Paul E. Bain

Intellectual Property Protection and Exploitation for Creative Class

Paul is actively involved in the protection and enforcement of the rights (copyrights and trademarks) of creators, writers, artists, photographers, film, TV and film producers, and musicians in all media.

Art World

Paul is a leading art lawyer and trusted advisor to artists, public/ private galleries and museums, auction-houses, philanthropists, and collectors on a variety of issues, transactions and disputes that arise in the art world.

Museums/ Public Galleries

On behalf of public art institutions, Paul assists with matters of provenance, restitution, major gifts/donations and cultural property/ heritage.

Branding/ Licensing

As a registered trademark agent, he oversees a large portfolio of international trademarks and handles domestic branding and licensing for clients in advertising, fashion, creative industries and for hospitality businesses.

• Advising new NFT platforms is securing, licensing and protecting rights
• Represented a leading artists’ estate in international dispute with National Gallery over display of controversial art;
• Developed a new copyright policy for a major museum’s online and public photography guidelines;
• Advised estate of a major hip-hop artist in royalty/ insolvency matter;
• Acted on behalf of a major recording artist in connection with claim against former manager;
• Successfully negotiated settlements of copyright infringements of art works by a top fashion label and against a major television studio;
• Worldwide branding for cannabis companies;
• Negotiated significant public-art commissions on behalf of artists with municipalities and real estate developers;
• Counsel to collectors in art disputes involving forgeries and issues with authenticity;
• Oversaw numerous copyright disputes involving unauthorized use of works of internationally acclaimed and local artists.

• Co-Author, Chapter, “The Legal Regulation of Art in Canada: Copyright, Moral Rights, and Cultural Property,” Art Law: A Practitioner’s Guide to Art Law Around the World, May 2026

• Co-Author, “Canada’s Long-Awaited Artists’ Resale Right: What’s Changing and Why It Matters,” Dickinson Wright IP Blog, December 2025
• Co-Author, “Oh, My God (OMG)! – Scandalous Trademarks in Canada (and the US),” Dickinson Wright IP Blog, September 2024
• Author, “Free Mickey? (Don’t Be Goofy)” Dickinson Wright IP Blog, February 2024
• Author, “Warhol and Prince: Good Artists Borrow, Great Artists…Litigate,” Dickinson Wright IP Brief Blog, June 2023
• Co-Author, “Good News for Creators: Canadian Extends Copyright Term,” Dickinson Wright All Things Canada Blog, January 2023
• Co-Author, “Good News for Creators: Canadian Extends Copyright Term,” Dickinson Wright Client Alert, Jan 2023
• Author, “Art Law: Cases and Controversies,” LexisNexis, February 2022 
• Co-Author, “What You Need To Know: Intellectual Property and Non-Fungible Tokens,” Dickinson Wright Client Alert, May 2021
• Co-Author, “Business Interruption Insurance and COVID-19 in Ontario,” Dickinson Wright Client Alert, April 2020
• Author “Copyright Protection in Canada for Artists,” Dickinson Wright Client Alert, February 2016