The appellant, a freelance author, wrote articles published in The Globe and Mail.
The newspaper subsequently placed these articles in electronic databases (Info Globe Online, CPI.Q, and CD-ROM).
The appellant sued for copyright infringement.
The Court of Appeal held that the databases did not constitute a 'newspaper or similar periodical' and did not reproduce a substantial part of the newspaper's collective work.
The court also found that the oral licence granted by the appellant did not convey a proprietary interest and thus did not need to be in writing.
The appeal and cross-appeal were dismissed.
