“MPs must stand up for creators’ rights”

OTTAWA – Performers are calling on MPs to put politics aside and to do the right thing by amending the deeply flawed Bill C-32. ACTRA appeared before the committee today, stating that the ability of professional creators to thrive, innovate and reinvest in Canada’s digital economy is being threatened by the Bill.

“We’re challenging MPs to do the right thing and have the guts to stand up for creators’ rights and amend this Bill,” said Ferne Downey, ACTRA National President. “A good Bill must do more than fight off piracy and those who feel entitled to something for nothing; it must also protect the right of creators to be compensated for the legitimate use of their work.”

ACTRA highlighted six aspects of the Bill where amendments are needed: the extension of the private copying levy, the provision on user generated content, the expanded fair dealing, statutory damages, preserving the broadcast mechanical licence, and implementing a graduated response regime for serial copyright offenders.

“The Bill is nothing less than a full-scale attack on collective licensing by introducing a multitude of exceptions to weaken copyright,” said Stephen Waddell, ACTRA National Executive Director. “This Bill puts at risk $126 million in annual revenues that creators, performers and other rights holders currently earn under collective licences.”

Copyright reform is long over due, and performers are increasingly wary of political posturing as rumours of an impending federal election heat up.

“We need to see action, we need MPs to deliver a Bill that recognizes the central role that creators have in our digital economy and assures them that their intellectual property rights will be respected,” said Downey. “Anything less and Canada will continue to be an international embarrassment, to our collective shame.”

ACTRA (Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists) is the national organization of professional performers working in the English-language recorded media in Canada. ACTRA represents the interests of 21,000 members across Canada – the foundation of Canada’s highly acclaimed professional performing community.

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For more information:

Carol Taverner, Public Relations Officer, ACTRA, (416) 644-1519, ctaverner@actra.ca