Comm Plan

Government Relations Strategy for CIMA

McGill University

By:

Christie Patsilis

Veronica Pillay,

Susan Stokley,

Serge Kostin,

Valérie Cardinal Jean

CPRL 535 – Public Policy and Public Opinion

Elaine Depow and Alexandra Fioriello

Monday April 16, 2012

Table of Contents:

Stakeholder and Summary Description………………………………………………….. p. 3

Problem Definition……………………………………………………………………… p. 4

Objectives………………………………………………………………………………. p. 5

Policy Options………………………………………………………………………….. p. 6

Impact Analysis………………………………………………………………………… p. 8

Comparative Analysis………………………………………………………………….. p. 9

Current Status and Next Steps………………………………………………………….. p. 11

Request for Proposal…………………………………………………………………… p. 14

The time has come for the government to act in favor of performing artists by addressing issues regarding statutory damages in Bill C-11.

The Copyright Act of Canada has taken many forms in the hopes of coming closer to a consensus that matches that of the performing artists, music producers and consumers of music all across Canada. Internationally and nationally, the law does not prohibit the reproduction of the performers’ material for commercial or private use: modifying, viewing the song or the video for their personal use without paying any fee. This lessens the creators’ ability to make a living from the sale of his/her work online when granting access to the general public to view or listen to the work. However, policies are changing in other countries like China’s new steps on cracking down on high persisting piracy levels and Frances Hadopi legislation (3 strike law). Recent studies show that the appeal of piracy has waned in France since the so-called three-strike law came into force. The study also shows that digital sales, which were slow to get started in France, are...