Class Dismissed: Copyright Reverse Class Action Fails to Get Passing Grade

Jordana Sanft, Paul-Erik Veel, and Martin Brandsma co-authored the article “Class Dismissed: Copyright Reverse Class Action Fails to Get Passing Grade,” published in Class Action Defence Quarterly. In this article, they examine the Federal Court of Appeal’s decision in Voltage Pictures v Salna and explain why reverse (or defendant) class actions remain a rare and procedural mechanism in Canada. They emphasize that, despite the theoretical efficiencies of certifying a defendant class, doctrinal constraints and practical barriers continue to make reverse class actions more an academic curiosity than a viable mainstream litigation strategy.