Bill C-32 – Copyright Laws: One or the Other But Not Both
All day long I’ve received tweets from MP James Moore about the new Bill C-32 and how much various industries are supporting the new bill. MP Moore tweeted comments like:
Canadian Recording Industry Assn: "Canada’s independent record labels & the artists they represent thank the govt for this legislation."
Canadian Independent Music Assn: "We are pleased that the govt not only has recognized the need for copyright reform, but is taking action."
Entertainment Software Association of Canada: "The Government’s copyright legislation is good public policy & is essential to our economy."
After first reading, I don’t have too many problems with the new law. It’s nice, simple, common sense. Not sure about the bit about not recording something on TV to have in your own personal collection, mainly because I’m not sure how enforceable it really it is. I am allowed to record a show to watch it later. But there doesn’t seem to be a time limit on the term “later”. So theoretically, I could record the entire season of “Flashpoint” and not watch it for a few years as it is still “later”. But that’s a minor thing in the grand scheme of things.
No, what really burst my bubble on this new legislation was when I sent him a tweet back asking about the levy on blank audio media. If this new bill is such a great thing and is getting such good press by the people who seem to be most concerned about copyright law, then obviously we can do away with the levy on blank audio media, right?
WRONG.
MP James Moore sent me a response back which states:
We have proposed no changes in that area
What? Excuse me?? The original plan back in 1999 was to off set the recording industry’s supposed losses because of “pirating” by charging a fee to the general public on all blank audio media. This fee was then sent to the recording industry. This fee was levied on all blank CD’s, DVD’s, MP3 players, Ipods, etc. So even if you purchased a CD/DVD to backup the pictures you took of your daughter’s first birthday, you had to pay a fee on those CD’s and DVD’s which went to the recording industry because you “might” illegally download some music and record it to the CD. So my taking pictures of my daughters growing up and other family events actually gave the recording industry lots of money without me getting anything in return from them. Yeah that makes sense to me.
But now, MP James Moore and the Conservative party are pushing the pill that they are now introducing this great new legislation that is good for all, however they are doing NOTHING – I repeat – NOTHING about removing the blank audio “levy” (let’s face it, it’s just another tax"). So the Recording Industry now gets the tighter copyright laws they’ve been pushing for years, AND they get our money on blank audio media, regardless of its use.
What’s really ironic is that Bill C-32 actually increases the copyright protection on my own photographs that I take, but the recording industry gets some of my money when I buy a blank DVD to make backups to protect my copyrighted photographs. Where’s the reciprocal? Shouldn’t I as a photographer get money every time someone buys paper in the off chance they might be printing out my copyrighted pictures on said paper?
Yes it is ridiculous, but so is continuing this draconian levy on blank audio media. If the Conservative Party wants to do it right, then they should, as a part of the new legislation, also drop the levy. I’m curious to see if they would still get the same positive remarks from the recording industry if they did what was right. But I think we all know the answer to that one!
In addition, how much more would be saved if we removed the costs associated with collecting and distributing this “levy”? A whole level of bureaucracy could be eliminated and in these touch economic times, an actual reduction in Government expenditures. Of course that also means there is a whole level of bureaucracy that is lobbying to keep their jobs, regardless of its redundancy. This was mentioned really nicely in an article written by Excess Copyright blog back on September 14, 2009. The author there, Howard Knopf, breaks down the $150 million that has been received to date by the CPCC on this levy and really puts into question it’s purpose. Of which, I can see none that is productive and effective. Especially in light of all the back slapping the Conservatives are doing today with this new Bill C-32.
Go ahead and pass Bill C-32, but just make sure you get rid of the levy AT THE SAME TIME. Let me back up my photographs without having to pay the CRIAA for the right to do so! When the CRIAA starts to produce decent music then I will start to buy music again and support them for something they actually produce!
