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Article
From Music Tracks to Google Maps: Who Owns Computer-generated Works?
Computer Law & Security Review (2010)
  • Mark Perry, The University of Western Ontario
  • Thomas Margoni, The University of Western Ontario
Abstract

Increasingly the digital content used in everyday life has little or no human intervention in its creation. Typically, when such content is delivered to consumers it comes with attached claims of copyright. However, depending on the jurisdiction, approaches to ownership of computer-generated works vary from legislated to uncertain. In this paper we look at the various approaches taken by the common law, such as in Canada, and the legislative approach taken in the United Kingdom. The options for how computer-generated works may be treated and suggestions for their best placement in copyright are discussed.

Keywords
  • Computer-generated works,
  • Copyright,
  • Ownership,
  • Legislative and common law approaches
Publication Date
November, 2010
Publisher Statement
The authors' final, peer-reviewed version of this article is available for download.
Citation Information
Mark Perry and Thomas Margoni. "From Music Tracks to Google Maps: Who Owns Computer-generated Works?" Computer Law & Security Review Vol. 26 Iss. 6 (2010)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/markperry/22/