The Ottawa Citizen reports that the U.S. public affairs network C-SPAN has said that it will not sue the Conservatives over the use of its footage in the recent ads targeting Michael Ignatieff.
C-SPAN Says It Won’t Sue Conservatives Over Ignatieff Footage
May 29, 2009
Share this post
5 Comments

Law Bytes
Episode 280: A Fall Update on Where Things Stand on Canadian Digital Policy Reforms
byMichael Geist

October 26, 2026
Michael Geist
October 19, 2026
Michael Geist
August 10, 2026
Michael Geist
Search Results placeholder
Michael Geist on Substack
Recent Posts
The Age Verification Bill That Won’t Die: How Bill S-209 Complicates the Government’s Bill C-34 Online Safety Plan
The Law Bytes Podcast, Episode 280: A Fall Update on Where Things Stand on Canadian Digital Policy Reforms
The Wrong Ban: The Heritage Committee Backed a Targeted Ad Ban for Kids and Stopped Short of a Social Media Ban, Yet the Government Chose the Reverse
Regulator First, Rules Later: Bill C-34 Debate Shows the Government Wants a Digital Safety Commission Before It Figures Out What It Will Do
Making the Case Against Its Own Bill: What the Government’s Bill C-34 Charter Statement Reveals About the Constitutional Vulnerability of the Social Media Ban

And if they were sued, I presume that you would defend the Conservatives in this case
Not a Leader’s Image for Copyright
Just like the Dion Shrug image was lifted from Parliament – anything for an attack ad!
Great example for the country!
So the laws on copyright only apply to the citizens. Quite sad when I admire my legal threat from Videotron…
They shouldn’t have done it, however…
The article indicates the General Council of C-SPAN as believing it falls under the “fair-use” provisions in the copyright law. However, they should have gotten permission in the first place.
You hit the nail on the head, Frank
No matter weather it be civil or criminal law, it only applies to civilian citizens. Not any politician’s, corporations, etc.
(It should be noted that our point of view is heavily censored by CBC and CTV on their boards)