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Access...an e-newsletter for Creator Affiliates
April 2011
With the fall of the Government on March 25, Bill C-32, the Government's latest attempt to modernize Canada's Copyright Act, died on the order paper.
Over the past year-and-a-half, Access Copyright has worked regularly with its affiliates and member organizations to support their participation in the copyright-reform process, from the copyright consultations of the summer of 2009 to helping to pass the word about The Writers' Union of Canada's YouTube video on Bill C-32 that was released earlier this year as well as the development of multi-sector position papers signed by over 85 cultural sector organizations. Each and every time we supported and facilitated your participation in ensuring your collective voices sent clear and powerful messages to Ottawa.
As the lead item in this month's e-newsletter demonstrates, the work goes on to ensure that the interests of Canada's creators and publishers are heard loud and clear during this current election campaign and in the next attempt to update Canada's copyright laws.
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| Vote for Arts & Culture on May 2 |  During the federal election campaign, we encourage you to help ensure that the interests of Canada's creators and publishers are heard loud and clear. The creative industry has changed with the move into an increasingly digital environment. However, our copyright laws are still severely out-of-date, and creators and publishers still struggle to be compensated fairly. That is why this election is so important. It will set the tone for the future of the Canadian cultural industry, so we encourage you to take this opportunity to vote for candidates who show support for the creative community. To help you engage the candidates in your riding as well as to follow all the latest news in the campaign, we have prepared a federal election tool kit. It's not too late to make a difference in this campaign. On May 2, please use your vote and ensure your next Member of Parliament will support your need to be compensated when your work is used. For more information on voting on May 2, including information on where your polling station is located, please visit the Elections Canada website. More useful resources on the election can be found by clicking here. |
| PaybackTM 2011 is Open |  Access Copyright is the midst of accepting online submissions for this year's PaybackTM. The deadline to make a claim for this year's Payback is May 31. If you made a claim for last year's payment, you only have to report the number of works that were published in 2009 for which you retain copyright. This new information, along with the data we have on file for your works between 1990 and 2008, will be used to calculate your supplementary payment for this year's Payback. If you do not have any works from 2009 to add to your Payback claim, you do not need to submit anything in order to receive a supplementary payment. If you did not make a claim for last year's payment or are eligible for Payback for the first time, you must complete our online Payback form and list the number of works published between 1990 and 2009 for which you retain copyright in order to receive a supplementary payment. Under Payback, all eligible creators are entitled to a base payment. In addition to the base payment, creators may receive a supplementary payment that will vary depending on what genre of work you published (books, magazines, scholarly journals and newspapers), how much you published and when you published. In order to receive this supplementary payment, you must make a Payback claim. For more information on Payback, please visit our website. |
| Access Copyright 2011 Annual General Meeting |
 | 2010-2011 Distribution Chair and Newly Elected Creator Co-Chair Penney Kome
(Credit: Gregory Varano)
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March 25 was a day most eyes were turned to Ottawa as the federal government was defeated on a motion of non-confidence. While intrigue and the inevitability of having to head back to the polls were on the minds of many, Access Copyright was holding its 2011 Annual General Meeting in downtown Toronto.
At the meeting, Distribution Chair Penney Kome announced that in 2010, Access Copyright distributed $23.3 million in copyright royalties to rightsholders. Penney also outlined the successful first year of Payback, Access Copyright's new creator payment model. 8,811 creators received a Payback royalty cheque last year, a 12% increase in the number of creators who received a repertoire cheque in 2009.
To read more about the Access Copyright 2011 Annual General Meeting, please click here.
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| Access Copyright Releases its 2011 Distribution Plan | |
Access Copyright has released its 2011 royalty distribution plan.
Please click here to learn more about the distributions in store for this year. Access Copyright is planning to distribute $22 million in copyright royalties to rightsholders in 2011.
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| Why Creators Should Fill Out the 2011 Census | |
Starting May 2, all Canadian households will receive a census package either by mail or dropped off by a census enumerator. Canada's 2011 census will include a short-form questionnaire and the National Household Survey.
To read more about why the 2011 Census is important, please click here. |
| Deadline for Access Copyright Foundation Professional Development Grants Almost Here |  May 1 is the deadline to apply for a Professional-Development Grant through the Access Copyright Foundation. To learn more about Professional-Development Grants, please click here. |
| Second Settlement Reached in Heather Robertson Freelance Case | |
On January 17, a tentative settlement was reached in a class action lawsuit launched on behalf of freelancers by Heather Robertson against Toronto Star Newspapers Ltd., Rogers Publishing Limited, CEDROM-SNi Inc., ProQuest and CanWest Publishing Limited. A separate settlement was reached with CanWest Publishing Limited and was approved by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice on June 16, 2010.
To read more, please click here.
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| What Does Margaret Atwood Have to Say About the Writers' Coalition Program? | 
"The Writers' Coalition health plan is a terrific option for artists, writers and creators who don't already have health benefits. For many, this package is more comprehensive than an individual health plan and an affordable option for artists who are currently without coverage. It supplies a real need. I'd be joining it myself if I weren't overage." - Margaret Atwood As an Access Copyright affiliate, you are automatically eligible to join the Writers' Coalition Program. Why join the Writers' Coalition Program? · The program offers a full suite of health, drug and dental benefits to Canadian creators. · No medical required to join. · The opportunity to purchase separate home, auto and home insurance coverage. · Coverage increases after the first and second year of joining the program. The program is administered by the ACTRA Fraternal Benefits Society (AFBS) and Access Copyright is a proud member of the program. Want to find out more? Please visit www.writerscoalition.com or call 416-967-6600 (toll-free 1-800-387-8897) x256. |
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