The Globe and Mail and Heather Robertson have settled their 13 year old fight over the rights of freelance writers and the use of their work in electronic databases. The case went to the Supreme Court of Canada, where a divided court ruled in favour of Robertson. The case has now settled, with the Globe agreeing to pay the freelancers $11 million.
Globe and Robertson Settle Copyright Class Action
May 5, 2009
Share this post
One Comment

Law Bytes
Episode 273: Rebroadcast of the Globe and Mail’s The Decibel on Canada’s First Steps Towards a Social Media Ban
byMichael Geist

June 22, 2026
Michael Geist
May 25, 2026
Michael Geist
Search Results placeholder
Michael Geist on Substack
Recent Posts
Improv Policy: The Government Doesn’t Know What To Do About Its Online Streaming Act Mess
Soft Ban or Hard Verification Requirement?: Why Bill C-34’s Social Media Ban Exemption Gets the Incentives Wrong and Comes Too Late to Matter
New Rights, New Powers, Long Delays: Bill C-36’s Seven-Step Process for Privacy Reform to Take Effect
The Law Bytes Podcast, Episode 273: Rebroadcast of the Globe and Mail’s The Decibel on Canada’s First Steps Towards a Social Media Ban
Midnight Madness: The Government Rushes Lawful Access Bill Through the House Without Debate or a Recorded Vote

Seems we can count on the SCC sometimes….
…To provide justice when the big businesses are downright ignorant.
Had it been reversed, the paper would have crushed the freelancers in less than 6 months with IP and copyright legislation.
Sad that the case had to go on as long as it did to get justice.