Copyright Infringement: Cases That Should Have Gone to the Supreme Court of Canada, But Didn’t!

Welcome to Cases That Should Have Gone to the Supreme Court of Canada, But Didn’t! This week, lawyer Kyla Lee discusses copyright infringement.

Acumen Law Corporation lawyer Kyla Lee gives her take on a made-in-Canada court case each week and discusses why these cases should have been heard by Canada’s highest court: the Supreme Court of Canada.


The Canadian Standards Association publishes a number of standards including electrical standards. Every year, the Canadian Electrical Standards are incorporated by reference into federal statutes dealing with electrical regulation.

A company called “Knight” also publishes a simplified guide to the Canadian Standards Association’s electrical standards guide. Unfortunately, after an unsuccessful takeover bid by the CSA, tensions arose between Knight and the CSA which ultimately ended in a negative working relationship.

The CSA told Knight that any licenses it had previously to Knight to use their document were revoked and they were no longer permitted to publish their guide.

Knight responded by threatening to publish the entire CSA guide and to make profits from it.

Ultimately the matter proceeded to court for determination about whether or not the CSA held copyright over the information on the electrical guide.

Watch the video for more.

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