ACTRA backs Music Canada asks on copyright reform

The Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) asked a parliamentary committee reviewing the Copyright Act to take action on the so-called “value gap,” and seconded a trio of reforms put forward by Music Canada. Both groups appeared in front of the House industry committee, which is undertaking a five-year review of the legislation, on Tuesday afternoon. “As content and music have shifted to digital distribution platforms, those creating the work have been paid less for its use, if at all,” said Laurie McAllister, director of ACTRA’s Performers’ Rights Society. “This value gap is devastating to their livelihood and threatening the future of our cultural industries. In the digital era, it’s more important than ever that our legislation ensures that performers are fairly compensated for the value they create.” That includes the repeal of a rule that says radio stations don’t have to pay royalties on their first $1.25 million in advertising revenue and for performers and record labels to be able to receive royalties when their work is used in TV and film soundtracks. It also called to extend the private copying levy, which is applied to media like blank tapes and CDs, to electronic devices like smartphones. University of Ottawa professor Michael Geist reacted to the recommendation on his blog by characterizing it as a “$40 million annual handout.” That number was derived from the $3.50 fee charged in Europe per device, a value advocated for by the music industry, multiplied by the electronic device sales in Canada. Notwithstanding recent successes in the industry, "the broader music industry wants a $160 million handout based on the premise that every device sold in Canada should have a music copying fee attached to be paid by taxpayers," Geist wrote. Music Canada made the same asks in front the Heritage committee in late May. Also in front on the committee was Francis Schiller, who represents U.S. over-the-air (OTA) broadcasters whose signals are transmitted in Canada. The broadcasters have long advocated for remuneration for signals retransmitted in Canada from domestic TV providers, above the compensation derived from the copyright regime. “Canada has been importing U.S. television signals and programming for over 40 years. This has been happening without notice, consultation, consent or compensation for the U.S. station owners,” he said.

ACTRA backs Music Canada asks on copyright reform

Brief | June 13, 2018

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ACTRA backs Music Canada asks on copyright reform

Brief | June 13, 2018

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