Robert Lutczyk, a local councillor in Oshawa, is claiming that he owns the copyright to the "University of Ontario Institute of Technology." [hat tip: FlackLife]
Local Councillor Claims Copyright in University Name
November 18, 2008
Share this post
5 Comments

Law Bytes
Episode 268: Sara Grimes on the Moral Panic Behind Banning Kids from Social Media and AI Chatbots
byMichael Geist

May 11, 2026
Michael Geist
May 4, 2026
Michael Geist
April 27, 2026
Michael Geist
Ep. 265 – Jason Millar on Claude Mythos, Project Glasswing, and the Governance Crisis in Frontier AI
April 20, 2026
Michael Geist
Search Results placeholder
Michael Geist on Substack
Recent Posts
Slick Videos Won’t Save Lawful Access: Why The Government’s Bill C-22 Defence Avoids the Charter, Privacy and Security Concerns Raised By Critics
The Law Bytes Podcast, Episode 268: Sara Grimes on the Moral Panic Behind Banning Kids from Social Media and AI Chatbots
U.S. Congressional Leaders Warn Canadian Lawful Access Plans Harm U.S. National Security and Economic Interests
Make It Make Sense: My Appearance Before the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security on Bill C-22’s Lawful Access Plan
Why Social Media and AI Chatbot Bans for Kids Are Bad Policy: Making the Case at the Senate Social Affairs, Science and Tech Committee

What an idiot
Wow, I feel really sorry for the people who have to be represented by this man.
What an idiot.
And to think he somehow got himself elected to public office. Worse to think how poorly his constituents might be represented by someone like that. With this kind of abject and willful ignorance of our copyright laws, it’s no wonder there’s so much disrespect for them. I wish this clown’s beliefs were something rare, but unfortunately there are many people who think this way. A friend of mine started a yelling match when I suggested she couldn’t really exert copyright over her name and address on her business cards, not even by printing a copyright statement on them. It just made her look foolish.
Wow, he’s really on the ball. The UOIT has only been open for, what, 5 or 6 years?
Okay…
This is…muddying the copyright and trademark law waters. No?
Legislative Solution
In Manitoba we have The Degree Granting Act which came into force in December 2006. It provides:
Use of “university” and “varsity”
3(1) Except as authorized by an Act of the Legislature, including a private Act, no person or institution shall directly or indirectly use the word “university” or “varsity”, or any derivation or abbreviation of either of those words,
(a) in the name of any business or undertaking;
(b) in any advertising; or
(c) in the name of any thing, place or building;
without the prior written approval of the minister