• Copyright Board Agrees that Transactional Licences not Well Suited to Digital Environment 
• Access Copyright's Executive Director on Recent Dispute with Canadian Universities and Colleges
• The Access Copyright Post Secondary Interim Tariff...A Message to Our Professor Affiliates

Access Copyright is pleased that the Government has again shown its commitment to modernizing Canada's Copyright Act. The Copyright Modernization Act is an important and necessary piece of legislation that has been long anticipated.

Access Copyright is concerned that as currently drafted some of the new exceptions in the bill, including the expansion of fair dealing to cover education, would have serious implications for Canada's publishing industry and drastically reduce revenues on which creators and publishers depend for their income and continued investments.

"Access Copyright is encouraged by Heritage Minister James Moore's commitment to ensure through the legislative process that the bill's wording delivers the government's stated policy objectives and we look forward to working with Minister Moore, Industry Minister Christian Paradis, and the legislative committee to support amendments to the bill's fair dealing language," said Maureen Cavan, Executive Director, Access Copyright. "Clear language will create a balanced solution that will benefit the needs of both consumers and content creators."

The Council of Ministers of Education's appeal of the Access Copyright Elementary and Secondary School Tariff, 2005-2009 is tentatively scheduled to be heard by the Supreme Court of Canada on December 7, 2011.  The appeal deals with the issue of fair dealing.  The Supreme Court of Canada is also scheduled to hear four other cases involving copyright issues from December 6 to 7.   

Learn more about the Access Copyright Elementary and Secondary School Tariff, 2005-2009

Payback^TM payments for 2011 are scheduled to be released on November 21.

If you have recently moved, please log onto our Rights Management System (RMS) and update your profile as soon as possible.

Once payments have been released this year, please allow time for mail delivery and for your direct deposit payment to appear in your back account.

Are you still receiving cheques from Access Copyright for your royalties? Why not sign up for direct deposit instead?

We would like to move all of our affiliates to direct deposit by 2012.

Direct deposit of your royalties offers many benefits:

• Convenience. Your banking can be hassle-free. No more having to go to the bank and make a deposit. You don't have to worry about lost, stolen or misplaced cheques.
• Fast. Your money is electronically transferred into your account on time and is available to use instantly once the transfer is complete.
• Secure. Direct deposit is more confidential than paper cheques because fewer people are involved in the process.
• Cost Savings. Access Copyright saves money by printing and mailing fewer cheques. Thus, the savings are then passed on to you.

To sign up for direct deposit, all you need to do is fill out our enrolment form and send it to us, along with a void cheque, to One Yonge Street, Suite 800, Toronto, ON, M5E 1E5, Attention: Accounting.

Access Copyright's goal is to make all payments by direct deposit by 2012.

Access Copyright has released its latest distribution of royalties.

These royalties cover the following distribution categories:

• K-12 Schools*: (Title Specific) for the period of July 1,2010 to June 30, 2011.
• Full Reporting: (Title Specific) from post-secondary institutions, business and non-profit sector and other territories for the period January 1, 2006 to July 31, 2011.             
• Pending payments including those under $25.
• Royalties from the UK (ALCS) for Canadian writers from 2009 and 2010.
• Digital royalties from Australia from 2007 to 2009.

Get more information on Access Copyright's distribution guidelines

*In 2010, Access Copyright went back into the K-12 schools to study what is being copied at the photocopier. Royalties collected for copying in primary and secondary schools are distributed based on surveys that are conducted in schools across Canada (excluding Quebec). These surveys are designed to provide a relevant sample and are used to collect title specific information on what works are copied.

The school distribution is a title specific distribution that is based on the results of a comprehensive photocopy study that Access Copyright commissioned in 2005 and 2006, and an updated study that was conducted in 295 schools in 2010. The 2005/2006 school study represents 80% of the weight while 20% of the weight is assigned to the 2010 school survey data.

The Access Copyright Foundation is currently accepting applications for Event grants. The deadline for applications is November 1. Application guidelines and an application form are available on the Foundation website.

Event grants are available to organizations that support Canadian creativity through events that aim to deepen appreciation and enjoyment of Canadian culture.  

On July 26, the Foundation announced the recipients of this year's set of Professional Development grants. Fifty-nine creators, arts professionals and publishers will receive grants from the Foundation.  

Professional Development grants provide access to specialized training and continued education for freelance writers, visual artists, arts professionals employed or contracted by Canadian publishers, and writing and visual artist organizations.

Read more about this year's Professional Development grant recipients 

If you are a freelance author who wrote articles for any publications published by Toronto Star Newspapers Ltd., Rogers Publishers Limited or CanWest Publishing Inc., you may be eligible to make a claim under the second Heather Robertson settlement.

Read more on making a claim under the second Heather Robertson Settlement as well as an update on the Google Settlement

The Writers' Coalition Program-a benefits program built by creators for creators-offers drug, health and dental coverage, as well as home and auto insurance to Canada's creative community.

As an Access Copyright affiliate, you are automatically eligible to join the program.

There are many reasons to join this program if you have not already:

• The Program is underwritten by the Actra Fraternal Benefits Society, a non-profit insurer.
• It offers the convenience of a pay direct drug/dental card, and there is no medical required to join.
• As of November 1, there will be no deductibles for the program.
• Premiums will not increase between November 1, 2011, and October 31, 2012, making this the third consecutive 12-month period premiums have not risen.

For more information on joining the Writers' Coalition Program, visit www.writerscoalition.com, email writerscoalition@actrafrat.com or call 1-888-387-8897 ext. 254.

Access Copyright is a proud member of the Writers' Coalition Program.