(Toronto) The Canadian Private Copying Collective (CPCC) filed its proposed tariff for 2007 with the Copyright Board of Canada on February 16. The proposed tariff would leave unchanged the current levies on blank audio recording media. The CPCC’s proposed tariff is the first step in the process of certifying a new tariff for 2007.

Since 2001, the levy rates have remained constant, through two public hearings. Consumers pay a levy of 21 cents on blank CDs, 29 cents on blank tapes and 77 cents on blank MiniDiscs as a royalty to music creators for making copies of recorded music for personal use.

In late 2004, the Copyright Board approved an interim tariff for 2005 and then approved an interim tariff for 2006 in late 2005. The Copyright Board is expected to hold a hearing this fall to certify final tariffs for both 2005 and 2006. The hearing and certification process has been delayed in recent years due to applications made to both the Federal and Supreme Courts regarding the Private Copying Tariff for 2003-2004.

At each public tariff hearing, the CPCC and other interested parties present evidence to the Copyright Board regarding private copying in Canada. This information is used by the Board to set the levy on various blank audio recording media.

The private copying levy provides remuneration to songwriters, music publishers, recording artists, musicians, and record companies for the use of their work. The levy is derived from the private copying provisions of the Copyright Act implemented in 1998 in recognition of the fact that Canadians copy without authorization hundreds of millions of tracks of recorded music for their own private use.

The Canadian Private Copying Collective (CPCC) is a non-profit agency charged with collecting and distributing private copying royalties. Established in 1999, CPCC is a collective of collectives that represent music authors, music publishers, recording artists, musicians and record companies.

-30-

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