JUDGMENT
DR. DATE-BAH JSC
Introduction
This case is of seminal importance in determining the reach of copyright law in Ghana. The appellant has resisted the respondent’s claim of infringement of copyright with several defences, but the one which has attracted my attention most is that which asserts that the protection of copyright law does not extend to the facts of this case, because what has been reproduced is no more than an idea. This defence raises for the consideration of this Court the essence of copyright law. What is the balance of interests that is struck by the Copyright Act 2005 (Act 690) in common with copyright legislation elsewhere? This is the fundamental question that this Court needs to address in this case. Copyright law endeavours to strike a balance between protecting the economic rights of owners of copyright and the need to encourage the free exchange and dissemination of ideas which is vital for the development and progress of any society. This is why section 2 of…