A Canadian Photo License Agreement is a legal contract between a photographer or copyright owner (the Licensor) and a party seeking to use photographic images (the Licensee). This agreement grants specific rights to use, reproduce, publish, or display one or more photographs under defined terms and conditions while the Licensor retains copyright ownership. Canadian photo licensing is governed by the Copyright Act (R.S.C. 1985, c. C-42), as significantly amended by the Copyright Modernization Act (S.C. 2012, c. 20).

A landmark change in Canadian copyright law occurred on November 7, 2012, when the Copyright Modernization Act amended Section 10(2) of the Copyright Act to make photographers the first owner of the copyright in their photographs. Prior to this amendment, the first owner of copyright was the person who owned the original negative or photographic plate, and for commissioned photographs, it was the person who ordered and paid for them. The 2012 amendment brought Canadian law into alignment with international norms by recognizing the photographer as the author and first owner of the copyright, regardless of who commissioned or paid for the photographs.

The Copyright Act grants copyright owners exclusive rights over their photographic works, including the right to reproduce the work, to publish an unpublished work, to perform the work in public, to produce and reproduce a translation, to make a sound recording or film of the work, and to communicate the work to the public by telecommunication (s. 3(1)). Additionally, Section 14.1 protects the moral rights of photographers, including the right of integrity and the right to be associated with their work by name. These moral rights exist independently of the copyright and cannot be assigned, though they may be waived in writing.

A Canadian Photo License Agreement is needed whenever a photographer or image rights holder wishes to authorize another party to use their photographs for purposes beyond fair dealing under the Copyright Act. Common scenarios include licensing photographs for use in print publications (books, magazines, newspapers); digital media (websites, social media, email marketing); advertising and promotional materials; corporate reports and presentations; product packaging and labels; editorial and journalistic content; art prints and merchandise; and trade show and exhibition displays.

The agreement is essential to define the precise scope of authorized use and prevent unauthorized exploitation of the photographs. Without a written license, the Licensee risks copyright infringement, which can result in statutory damages of up to $20,000 per work for commercial infringement (Copyright Act, s. 38.1(1)(a)). The agreement should be executed before any use of the photographs begins.

Special consideration must be given to photographs containing identifiable individuals. Provincial privacy legislation across Canada (including Ontario's Privacy Act, Quebec's Civil Code, British Columbia's Privacy Act, and Alberta's Personal Information Protection Act) restricts the use of a person's image for commercial purposes without their consent. The photo license agreement should address whether appropriate model releases have been obtained.

An effective Canadian Photo License Agreement must clearly identify both parties and provide a detailed description of the licensed photographs, including the number of images, subject matter, and delivery format. The agreement must specify the type of license (exclusive, non-exclusive, or sole), the permitted uses, the licensed territory, and the license duration.

Compensation terms must be stated in Canadian dollars (CAD), including any upfront fees, royalties, or per-use charges, along with payment timing and method. The agreement should address GST/HST obligations. Usage restrictions should clearly specify any prohibited uses, such as sublicensing, modification without consent, or use in connection with controversial content.

Critical legal provisions include the Licensor's retention of copyright and confirmation that the license does not constitute a transfer of ownership; protection of the photographer's moral rights under Section 14.1 of the Copyright Act, including the right of integrity and the right of attribution; credit and attribution requirements specifying how the photographer will be credited; warranties from the Licensor confirming copyright ownership, non-infringement of third-party rights, and that appropriate model releases have been obtained for identifiable individuals; termination provisions and the Licensee's post-termination obligations; and a governing law clause specifying the applicable Canadian province.