Access Copyright

Access...an e-newsletter for Publisher Affiliates

July 2013   

In this issue...
Access Copyright's 2013 AGM: Looking Back...Looking Forward
Access Copyright to Continue Conversation with University of Toronto and Western University
Access Copyright Transformation Update
Access Copyright's Executive Director Talks Change Across Canada This Spring
Have You Made Your Publisher Repertoire Claim?
Access Copyright Distributed Over $2.6 Million In June
Copyright Board of Canada Certifies Interim Elementary and Secondary School Education Tariff
Follow Us on Twitter Today!
Have You Signed up for Direct Deposit?
Access Copyright's 2013 AGM: Looking Back...Looking Forward 

Access Copyright's 2013 Annual General Meeting on April 26 in Toronto saw the organization and meeting delegates both reflect on the past year and begin to lay the groundwork for a bold, new future.

 

The meeting was conducted in the shadow of the lively discussion that took place the previous day at The Next Chapter: Summit 2013. The Summit saw almost one hundred Canadian creators and publishers mull over how Access Copyright can change to meet the needs of content creators and publishers, and content users.

 

James Romanow
James Romanow (Credit: Gregory Varano) 

At the AGM, Access Copyright Creator Co-Chair, James Romanow, outlined the steps the organization has recently taken in order to ensure it has the time necessary to transform itself. These efforts have included cutting costs through the elimination of 17 positions since October 2012, increasing the organization's administrative holdback to 30% in 2014 and reducing the number of times Access Copyright distributes royalties to rightsholders from five times to three times a year.

 

The organization's Executive Director, Roanie Levy, explained to delegates what she thinks change should mean for Access Copyright. Change, according to Roanie, has three integral elements: improving communications and stakeholder relations, identifying new services and defending the rights of creators and publishers.  

 

Roanie Levy
Roanie Levy (Credit: Gregory Varano) 

She stressed that the organization, "needs to engage with our users to understand and define what kinds of services they would like that support the licensing of the rights of our affiliates" while also noting that, "we will continue to pursue and defend the rights of creators and publishers in Canada." 

 

As a result, Access Copyright will be doing extensive research and development to identify new service opportunities for the organization.

 

Roanie concluded her presentation by sharing what she thinks a new value proposition for Access Copyright might look like: "We exist for the common interest and shared goals in writing, publishing, teaching, learning and reading, and the benefits that are realized every time Canadian content is created and consumed."

 

Access Copyright to Continue Conversation with University of Toronto and Western University 

Earlier this month, the University of Toronto and Western University notified Access Copyright that they do not wish to extend their licence agreements under the current terms; however both institutions also signalled their willingness to discuss revised agreements.

 

On June 24, Access Copyright responded to U of T and Western in writing, making clear our intent to continue working towards a new agreement that is acceptable to these valued partners.  

 

Access Copyright recognizes the evolving landscape around technology and copyright in education and is committed to working with educators to identify areas where our offering could benefit from further alignment with their needs.  

 

Ideally, the value of future comprehensive licence agreements will be rooted in a cooperative analysis of usage matched against both Access Copyright's repertoire, existing library subscriptions; and will be tempered by a reasoned interpretation of "fair dealing" - one that is not unduly restrictive of content usage in education or the viability of developing content for use in education.

 

Through our partnerships with these and other educational institutions we will continue to invest in the shared interests of Canadian creators, publishers, instructors and learners.

Access Copyright Transformation Update 

The work on defining a future direction for Access Copyright that was started in April at The Next Chapter: Summit 2013 is ongoing.

 

Three working groups have been established to continue the conversation that was started at the Summit about how to find the common ground between content creators, publishers, and content users.

 

The three working groups are:

  • The Governance Advisory Committee - responsible for recommending changes to the organization's governance structure, including the organization's Board of Directors and its by-laws, to ensure it can meet the needs of creators, publishers, teachers, learners and readers.
  • The Business Strategy and Marketing Working Group - focused on content users and responsible for providing strategic advice on any new services Access Copyright may pursue.
  • The Communications and Government Relations Working Group - responsible for providing strategic advice on any communications and government relations initiatives.

Each group is comprised of a cross-section of leaders from Canada's creator, publisher and cultural communities.

