Copyright is necessary to ensure that original creative works are protected from imitation and replication. Canadian copyright law assumes that the moment an original work is created in physical form, a copyright exists. A legal issue arises when a creator— without a registered copyright certificate—cannot prove to a judge that they are the true, original creator of their artistic work.

This highlights the importance of registering copyrighted works. Once a work is registered, its creator receives a certificate of registration, which acts as proof of ownership in legal disputes. Unregistered copyrighted materials are vulnerable to section 39(1) of the Copyright Act, which states that any infringing party need not pay damages to the copyright owner, if the infringing party can prove they were unaware the work was copyrighted.

Copyrights have become increasingly important as the advancement of technology has significantly changed how individuals consume entertainment and artistic material. These changes have led to significant changes in copyright laws and protections for works that are shared through digital media. For creators who wish to benefit from their work, it is increasingly important to retain a method of proving ownership rights. This may be difficult to accomplish without appropriate legal guidance.

The digitization of original material makes art and entertainment increasingly accessible, transferable, and susceptible to theft and reproduction. Digital piracy, file sharing, and illegal streaming sites are just a few examples of how artistic works can be easily infringed upon in the information age.

Additionally, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) does not inspect matters of infringement. This means creators must be diligent in detecting unauthorized use(s) of their work.

This underscores the need for competent and persistent legal services to acquire and enforce copyrights.