CNM Update

Tariff 22 leave to appeal gets crowdedA leave to appeal application filed with the Supreme Court of Canada over the Federal Court of Appeal’s decision on Tariff 22 – royalties on music distributed over the Internet – has heated up as further parties join the fray. The Canadian Recording Industry Association has filed a motion to intervene in the matter, and is now listed among the respondents in motions filed by the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN) along with the Neighbouring Rights Collective of Canada. On the other side of the fence, several international organizations representing ISPs and telcos have filed a collective leave to intervene of their own, arguing that their transnational interests will be an important part of any future Supreme Court hearing on Tariff 22.In other news, the court has dismissed a motion by SOCAN to have several affidavits filed with the Canadian Cable Television Association, et. al.’s leave to appeal stricken (CNM, Sept. 6/02 and Aug. 21/02). The court has ruled that affidavits by Jim Carroll, Michael Geist, Jay Thomson and Eric Carroll are an "attempt to explain the potential impact of the judgement of the Federal Court of Appeal on the use and development of Internet communications in Canada. In the context of a motion for leave to appeal, these affidavits supply background material, which is relevant to the appreciation of the general importance of the questions which would be raised by the proposed appeal." Canadian NEW MEDIA will have full details in its next issue to be published next week. CAB responds to Kedrosky Op-EdThe Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) was quick to respond to an op-ed piece written by University of British Columbia business professor Paul Kedrosky and published on August 28 defending the practice of Internet retransmission. Kedrosky had argued in his piece in the National Post that the CRTC should butt out of the issue, and that Internet retransmission is complementary to traditional broadcasts. In response, CAB president/CEO Glenn O’Farrell wrote in the Post on September 9 arguing Kedrosky misses the point of the CRTC’s mandate. "It is quite simple," O’Farrell wrote. "Neither the Canadian broadcasting industry nor the CRTC condones the practice of technology theft – which is exactly what Internet retransmission of unauthorized programming is…I challenge Mr. Kedrosky to consider this question: What is more important – his convenience or the livelihood of thousands of Canadians employed in the broadcasting industry?"Asked to expand on his letter, O’Farrell tells CNM: "My concern in this subject area is that we are developing or have developed a sense of complacency around actions that have become all too regular, where people use technology or wish to use technology because it’s available and accessible to them…It’s as if suddenly we have this sense that because technology enables us to do things – or theoretically enables us to do things – well then it’s ok to stomp on rights such as the rights of creators and people who hold an interest in copyright." More details. DevStudios joins international E-health projectEdmonton-based DevStudios International Inc., along with an international team of 12 partner organizations, will work to develop wireless wearable physiological monitors and e-health applications for the E-health Edmonton project. The project is a private and public partnership conceived and coordinated by the University of Alberta, and involves the participation of Seiko Instruments Inc. and MI Laboratories Co. The project was kicked off September 6 with the announcement of $575,000 in federal funding. More details. Eworldmusic.com launches contestMontreal-based Eworldmusic.com has launched a contest with an open call to performing artists and singer/songwriters to submit their works to a jury of entertainment industry professionals, journalists, DJs and reviewers, along with the general public on the Internet. The contest, at http://www.corrida.ca, will give away over $50,000 in prizes. The grand prize winner could receive, among other prizes, a custom-made web site, 2,000 copies of his or her album, and the filming of a music video. The contest is being presented in conjunction with RSB disc, and registrations are due by October 15. More details. T-Net announces top 100 tech companiesT-Net British Columbia has placed CREO Inc. as the province’s largest technology company in 2001, the first company in B.C. to achieve over one billion dollars in revenue. MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates was a distant second with $481.3 million in revenue. In all, according T-Net, the province’s top 100 companies recorded total revenue of $4.8 billion in 2001, and saw a 5.8% increase in employment. More details. Alberta fossil site launched with Industry Canada fundingThe University of Alberta Museum’s Joffre Bridge Fossil Exhibition has launched with the assistance of $20,160 in Industry Canada funding from Canada’s Youth Employment Strategy initiative. The web site explores the rich fossil record from Joffre Bridge, one of the most significant fossil-collecting areas in south central Alberta. Researchers will also be able to search the museum’s extensive fossil collections database. More details. Amazon.ca supports film festivals and literacyAmazon.ca has launched three new online specialty boutiques dedicated to Canada’s fall film festivals and a new program to support literacy in Canada. Sections for the film festivals will allow customers to find a broad selection of films related to the festivals and books featured in the programs in one location. Amazon.ca will also sponsor the Word on the Street Fair, and support the SKYword inflight entertainment program. The company will donate five per cent of sales from books featured in the program to ABC CANADA’S programs promoting literacy. More details. BravoFact! announces funding winnersBravoFact! has announced the winners from its August 14/02 jury. A full list is available at http://www.bravofact.com/winners_popup.html.

CNM Update

Broadcast | September 11, 2002

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