If you have not seen the 2002 film “Big Fat Liar,” you are surely missing out!
It revolves around a young boy who tells an elaborate lie to cover up his tardiness for school, only to find himself caught up in a web of deception.
The plot revolves around 14-year-old Jason Shepherd, an incorrigible liar living in Greenbury, Michigan. He was the ultimate “boy who cried wolf.” When his English teacher assigns a creative writing assignment, Jason writes a story titled “Big Fat Liar” based on his experiences of lying. However, his essay accidentally ends up in the limousine of arrogant Hollywood producer Marty Wolf. Marty steals Jason’s essay and turns it into a smash hit movie of the same name. Jason, along with his best friend Kaylee, embarks on a cross-country adventure to set the record straight and get Marty to confess. No spoilers, but here is a trailer to bigFATliar. If you haven’t yet, watch the movie to see how it all unfolds. If you already have, watch it again to mollify the exam period blues (pun intended). The film combines humour, outrageous pranks, and a lesson about honesty.
In addition to the entertainment value and the important moral lessons, there is also the crucial issue of children’s copyright exploitation. Many children’s “copyrighted” works have been adapted countless times without proper attribution or compensation to the original creators. This not only undermines the hard work and creativity of these children, but also perpetuates a culture of disregard for children’s intellectual property rights. We need to recognize and respect the value of children’s creative works and to ensure that young creators are fairly recognized and compensated for their contributions.
The Canadian Copyright Act protects the rights of creators and owners of original works, such as literary, artistic, musical, and dramatic works (section 5 of the Copyright Act). The Act ensures that these creators have the exclusive right to reproduce, distribute, and perform their works in public (section 3 of the Copyright Act). It also protects their moral rights (section 14.1 of the Copyright Act), which include the right to be credited for their work and the right to prevent others from modifying or distorting their work in a way that would harm their reputation. The Canadian Copyright Act also outlines exceptions and limitations to these rights, such as fair dealing for the purpose of research, private study, criticism, review, or news reporting, as well as exceptions for work or other subject matter that is done solely for non-commercial purposes. There is no age limitation mentioned in the Act, so work becomes copyrighted, even for minors, as soon as it is affixed in a tangible form.
My presentation will speak to “Child Rights and Copyright Wrongs: Addressing the Disparities in Copyright Protection for Minors.” I will delve into topics such as:
Children as Digital Natives
Protecting Children’s copyrights
Child-Centric Copyright Policies
Empowering Children to Advocate for Their Copyrights
I have some surprise guests joining me, and we are eagerly anticipating the opportunity to engage with you!
Nicane Mayne – The Law Fanatic
