challenges are brought about by the international movement towards harmonization of norms and procedures, as well as phenomena such as the internet and electronic commerce, the growing problem of counterfeiting, and the use of trademarks in critical and parodic expression.

Published in Books
<< Start < Prev 1 2 3 4 Next > End >>
Page 4 of 4

Canadian Trademark Law

Published in 2015 by Lexis Nexis

Canadian Trademark Law 2d Edition

Buy on LexisNexis

Electronic Commerce and Internet Law in Canada, 2nd Edition

Published in 2012 by CCH Canadian Ltd.

Electronic Commerce and Internet Law in Canada

Buy on CCH Canadian

Intellectual Property for the 21st Century

Intellectual Property Law for the 21st Century:

Interdisciplinary Approaches

Purchase from Irwin Law