The Supreme Court of Canada will hear six appeals this week, four of which relate to an intellectual property dispute involving a Quebec artist who is suing several broadcasting companies for alleged copyright infringement.
Feb. 12 — Quebec —
R. v. BélangerCriminal law: Frédérick Bélanger decided to pass a pickup truck along a highway despite a solid double line and he collided with an oncoming vehicle, killing the driver instantly. The Court of Quebec convicted Bélanger of two counts of dangerous driving causing bodily harm and death. The Quebec Court of Appeal acquitted him, claiming the trial judge erred in law by applying the modified objective test for the mens rea of dangerous driving.
Feb. 13 — Quebec —
Cinar Corp. v. Robinson;
Weinberg v. Robinson;
Izard v. Robinson;
Robinson v. France Animation S.A.Intellectual property: In a slew of cases, Quebec artist Claude Robinson is suing several broadcasting companies for copyright infringement for allegedly copying his character sketches.
Feb. 15 — British Columbia —
R. v. BlacklawsCriminal law: Fredrick Owen Blacklaws was convicted of charges related to unlawful confinement and sexual assault following two separate incidents with different complainants. Blacklaws filed an appeal on the grounds that the trial judge erred in law by refusing to sever the charges of each incident. The Court of Appeal granted his appeal. There is a publication ban in the case.
