The following information is an update from the Canadian Private Copying Collective (CPCC).
Parliamentary Review of the Copyright Act
Now that the statutory review of the Copyright Act is well under way, we’re hearing lots of support from the music industry for private copying reform. Thank you to those who have already told the Standing Committees on Canadian Heritage (CHPC) and Industry, Science and Technology (INDU) that fixing private copying is a priority. It is important for the government to hear from multiple voices, so if you haven’t yet made your appearance or filed a written submission, please consider dedicating a small amount of your air-time or page-limit to private copying. We all stand to benefit.
You can read or listen to CPCC’s remarks to both Committees, and even watch our televised appearance at INDU’s June 14th session.
Read the remarks to the CHPC Committee
Listen to the remarks to the CHPC Committee
Read the remarks to the INDU Committee
Watch the remarks to the INDU Committee
SAC Postcard Campaign
During Canadian Music Week the Songwriters Association of Canada launched a postcard campaign focused on private copying. Songwriters attending CMW were invited to sign and send pre-printed postcards addressed to the INDU Clerk and Members asking for the Copyright Act to be amended “to ensure private copying levies are payable on the devices Canadians use today and in the future to make private copies.”
Thanks to the songwriters for this simple but effective initiative to give creators a voice. Seventy-five postcards were sent at CMW and another 100 have been distributed to songwriters around the country through Regional Writers Groups.
Private Copying Compensation Fund
Thank you to the 15 organizations who signed a strong letter to Bill Morneau (Minister of Finance) and Minister Mélanie Joly (Minister of Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie) in January urging them to include an interim Private Copying Compensation Fund in the 2018 Federal Budget. Although a Fund was not included in the 2018 Budget, CPCC continues to advocate for this crucial remuneration to ensure rights holders continue to be paid for private copies of their work until a legislative solution is implemented. We’ve made a pre-Budget 2019 submission to the Standing Committee on Finance and will also continue to propose government finance the Fund outside of the Budget.
In the works…
CPCC is developing a set of infographics depicting key facts and figures to help supporters in spreading the word on why fixing the levy regime is so important. This will include new research on the amount of music copied on Canadians’ smart phones and tablets.
CPCC is now on Facebook and Twitter! Like or follow us and watch the hashtags #standonguardformusic and #pournotremusique to stay in the loop.
