Angry Canadian poets target Access Copyright
p2pnet news view | P2P:- Access Copyright revenues will top $30 million in 2008 with 75% going to publishers, the largest receiving $4 million, states League of Canadian Poets.
But the average writer receives only $496, it says, going on:
“In a [sic] historic meeting September 12, 2008 writers and other artists came from across Canada to voice their concerns with Access Copyright (AC).”
The meeting was the first of its kind in Canada and, “14 representatives from the 18 signatory groups chastised the agency for its inability to deliver income collected from public and private institutions to creators,” says a post on the league’s site, going on to quote president D.C. Reid as declaring:
“That underscores the animosity writers have felt over the 20 years that they have not received their fair share …”
Pointing out that the government of Canada initiated photocopying royalties collective licensing in the 1980s, “to give creators more money for the culture they create for Canada, over the years, “the process has become badly skewed, to the point that today, only a handful of large publishers are receiving significant benefits,” Reid noted.
Now, the League, “You can expect to hear more about Access Copyright when the Copyright Board finally releases its long awaited decision on Access’s K-12 tariff for reprographic reproduction for 2005-2009,” posts copyright lawyer Howard Knopf.
The hearing before the Copyright Board was held in June, 2007, “with some follow up issues,” he says continuing »»»
There is considerable suspense about this case for a number of reasons, including the fact that it is taking so long to hear from the Board when Chairman Vancise has previously announced a benchmark of six months pendency. In August of 2006, he stated in a speech:
If the Supreme Court of Canada can render a decision within six months of a hearing, there is no reason why this Board cannot do the same. My goal is to see that this occurs.
Chairman Vancise has also suggested in respect of this case, as anyone concerned with it will understand, that fair dealing “is an issue which will have serious implications and not one of course which I am prepared to discuss at this time.”
Finally, afficianados of Access Copyright may wish to re-read Prof. Martin Friedland’s critical report on Access Copyright’s Distribution methodolody – or lack thereof.
Regardless of one’s opinion of Access Copyright, it is a good thing that this report was commissioned and made public, even if in redacted form.
Stay tuned.
League of Canadian Poets – Canada’s creators tell Access Copyright: You Must Change, September, 2008
Howard Knopf – Creators v. Access Copyright, October 15, 2008
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October 17th, 2008 at 7:28 am
screw off you greedy bastards
like we aint poor enough
here comes hte lies and decpetion
if you cant write somethign worth money then go back to tim hortons
i hear they pay 14-16$ per hour in alberta go live wiht the rest of the americans