Access Copyright welcomes Shifting Paradigms recommendations

Thursday, May 16, 2019

Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage validates Canadian creators and publishers

Access Copyright – and the 12,000 creators and 650 publishers the organization represents – thanks the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage members for their thoughtful consideration of the unintended consequences of allowing education as a fair-dealing purpose, and for their work preparing the Shifting Paradigms report, which was tabled in the House of Commons on May 15, 2019.

Access Copyright commends the Committee for its recommendations that the Government of Canada:

Amend the Act to clarify that fair dealing should not apply to educational institutions when the work is commercially available;
Promote a return to collective licensing through collective societies;
Review, harmonize and improve the enforcement of the statutory damages for infringement for non-commercial use in section 38.1(1) of the Copyright Act;
Harmonize remedies for collective societies under the Copyright Act;
Establish an artist’s resale right.

If adopted, these recommendations will foster positive, sustainable conditions for Canada’s writers, artists and publishers, and benefit students and educators at every level by encouraging continued investment in high-quality Canadian content.

During the Parliamentary review of the Copyright Act, members of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage heard from a wide range of stakeholders and they have responded with sound, fair recommendations.

“The Shifting Paradigms report recognizes the very real impact of unintended consequences following 2012 changes to the Copyright Act. Moreover, the Committee Members have responded with recommendations that will help Canadian creators and publishers continue to produce the stories, materials and resources educators and students want and need,” said Roanie Levy, President & CEO, Access Copyright.

Access Copyright will advocate for these recommendations to be adopted. “Shifting Paradigms validates Canadian writers, visual artists and publishers and we look forward to working with the government and education sector to facilitate their implementation,” Levy added.

About Access Copyright

For over 30 years, Access Copyright has facilitated content use for educational and professional purposes. Access Copyright has helped people make customized use of published materials combined with an assurance that the original creators and publishers also benefit, so that they can continue creating new and innovative works. This is vitally important to a strong Canadian culture and to all who rely on quality publications.

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For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Anne Yourt, Access Copyright
ayourt@accesscopyright.ca | 647.216.0624