2002:07EM RECORDABLE MEDIA LEVY
Whereas: the Government of Canada gave the Canadian Private Copyright Collectors (CPCC) the right to impose levies on recordable media through the Copyright Board of Canada some years ago; and
Whereas: the CPCC is now applying and it is before the Copyright Board to increase substantially the levy on recordable media, such media to include audiocassettes, CD-R and CD-RW, CD-R Audio and Minidiscs; and
Whereas: the CPCC is further applying to have additional media levied such as:
a. removable electronic memory cards, removable flash memory storage and removable micro hard drives;
b. recordable DVD;
c. nonremovable electronic memory cards or flash memory incorporated into MP3 players or similar devices intended for use primarily to record and play Music;
d. nonremovable Hard Drives incorporated into MP3 players or similar devices intended for use primarily to record and play music; and
Whereas: these increased levies are based on “reliable survey research” which indicates that most Canadians are “thieves” and therefore, in order for recording artists to have just compensation the CPCC, (a privately owned company) with the Copyright Board of Canada’s blessing, has appointed itself the collector of said compensation; and
Whereas: the CPCC has yet to show that a single recording artist has benefited in any way from having these levies collected; therefore be it
RESOLVED: that the National Council of Women of Canada adopt as policy that a moratorium be placed on levies imposed on any recordable media; and be it further
RESOLVED: that the National Council of Women of Canada urge the Government of Canada to:
a. obtain from the Canadian Private Copyright Collectors (CPCC) verification of its “reliable survey research” to insure usage by large and small business owners as well the general public have been included in their surveys;
b. obtain from CPCC an accounting of the funds collected through their levies and how this compensation is delivered or has been delivered to the recording artists; and be it further
RESOLVED: that the National Council of Women of Canada urge the Copyright Board to place a moratorium on any increase or additional levies imposed on recordable media.