• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

DIGITAL PHOTO MENTOR

Photography tips, tutorials and guides for Beginner and Intermediate Photographers.

  • Start Here
  • Photography Basics
    • Beginner Photography Tutorials
    • Free Photography Basics for Beginners Course
  • Photography Articles
    • Beginner Photography Tutorials
    • Photography Challenges
    • Photography Tips
      • Portrait Photography
        • Flash Photography
      • Night Photography
      • Street Photography
      • Photo Editing
      • Landscape Photography
      • Macro Photography
      • Photoshop Tutorials
      • Photography Equipment
  • Online Courses
    • Luminar Neo Course
    • Lightroom for Photographers: The Complete Course
    • Photoshop For Photographers: The Complete Course
    • Portrait Fundamentals
  • Private Tutoring
  • Store
    • Online Courses
    • Bokeh Overlays
    • Sky Replacements
    • Texture Backgrounds
    • Lightroom Presets
    • Private Tutoring
    • Cart
  • Login
  • Photography Basics
    • Beginner Photography Tutorials
    • Free Photography Basics for Beginners Course
  • Photography Challenges
    • Photography Challenges E-Book
    • All Our Photography Challenges
  • Photography Tips
    • Portrait Photography
      • Free Portrait Photography Key Concepts Course
      • Flash Photography
    • Night Photography
    • Street Photography
    • Travel Photography
    • Landscape Photography
    • Macro Photography
    • Photography Equipment
  • Photo Editing
    • Luminar
    • Learn How to Use Lightroom Classic – Online Course
    • Photoshop Tutorials
  • Gallery
  • Resources
    • Free Basics for Beginners Course
    • Free Portrait Photography for Beginners Course
    • Lightroom Presets
    • Texture Pack for Photoshop, Luminar
    • Webinars
    • YouTube Channel
  • Freebies
Home » Photography News » Copyright Law For Images- Canadians Finally Win Battle
Copyright Law For Images- Canadians Finally Win Battle

Copyright Law For Images- Canadians Finally Win Battle

by Darlene Hildebrandt | Last Updated: December 31, 2021

Share
Tweet
Pin
WhatsApp
Email

All working photographers in Canada that do any paid or commissioned jobs, have scored a big victory in the realm of copyright. The long awaited Copyright Act amendment was voted in yesterday and it finally gives photographers the rights they deserve. If you are Canadian, you need to be aware of this, and even if you live elsewhere it’s in your best interest to know the copyright law for images in your country.

Canadian Association of Professional Image Creators (CAPIC) copyright head André Cornellier said in an email to members,

The principle of protecting photographers’ ownership rights started 65 years ago by Henri Cartier-Bresson, who founded Magnum with Robert Capa and David Seymour. Magnum assured that a photographer’s image belonged to the photographer and not to the commissioner of the work.

In Canada, all other artists have already owned the copyrights to their work and thanks to this new law, Canadian photographers, albeit the last in the industrialized world, now have all legal rights to their images.

The main issues of Canadian copyright laws for images

  • The existing copyright law was so old, dating back to the early 1900’s with very few amendments, that it didn’t recognize photography as an art form or any of the newer technologies created since that time. It was long overdue for an update and it’s been a long and bumpy road to get here.
  • Many photographers in Canada aren’t even aware that until today, they did NOT own the copyright on their own images done for a paying client. Up until now when a client hired a photographer, the client actually owned the rights to the images as stated in the Copyright Act. As I said above, when the law was created photography was not considered an art form it was a service and therefore the customer was given the rights to the images. So photography was different than all other art forms such as painting, music, and writing. Now we are finally included in that group and have the rights to our own images.
  • Even if you had a contract with the client they could dispute it in court and likely they’d win. I’m not sure if this new law is retroactive to include any past jobs or how that works. If you are a working photographer in Canada it might be in your best interest to find out. If you don’t have a contract stating that you own the copyright for images you take, I highly suggest you get one.
  • This is a huge win and improvement for all photographers in Canada. Both the CAPIC and PPOC (The Professional Photographers of Canada) organizations have been working towards this goal for years, thanks to them for all their hard work on behalf of all photographers in Canada.

