Copyright Act Summary

The Government of Canada has changed the Copyright Act several times since the Copyright Act was enacted in 1985.

2 – Interpretation: Definitions of terms in the Copyright Act  Summary Cases
3 – PART I – Copyright and Moral Rights in Works

 15 – PART II – Copyright in Performers’ Performances, Sound Recordings and

Communication Signals and Moral Rights in Performers’ Performances

27 – PART III – Infringement of Copyright and Moral Rights and Exceptions to Infringement

 34 – PART IV – Remedies

 46 – PART V – Administration

 60 – PART VI – Miscellaneous Provisions

 66 – PART VII – Copyright Board and Collective Administration of Copyright

 79 – PART VIII – Private Copying

 89 – PART IX – General Provisions
  • SCHEDULE II: [Repealed, 1993, c. 44, s. 74]
  • SCHEDULE III: [Repealed, 1997, c. 24, s. 51]

Copyright Act

R.S.C., 1985, c. C-42

An Act respecting copyright

Short Title

 This Act may be cited as the Copyright Act.
  • R.S., c. C-30, s. 1.

This reproduction of the Copyright Act is a copy of an official work that is published by the Government of Canada in conjunction with the Ministry of Justice. The reproduction has not been produced in affiliation with, or with the endorsement of the Government of Canada.

Copyright Canada has exercise due diligence in ensuring the accuracy of the materials reproduced. All of the amendments as of April 21, 2017, are incorporated in the version of the Copyright Act posted above. Click to see the full text of latest version of the Copyright Act on the Justice Canada website.

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