Support for higher copying levies: CPCC

A new survey conducted for the Canadian Private Copying Col-lective claims that music fans would pay more for blank CDs and MP3 players, if the money went to creators. "Generally, the public feels that the levy is fair, at whatever price level we asked them about," says Anna Bucci, executive director of the CPCC, which collects the levy on blank media and storage devices sold in Canada and distributes it to songwriters, recording artists, music publishers and record companies. The group commissioned Environics Research Group to poll 993 Canadians as part of an omnibus survey conducted in June. A full 80% of those surveyed agreed that the levy on blank CDs would be completely or somewhat fair at 30 cents per unit – up nearly 50% from the current level of 21 cents – if it helped better compensate music creators for private copying. It’s too late for the CPCC to capitalize on that goodwill for now, however; its tariff applications for 2005, 2006 and 2007, which hold the line at 21 cents per blank CD, will be heard at the Copyright Board of Canada starting on Oct. 24. The questionnaire also gauged Canadian’s opinions on a levy on MP3 players, something the Supreme Court of Canada ruled out last fall (CNM, Aug. 18/05). When asked for their thoughts on whether levies of $20, $30 or $40 on digital music players would be fair, the largest number of respondents – 75% – said a $40 levy would be completely or somewhat fair. Before the SCC’s ruling, the CPCC had been collecting as much as $25 for each MP3 player sold here thanks to a 2003 Copyright Board decision. However, that doesn’t mean the CPCC will look to go down that path again anytime soon, owing to some considerable obstacles. "The way the Act currently reads, it’s not a possibility to get a levy on MP3 players," Bucci says. "The act would have to be changed."

Support for higher copying levies: CPCC

Broadcast | September 7, 2006

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