Music Industry Unites to Fight Online Piracy

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MUSIC INDUSTRY UNITES TO FIGHT ONLINE PIRACY

Ten Music Industry Associations Join Balanced Copyright for Canada’s Campaign

REGINA – John-Paul Ellson, Chair of the Canadian Council of Music Industry Associations (CCMIA), announced, today, the CCMIA’s joining Balanced Copyright for Canada coalition, a national organization that advocates taking Bill C-32 as a starting point for bringing Canada’s copyright into the digital age. Bernie Finkelstein of Balanced Copyright for Canada’s Advisory Board welcomed CCMIA’s support. The Advisory Board of 14 members includes Roger Mooking, Steven Ellis and Andy Stochansky, among others.

 

Said John-Paul Ellson, “I’m pleased to announce the Canadian Council of Music Industry Associations’ joining Balanced Copyright for Canada and their taking Bill C-32, the Copyright Modernization Act, as a starting point for copyright reform. I’m honoured the CCMIA have designated me to be their representative on the Advisory Board.”

 

CCMIA represents 10 provincial and territorial music industry associations, including the Yukon and northern Ontario (excluding Quebec). Its membership is composed of about 8,000 businesses and professionals in a variety of music-related fields.

 

“From coast to coast to coast, our members have been hit hard by unchecked Internet piracy. With access to fewer live venues than in a city like Toronto, CCMIA artists have fewer opportunities to earn even a portion of revenues lost to piracy, with live performances,” Ellson said. “That is why we enthusiastically back Balanced Copyright for Canada’s efforts to get the legal reforms we need.”

 

Balanced Copyright for Canada’s Advisory Board offers guidance on how it can best support the passage of copyright legislation that effectively protects artists and creators, and the creative industries and their investors. The Board includes artists and producers from the music and film industries and those who represent them, and Canadians who are actively engaged in defending intellectual property rights (IP) in Canada.

 

“Artists like me, and especially those just starting out, need copyright reforms, now, so that we can earn a living making music,” said Andrea Menard, a Saskatchewan-based Metis singer/songwriter and actress. “I’m glad that my provincial music industry association, through the CCMIA, supports Balanced Copyright for Canada campaign for legislation that will put the pirate download sites out of business.”

 

Bernie Finkelstein, an independent music producer and a Balanced Copyright for Canada Advisory Board member, welcomed CCMIA’s support.

 

“We are encouraged that an organization of CCMIA’s scope is adding their voices to Balanced Copyright for Canada’s campaign,” added Finkelstein.

 

Balanced Copyright for Canada is a coalition of content creators, artists, and rights holders, and people who work in music, movies, video games, books, and software. They believe that Canada needs to move into the digital age on the legislation that governs copyright in this country. For further information, please visit www.BalancedCopyrightforCanada.ca.   

The Canadian Council of Music Industry Associations (CCMIA), originally incorporated in 2002, represents 10 provincial and territorial music industry associations, including the Yukon and northern Ontario (excluding Quebec). Its membership is composed of about 8,000 businesses and professionals in a variety of music-related fields. CCMIA is embarking on a series of initiatives and projects that will assist its thousands of members and through them improve the diversification and stability of the Canadian economy.

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