R. v. Biron (D.), (1992) 127 N.B.R.(2d) 142 (PC)

JudgeBrien, P.C.J.
CourtProvincial Court of New Brunswick (Canada)
Case DateJuly 22, 1992
JurisdictionNew Brunswick
Citations(1992), 127 N.B.R.(2d) 142 (PC)

R. v. Biron (D.) (1992), 127 N.B.R.(2d) 142 (PC);

    127 R.N.-B.(2e) 142; 319 A.P.R. 142

MLB headnote and full text

[French language version follows English language version]

[La version française vient à la suite de la version anglaise]

....................

R. v. David Biron

Indexed As: R. v. Biron (D.)

New Brunswick Provincial Court

Brien, P.C.J.

July 22, 1992.

Summary:

The accused was charged with selling a multi-game Nintendo cartridge contrary to the Copyright Act.

The New Provincial Court entered an acquittal.

Copyright - Topic 6205

Offences - Evidence - Doctrine of wilful blindness - [See second Copyright - Topic 6208 ].

Copyright - Topic 6208

Offences - Selling infringing works - Requisite intent - Section 42(1)(b) of the Copyright Act, made it an offence to knowingly, sell or rent an infringing copy of any work in which copyright subsists - The New Brunswick Provincial Court held that the offence created by this provision was one of full mens rea - See paragraphs 9 to 13.

Copyright - Topic 6208

Offences - Selling infringing works - Requisite intent - The accused purchased a multi-game video cartridge for Nintendo through a newspaper advertisement - After using it for over a month, he sold the cartridge by advertising in the newspaper - He also bought two other games because he could not buy them locally - The initial cartridge did not bear the "Nintendo" label, but had Oriental script - After placing his ad, the accused received a telephone call suggesting that the game was illegal - The New Brunswick Provincial Court acquitted the accused of selling an infringing cartridge (Copyright Act, s. 42(1)(b)) - The court held that the accused lacked the requisite knowledge that the cartridge was an infringing copy and he was not wilfully blind to its infringing nature.

Copyright - Topic 6224

Offences - Particular works - Video games - [See second Copyright - Topic 6208 ].

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Photo Center Inc. (1986), 9 C.P.R. (3d) 425 (Que. S.C.), refd to. [para. 9].

R. v. Sault Ste. Marie (City), [1978] 2 S.C.R. 1299; 21 N.R. 295; 85 D.L.R.(3d) 161; 40 C.C.C.(2d) 353; 3 C.R.(3d) 30; 7 C.E.L.R. 53, refd to. [para. 11].

R. v. City of Sault Ste. Marie - see R. v. Sault Ste. Marie (City).

R. v. Harris (M.D.) (1990), 81 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 147; 255 A.P.R. 147 (Nfld. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 13].

R. v. Ghnaim and Midland Enterprises Ltd. (1989), 102 A.R. 345 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 13].

R. v. Sansregret, [1985] 1 S.C.R. 570; 58 N.R. 123; 35 Man.R.(2d) 1; 18 C.C.C. (3d) 223, refd to. [para. 20].

Statutes Noticed:

Copyright Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-42, sect. 42(1)(b) [para. 1].

Counsel:

Karen Colpitts, for the Crown;

Wilbur McLeod, for the accused.

This case was heard before Brien, P.C.J., of the New Brunswick Provincial Court, who delivered the following decision on July 22, 1992.

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2 practice notes
  • R. v. Farrell (P.), (2002) 249 N.B.R.(2d) 208 (TD)
    • Canada
    • New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench of New Brunswick (Canada)
    • April 8, 2002
    ...S.C.R. 1299; 21 N.R. 295, refd to. [para. 58]. R. v. Molis, [1980] 2 S.C.R. 356; 33 N.R. 411, refd to. [para. 58]. R. v. Biron (D.) (1992), 127 N.B.R.(2d) 142; 319 A.P.R. 142 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. R. v. Lifchus (W.) (1997), 216 N.R. 215; 118 Man.R.(2d) 218; 149 W.A.C. 218 (S.C.C.), r......
  • R. v. Allen (C.), (2006) 399 A.R. 245 (PC)
    • Canada
    • Provincial Court of Alberta (Canada)
    • April 13, 2006
    ...refd to. [para. 37]. Photo Centre Inc. et al. v. R. (1985), 9 C.P.R.(3d) 425 (Que. Sup. Ct.), refd to. [para. 38]. R. v. Biron (D.) (1992), 127 N.B.R.(2d) 142; 319 A.P.R. 142 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. R. v. Harris (M.D.) (1990), 81 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 147; 255 A.P.R. 147; 34 C.P.R.(3d) ......
2 cases
  • R. v. Farrell (P.), (2002) 249 N.B.R.(2d) 208 (TD)
    • Canada
    • New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench of New Brunswick (Canada)
    • April 8, 2002
    ...S.C.R. 1299; 21 N.R. 295, refd to. [para. 58]. R. v. Molis, [1980] 2 S.C.R. 356; 33 N.R. 411, refd to. [para. 58]. R. v. Biron (D.) (1992), 127 N.B.R.(2d) 142; 319 A.P.R. 142 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. R. v. Lifchus (W.) (1997), 216 N.R. 215; 118 Man.R.(2d) 218; 149 W.A.C. 218 (S.C.C.), r......
  • R. v. Allen (C.), (2006) 399 A.R. 245 (PC)
    • Canada
    • Provincial Court of Alberta (Canada)
    • April 13, 2006
    ...refd to. [para. 37]. Photo Centre Inc. et al. v. R. (1985), 9 C.P.R.(3d) 425 (Que. Sup. Ct.), refd to. [para. 38]. R. v. Biron (D.) (1992), 127 N.B.R.(2d) 142; 319 A.P.R. 142 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. R. v. Harris (M.D.) (1990), 81 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 147; 255 A.P.R. 147; 34 C.P.R.(3d) ......

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