C-60 & Photography: Who Owns Your Family Photos?

Bill C-60 purports to "harmonize" photographers' rights with those of other authors under the Copyright Act. In reality, Bill C-60 strips Canadians of ownership of their copyright in commissioned photographs and portraits. Canadian copyright law has historically protected consumers by giving them copyright in commissioned photographs, such as wedding photos and baby pictures. Bill C-60 changes those rules, and it's an unnecessary assault on the interests of Canadian consumers.

Photographers' interests are protected in consumer contracts through payment for their services and control over the negatives. If photographers also wanted to hold the copyright in such photographs, they’d have to bargain for those rights. Bill C-60 flips this arrangement on its head. Under Bill C-60, consumers would have to bargain for copyright in personal and private commissioned photographs.