(Toronto) The Canadian Private Copying Collective (CPCC) has received $787,143 plus interest from ASI Computer Technologies (Canada) Corp. (ASI), a Markham based computer product distributor, for two years of unpaid private copying levies. The CPCC initiated an action against ASI in the Federal Court of Canada in March 2004 to collect the amounts owing.  As ASI has now agreed to pay the full amount owed, the CPCC has agreed to discontinue the action.

“We are extremely pleased that this matter has been resolved and that the amount owed has been collected for the rights holders,” stated Claudette Fortier, Chair of the CPCC Board of Directors. “While we will pursue evading companies to the full extent of the law, it is always a win for rights holders when our legal disputes can be resolved.”

Under the Canadian Copyright Act, manufacturers and importers of qualifying blank audio recording media, such as CD-Rs, are legally obligated upon the first blank sale in Canada to remit the levy to the CPCC. The levy is distributed to music copyright holders in recognition of the fact that Canadians copy without authorization hundreds of millions of tracks of recorded music for their own private use. Prior to 1998 these private copies were an infringement of copyright. Now, in exchange for being allowed to make such copies, Canadians pay a levy of 21 cents on each blank recordable CD, 29 cents on a blank audio tape and 77 cents on each blank MiniDisc.

Enforcement of the levy is an integral part of the CPCC’s mandate. The CPCC is the nonprofit agency charged with collecting and distributing private copying royalties. Established in 1999, the CPCC is a collective of collectives that represent music authors, music publishers, recording artists, musicians and record companies.

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For more information contact:
Alison Thompson
CPCC
tel: (416) 486-6832, ex. 221
email: [email protected]