“Photographers will be the first owner of copyright in their photographs even in the case of commissioned photographs” – as quoted from the new Act.

Two Articles on the New Copyright Law For Images

CAPIC – new Canadian Copyright Laws for Images

Copyright modernization act

Further reading and references

An introduction to the Canadian Copyright Act

Copyright law of Canada

Copyright Board of Canada

About Copyright

Application for Copyright Registration

Action Steps

Step one: open bottle

Step two: pour a glass of wine

Step three: drink it and toast to success!

Step four: add your comments below please. Tell me your thoughts on this news.

 

Share
Tweet
Pin
WhatsApp
Email

About Darlene Hildebrandt

Darlene is an educator who teaches aspiring amateurs and hobbyists how to improve their skills through her articles here on Digital Photo Mentor, her beginner photography course, and private tutoring lessons. To help you at whatever level you're at she has two email mini-courses. Sign up for her free beginner OR portrait photography email mini-course. Or get both, no charge!

luminar neo summer sale

Save up to 50% on Luminar Neo, until June 14th

Save up to 50% on Luminar Neo with an additional 10% savings on your entire order by using coupon code: AFS-DPM when you checkout.

Digital Photo Mentor is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate Digital Photo Mentor earns from qualifying purchases.
luminar neo summer sale

Save up to 50% on Luminar Neo, until June 14th

Save up to 50% on Luminar Neo with an additional 10% savings on your entire order by using coupon code: AFS-DPM when you checkout.

luminar neo course

Learn How to Use Luminar Neo

Unleash your creativity with Luminar Neo! Click here to learn how to use Luminar Neo,this powerful software for stunning photo edits. Over 16 hours of video tutorials and example photos to use.

Top Beginner Articles

  • Is Luminar Neo the Best Beginner Photo Editing Software?
  • Avoid these 9 beginner photography mistakes
  • 7 Tips for Beginner Photographers
  • Top 15 Photography Accessories under $25
  • How to choose the best digital camera for you
  • 5 Photography Ideas for When There's Nothing Interesting to Shoot
  • 5 mistakes beginner photographers make while using a wide angle lens and how to avoid them
  • 9 Tripod Mistakes Ruining Your Images and Putting Your Camera at Risk
  • Long Exposure Photography

Top Intermediate Articles

  • 10 Camera Settings and Equipment Tips for Portrait Photography
  • Best Photo Editing Software Reviewed
  • Lightroom Alternative: Is Luminar the answer?
  • Top 15 Photography Accessories under $25
  • How to Use a Gray Card for Custom White Balance and Metering
  • Night Photography Settings – Guide to Getting the Best Exposure

Learn Photography Basics

Yes, you can learn to take better photos! It’s my passion to help you learn the photography basics and take better pictures. It’s also the same reason I teach workshops, do photo travel tours, and have online photography courses available.

Enroll in our free photography basics for beginners course, or 12-part portrait photography course, also free.

Recent Photography Articles

  • Which Portrait Editors Are the Best for 2023 – Does PortraitPro Top the List?
  • What Are Drive Modes on Your Camera and How to Use Them?
  • What Is GAS and How To Avoid Getting It as a Photographer
  • How To Restore Old Photos Using Luminar Neo
  • Pro Tips for Creating Dramatic Sunset and Blue Hour Photos – Two Ways

Useful Links

  • Beginner Photography
  • Intermediate Photography
  • Photography Challenges
  • Photography Tips
  • Photo Editing
  • Resources
  • Recommended Amazon Products
  • Course Login
  • Workshops
  • Webinars
  • Contact
  • Write for Us

Copyright © 2023 Digital Photo Mentor · Privacy Policy · Cookie Policy · Disclaimer