(Canadian) Supreme Court ruling scraps royalty for music downloads

[alp227]

Source: CBC

The Supreme Court today scrapped a royalty paid to songwriters and music publishers for downloading music, but maintained the tariff for streaming music on the internet.

The court partly overturned a lower court decision that had allowed the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers (SOCAN) to collect tariffs for both activities for its members. Copyright royalties are approved by the Copyright Board of Canada, and if those who have to pay them disagree, they can ask for a judicial review and fight them at the Federal Court of Appeal.

The court's decision on downloading, among five copyright-related cases that were settled today, means telecommunications companies that offer music services won't have to pay as much to copyright collection agencies.

SOCAN will see this as a blow to its members. In an interview Wednesday, SOCAN CEO Eric Baptiste said these artists depend on royalties to make a living.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2012/07/12/pol-supreme-court-copyright-rulings.html

[msongs]

1. corporations can use your stuff to generate profits for themselves w/out compensation for you nt

[Posteritatis]

2. The whole ruling's wonderful. Access Copyright's tears give us power. (nt)