Copyright Act, Section 3(1)(b), gives the copyright owner the sole right in the case of a dramatic work, to convert it into a novel. In the case of a novel or other non-dramatic work, or of an artistic work, Section 3(1)(c) gives the copyright owner the sole right to convert it into a dramatic work, by way of public performance or otherwise. With respect to any literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work, Section 3(1)(e) gives the copyright owner the sole right to reproduce, adapt and publicly present the work by cinematograph. In Canada there has never been a case in which a defendant successfully argued that his secondary work is beyond the scope of the rights provided by Copyright Act, Section 3(1), where the reference to the sole right to produce or reproduce the work is very broad. To violate the author's reproduction right, the infringing copy does not have to look the same. Similarity and substantial copying are directly at issue in this context. Furthermore, an adaptation almost invariably begins with an act of reproduction. Letting the exception prove the rule, reference can be made to Section 27(2)(l) which establishes that copyright owners in computer programs have an exclusive adaptation right.
