Media Levy 2005-2006

The 2005-2006 round of the Media Levy proposal by CPCC (Canadian Private Copying Collective) is now out. According to the copy of the Supplement to the Canada Gazette I received (as a former objector) from the Copyright Board (page 4, top) "The tariffs proposed by CPCC for the year 2005 are identical to the tariffs certified by the Copyright Board for the years 2003 and 2004"

I'll be filing my objection before the deadline of June  9, 2004, and you may think about doing the same. Last round we had 100 objectors initially, which winnowed down to about 30 by the time the hearings actually went ahead - mostly due to the fact that many didn't really understand the objection process and how onerous it might be. The comments of the 70 who dropped out of the formal process were still "heard", and I believe many were taken into consideration - the rest were likely "outside of the jurisdiction of the Board" due to being of the nature of rants against the concept of the levy at all.

This year's round promises to be far different from that of the last one. Last time the increases asked for were downright exorbitant, as was the proposed extension of the levy to media normally used for purposes other than audio (camera flash-cards, etc.)

This year I expect that external factors affecting the market as well as new studies and information on the actual effects of "downloading" on music sales will be the focus of efforts by the objectors to roll back the current levy. I don't think we can rest on our laurels and simply accept the status quo. In addition, there are a number of treaties that Canada is or soon will be signatory to that tilt the playing field farther in the direction of Digital Rights Management facilities and laws that will make private copying all but unfeasible. The CPCC needs to be told (and through them the music industry) "DRM or Levy - pick one."  If, as seems to be the case, they are picking DRM and enforcement, then they must back off on the levy. Too bad for CPCC.

My Web Log at blog.pacdat.net has a Media Levy section where I'll be posting items as I find them. If you have information you want to share or opinions on what I have to say (or articles you want to post yourself) please visit me there.

richard