Copyright Act review: Two completely opposite reports

Spring ends with the release of the reports of the Standing Committees on Canadian Heritage and Industry, Science and Technology. One is the complete opposite of the other.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S UPDATE

Copyright Act review

The month of May ended on a positive note with the release of the report from the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage (CHPC). Copibec is very pleased with the recommendations made by the Committee, which recognizes the need to fix the Copyright Act and review the compensation model for creators.

Then in June, clouds rolled in when the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology (INDU) released its report. We are very disappointed with this report that contains vague recommendations and puts off until later any concrete measures that would quickly restore a balance between copyright owners and content users.

Nevertheless, we are pleased that the report dismisses the fair dealing claims made by universities and education ministries outside Quebec. In particular, the Committee indicated that licensing was the best way forward and noted that the fair dealing policies currently used by those institutions and ministries had not been recognized in court and did not comply with an analysis of section 29 of the Copyright Act.

Both the INDU and CHPC committee reports could have an impact on the potential update of the Copyright Act, which is currently being reviewed in Ottawa.

Together, we can make a difference. If you haven’t already done so, this is your opportunity to support the campaign called A Life Without Art? Really?. Start by signing the manifesto and encouraging your friends and family to sign it too. Every signature counts!

Preventing harassment in the arts and culture sector

The Institut national de la musique et du son (INIS) recently launched a new initiative in the arts and culture sector: Il était une fois… de trop is an online platform created to identify and prevent harassment. The project has received support from about 50 associations, unions and groups, including Copibec.

Lump sum payment

If you’re a publisher who has given us authority to manage your rights, you have until June 30 to register your titles so you can benefit from the next lump sum (repertoire) payment. Be sure to log in to your online account and update your file.

Do you have questions? Send us an email at [email protected].

Summer break for our newsletter

A final note: our newsletter will be taking the summer off but our team will be available to answer any questions you may have. You can keep up with our latest news this summer on Facebook and Twitter. Follow us so you won’t miss anything. Our newsletter will be back in September, just in time for the new school year. Have a great summer!

Frédérique Couette
Executive Director

Copyright news from Canada and beyond

INDU report gets frosty reception

The arts and culture sector had been eagerly awaiting the report from the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology (INDU) for more than a year. However, the report fails to meet creators’ demands or needs. The Committee made a total of 36 ill-defined recommendations while proposing that the Copyright Act be simplified. It contrasts sharply with the CHPC Committee's report, which recommended instead that the Act be tightened to restrict the use of fair dealing.

Read the article (in French) in Le Devoir.

UNEQ featured in radio interview

Laurent Dubois, executive director of the Union des écrivaines et des écrivains québécois (UNEQ), was a guest on the Radio-Canada radio program Désautels le dimanche where he talked about the radically different conclusions in the CHPC and INDU committee reports. In his interview, he discussed the many exceptions resulting from the Act’s reform in 2012 and explained that they have caused major damage to rightsholders in recent years. He also mentioned the importance of supporting the campaign A Life Without Art? Really?, which was launched last April.

Listen to the interview (in French) on Ici Première.

Saint-Jérôme’s awareness campaign plagiarized

Jérôme is a cartoon figure who has been politely reminding the citizens of Saint-Jérôme, Quebec, about municipal bylaws for the past few years. The municipality of Saint-Boniface near Shawinigan seems to have liked the idea so much that it created a cartoon figure named Marie-Ève who appears on a very similar sign delivering an identical message. The problem is that Saint-Boniface didn’t ask for Saint-Jérôme’s permission before copying the concept.

Read the article from Radio-Canada (in French).

Get to know Copibec’s new Copyright Licensing Representative

In April, Copibec welcomed a new team member, Arezki Raab, as our Copyright Licensing Representative. His main role will be to promote and negotiate licences for private organizations that want to (...)

Wait-and-see approach and lack of concrete measures: Committee reviewing the Copyright Act fails to support copyright owners

NEWS RELEASE
Wait-and-see approach and lack of concrete measures:
Committee reviewing the Copyright Act (...)

Copibec is pleased that Canadian Heritage Committee recognizes importance of fixing Copyright Act

NEWS RELEASE
Copibec is pleased that Canadian Heritage Committee recognizes importance of fixing Copyright Act