 

As the organization goes through this important process, we thank you for your ongoing support and will keep you updated as new developments arise.

Access Copyright's Executive Director Talks Change Across Canada This Spring 

One of the things Access Copyright will be focusing on as it changes is ongoing consultation with members, affiliates and users.  

 

In April and May, Executive Director Roanie Levy visited many of our member organizations across Canada to discuss Access Copyright's drive to transform itself and the role it should play in writing, publishing, reading, teaching and learning in Canada. Among the organizations Roanie visited were the Writers' Federation of Nova Scotia, the Association of Manitoba Book Publishers, the Book Publishers Association of Alberta, the Writers Guild of Alberta, the Federation of British Columbia Writers and the Association of Book Publishers of British Columbia.

 

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Have You Made Your Publisher Repertoire Claim? 

The deadline to send in a Publisher Repertoire Claim Form for this year's Publisher Repertoire payment is August 31, 2013.

 

All publishers affiliated with Access Copyright as of December 31, 2012 are eligible to receive a payment this year provided they submit a completed claim form by August 31. No claims for the 2013 payment can be made after this date. Thanks to all of our affiliates who have already sent in a repertoire payment form this year.

 

Your 2013 Publisher Repertoire payment will be calculated based on your 2011 reported revenue totals and will be distributed in December.

 

Please contact us by email at [email protected] for more information on this payment or check out our FAQ on the payment.

Access Copyright Distributed Over $2.6 Million In June

This June, Access Copyright distributed over $2.6 million in royalties to creators and publishers. These distributions will include:

  • Full reporting (title-specific) royalties collected from post-secondary institutions, business and not-for-profits.
  • Media monitoring (non-title specific) royalties to be distributed to publishers according to data derived from the distribution of press clippings.
  • Non-title specific royalties collected from our government licensees.
  • Royalties collected through our transactional (pay-per-use) licensing service.
  • Royalties received from CopyDan, the reproduction rights organization for Denmark, to be distributed to Canadian creators for the copying of their works in the country.
  • Any pending payments, including amounts owing of $25 and more.

This year, Access Copyright will be distributing royalties to creators and publishers three times, including June's distribution as well as in November and December. This includes our annual Payback distribution to eligible creator affiliates in November as well our annual Publisher Repertoire payment to eligible publisher affiliates in December. As a result of this change, our royalty distributions will be more efficient while not reducing the scope of our distribution services.

Copyright Board of Canada Certifies Interim Elementary and Secondary School Education Tariff 

Access Copyright is pleased with the Copyright Board of Canada's May 29, 2013 decision to certify an interim elementary and secondary school education tariff.  

 

This decision indicates, among other things, that the ministries of education across Canada along with Ontario schools boards have interpreted the law prematurely, stating the following:

 

The Objectors' decision to do without the tariff may be grounded in part in the conclusions set out in a document entitled Copyright Matters!, co-authored by one of the Objectors' counsel. In a nutshell, the document advances the view that anything the 2005-2009 tariff authorized constitutes fair dealing for an allowable purpose. That view relies on an interpretation of decisions of the Supreme Court of Canada which has yet to be tested before a competent forum. Indeed, the decision of the Court in Alberta (SCC) targeted only a small subset of copies: the positions the Objectors advanced during the redetermination of the matter before the Board clearly reflected this.

 

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Follow Us on Twitter Today! 

Want to know more about Access Copyright? Want to stay in touch with what's happening with copyright around the world? Want to keep a pulse on Canadian culture?  

 

Do all three by following us on Twitter and joining our online community of writers, artists, publishers, librarians, teachers, students and others interested in copyright and culture.

 

We hope to see you soon on Twitter!

Have You Signed up for Direct Deposit? 

Signing up to receive your royalties from Access Copyright by direct deposit is an easy and convenient way to ensure you get your royalties from us right away!

 

Why Sign Up for Direct Deposit?

  • It's convenient. 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.
  • It's fast. Your money is electronically transferred into your account on time and is available for use instantly once the transfer is complete.
  • It's secure. Direct Deposit is more confidential than paper cheques because fewer people are involved in the process.
  • It saves money. Access Copyright saves money by printing and mailing fewer cheques. Savings that are then passed on to you.

If you haven't already done so, sign up for direct deposit with us today! Please click here to get started.

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