The Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA) praised legislators today following an announcement that revisions to Canada’s copyright law will be introduced to Parliament this spring.

“This is terrific news,” comments CRIA President Graham Henderson. “Canada is one step closer to having a copyright law that will reflect the realities of the digital marketplace and allow the music industry a chance to prosper. We want to thank the government and the opposition parties for their support in getting to this stage.”

“We especially extend our sincere appreciation to all members of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage: the Conservatives, Bloc Quebecois, Liberals and New Democrats, for keeping copyright reform on the front burner,” he adds.

CRIA has been calling for revisions to Canada’s copyright law for some time.

In a recent address to Canadian Music Week in Toronto, Mr. Henderson commented on the necessity of copyright reform, particularly for continued investment in labels and artists.

“Prospective investors view the music industry as a no fly zone,” Mr. Henderson said then. “This view is echoed particularly by many in the independent label sector who have found raising needed investments almost impossible under the current legal regime.”

“There wasn’t a bank or a venture capitalist that would touch us – despite a business plan that was warmly received,” says Steven Ehrlick, president of The Orange Record Label. “It was because they considered the music industry to be the Wild West – no laws, no marshals and most importantly to them, no profits. I hear the opinion that copyright reform will stifle innovation. That’s ludicrous. Proper laws encourage investment.”

“We launched our music label in 2002,” remarks Grant Dexter, president of Maple Music. “It was a labour of love that was not made any easier by the fact that it was darn near impossible to raise money from the typical sources that entrepreneurs like us look to. We live in a country in which copyright laws do not protect businesses like ours and in which courts and Copyright Boards support the proposition that downloading and uploading of music is legal. It isn’t legal anywhere else that matters. But they say it is here. That makes no sense to me as a business person at all. As a result of this, raising capital to grow our business was almost impossible.”

“Progress on copyright revisions will ensure that Canada’s recording industry and artists can continue to make their mark on the world stage,” concludes Mr. Henderson. “Today’s announcement is a step in that direction.”

The Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA) promotes the interests of Canadian record companies and artists. CRIA represents the producers, manufacturers and distributors of more than 95 per cent of all records produced and sold in Canada.

Source: CRIA

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