(Toronto) The Canadian Private Copying Collective (CPCC) and Best Buy Canada Ltd. have settled a dispute regarding the payment of private copying levies. The dispute arose in connection with Best Buy Canada Ltd.’s acquisition of blank CD-R, for sale to Canadian consumers, from a third party supplier between November 2004 and December 2005. The CPCC has received payment of $850,000 and the CPCC and Best Buy Canada Ltd. have agreed to dismiss the action.

“The CPCC is satisfied that the matter has been resolved,” stated Annie Morin, Chair of the CPCC Board of Directors. “While it is always preferable to resolve matters without resorting to litigation, it is not always possible to do so. As private copying royalties are a vital source of revenue for performers, songwriters, composers and other rights holders, it is essential that the CPCC make every effort to collect the private copying levy. ”

Under the Canadian Copyright Act, manufacturers and importers of qualifying blank audio recording media, such as CD-Rs, are legally obligated upon the sale of such media in Canada to report the sale and remit the related private copying levy to the CPCC. The levies provide compensation 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. To date, the CPCC has distributed over $148 million to rights holders.

Enforcement of the levy is an integral part of the CPCC’s mandate. The CPCC is the non-profit agency charged with collecting and distributing private copying royalties. Established in 1999, the CPCC is a collective of collectives that represent songwriters, composers, 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]