CNM Short Takes

Apple deal first for CSI joint copyright collectiveCanadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency Ltd. (CMRRA) executive director David Basskin tells Canadian NEW MEDIA that the licensing deal that made the introduction of Apple Corp.’s iTunes into Canada possible was a first of sorts for the collective. The deal was struck with a joint organization of the CMRRA and its French Canada counterpart, the Société du droit de reproduction des auteurs, compositeurs et éditeurs au Canada (SODRAC) Inc. The joint organization is called CSI, for CMRRA-SODRAC. Basskin tells CNM: "It’s not the first time we’ve teamed up. We teamed up to do the broadcasting mechanical tariff, but for an actual transactional licensing exercise, this is the first time we’ve teamed up. We’re not merging with them. Basically, we have combined to handle this on a joint basis for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it’s a hell of a lot more convenient for the users, because this puts together not only our gigantic repertoire, but also SODRAC’s repertoire of Quebec songwriters, and they also have agreements with international societies in places like Spain, Portugal, Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, and so on. The point is, although there isn’t a hell of a lot of that music used, the point is when you need it, you need it, and what this gives users like Apple is basically one-stop shopping for, not every song in the world, but a gigantic number of songs and we’re adding new people on an almost daily basis. So, we’re going to come as close as anybody possibly can in this country to one-stop shopping. Now, there are some people we don’t represent who, they choose to try to do this work on their own. I think they’re missing a good bet, and part of my mandate in the next few months is to get the stragglers on board. " The issue of royalty rates for music online continues before the Copyright Board of Canada, and Basskin says he can’t divulge details of the Apple deal. Asked about the board process, Basskin tells CNM it’s unlikely to be resolved any time soon. "Ultimately the Copyright Board tariff will decide everybody’s royalty rate. Is it possible there might be some kind of settlement before then? Anything’s possible. We would love to find a way to achieve a settlement without going to all the costs of the Copyright Board. But, I don’t think that’s a realistic prospect at this point." Devlin applies for trademarkToronto-based Devlin Applied Design has filed for trademark protection for the mark "Tag Messaging." The company’s application indicates the trademark would be used in connection with "computer software, namely, an application that further enhances the communication process within an organization for the delivery of broadcast messaging." TELETOON launches new portalTELETOON has introduced a new online destination for older animation fans, tied to its post-9 p.m. programming including shows The Family Guy, Futurama and Home Movies. The Detour on TELETOON, provides teens and young adults with access to more information on program synopses, schedules and descriptions of their favourite characters. The web site will also offer video clips, e-cards, and polls. "Through thedetour.ca, teens and young adults can now access edgier, more irreverent online content from TELETOON," says Steve Szigeti, TELETOON’s online media director, in a media release. "The new thedetour.ca has tremendous appeal to our edgier animation fans who can navigate through a site that caters to their particular interests. With the intention of mirroring TELETOON’s post 9-p.m. programming block, this new web destination operates as a separate entity from our kids’ site, teletoon.com." Google News Canada debuts French-language editionGoogle has launched a French-language edition of its Google News Canada portal. The site will allow users to search and browse news from more than 500 French-language news sources, and display information from Canada more prominently. Rogers, Yahoo! introduce broadband suite to NFRogers Cable Inc. and Yahoo! Inc. have unveiled Rogers Yahoo! Hi-Speed Internet in Newfoundland. The integrated service offers a suite of tools at no additional charge to consumers, including safety and security features, email, a spam guard, messaging and music videos. The service is now available in St. John’s, Corner Brook, Gander and Grand Falls-Windsor. SaskTel taps Pace for IP set-topsSaskTel has added DB220S IP set-top boxes from Pace Micro Technology to its existing inventory of Pace DSL4000s. The new box is capable of supporting a range of middleware, video servers and content protection solutions including from Alcatel, Kasenna and Widevine. It uses HTML/JavaScript to support the user interface and advanced interactive services. The output video signal can be protected using Macrovision V7.x and software digital rights management and conditional access. The enhanced decoder offers MPEC 1/2 MP@ with 500+ aggregrate MIPS processing power on a single chip. Genex Communications chooses 24/7 for Summum24/7 Canada Inc. has been chosen by Genex Communications Inc. to exclusively manage online advertising sales for Summum Media, its French-Canadian online entertainment specialty network, including for the sites Showbizz.net, Choi RadioX, and Matinternet. Genex closed the online ad sales division at Summum, and has replaced it with an agreement with 24/7 to provide ad sales and ad serving for 12 Quebec web properties, as well as management of their permission-based email lists which include more than 50,000 privacy law-compliant addresses. A media release notes that Genex’s web network attracts more than a million unique monthly visitors, with more than 30 million page views monthly. "Genex and Summum Media have positioned themselves very well in the entertainment vertical and have established strong relationships with movie studios, as well as key industries such as wine and spirits," indicates director of business development for 24/7 in Quebec and Eastern Canada John Sclapari in the same release. Supreme Court won’t hear appeal in Minds Eye caseThe Supreme Court of Canada has turned down a request by Northwest Communications Ltd., doing business as Northwest Imaging & FX, to appeal a lower Saskatchewan court ruling in favour of Minds Eye Entertainment Ltd. in a bankruptcy-related matter. Northwest had been seeking status as a secured creditor in the Minds Eye bankruptcy for work it had done on the show Just Cause. The request to appeal the decision of the Court of Queen’s Bench of Saskatchewan was denied on December 9, with costs awarded to Royal Bank of Canada, also named in the appeal. Extend to enhance WWE siteToronto-based ExtendMedia has been roped by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) to improve and enhance the WWE.com web site. The site now features a new graphical interface and layout scheme, live events information, live video webcasts, pay-per-view events, branded merchandise, online auctions, fantasy league games and more. Extend helped design and develop the new site, and has also been commissioned to re-launch WWE’s corporate and affiliate marketing sites, and to develop a comprehensive content management and publishing infrastructure for all of WWE’s web sites. Sarbakan, Bluestreak to expand digital cable games selectionQuebec City-based Sarbakan and Bluestreak Network have agreed to use Sarbakan games to expand Bluestreak’s portfolio of digital cable games on the Bluestreak DEM platform. The initial titles will be Nights of Mr. Snoozelberg, Houdini: Master of the Extraordinary, and Croc’o’Snack, which will be exclusively available over cable to customers of the Bluestreak platform. "The addition of ITV content production services is a golden opportunity for all of Sarbakan’s clients," says Sarbakan CEO Guy Boucher in a media release. "The ITV market is in full bloom and many of the entertainment industry’s main players are now preparing for this new medium. ITV is a natural fit for us and, by delivering to Bluestreak’s DEM platform, we will secure a worthwhile position in this emerging market." Copyright Board maintains interim private copying tariffThe Copyright Board of Canada has extended the Private Copying Tariff 2003-2004 indefinitely pending a process to examine the proposed tariff for 2005. Extending the current tariff, the board said, will avoid a regulatory vacuum. The Canadian Private Copying Collective (CPCC) issued a media release on the same day the decision was reached, December 14, in which it states: "After the board’s decision in December (2003), the CPCC had too little time to develop a proposal for 2005 that would challenge the rates for 2003 and 2004. In spite of CPCC’s diasppointment with the Copyright Board’s decision, and because of the initiation of a process of judicial review, CPCC agreed to accept a continuation of the existing rates."

CNM Short Takes

News | 12/16/2004 5:00 am EST

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