Don`t Forget to Invite the Copyright Board of Canada

PLANNING A WEDDING? DON’T FORGET TO INVITE THE COPYRIGHT BOARD
OF CANADA
JASON MOSCOVICI*
ROBIC, LLP
LAWYERS, PATENT AND TRADE-MARK AGENTS
The use of music in public areas is as ubiquitous as the sale of popcorn at movie
theatres. However, despite the fact that most of us in Canada take the use of this
music for granted, there are still those who are entrusted with ensuring that the rights
holders associated with this music reap a financial benefit from the public use of their
works.
To this end, Re:Sound, a non-profit licensing company entrusted with protecting the
financial interests of performance artists and record companies in Canada, has
recently obtained certification from the Copyright Board of Canada for a new tariff
applicable to recorded music used when accompanying live events such as
weddings, carnivals, garage sales, festivals and nightclubs (Re:Sound Tariff 5 - Use
of Music to Accompany Live Events (Parts A to G), 2008-2012).
Previously, event organisers and venue operators only paid royalties to the authors of
musical works, whose music was used or played at said events or venues, through
the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (otherwise
known as SOCAN). However, this new tariff is added to the existing SOCAN tariff
and specifically compensates those who own the performance rights to this music,
and who did not receive equitable remuneration prior to the new tariff.
The tariff separates all public events into seven categories, such that new and
additional royalties would need to be paid, depending on the type of event and
number of attendees:
a) For all recorded music that accompanies live entertainment in cabarets, cafés,
clubs, restaurants, roadhouses, taverns and similar establishments ;
b) For all recorded music used as a part of receptions (including weddings),
conventions, assemblies and fashion shows;
c) For all recorded music used by way of karaoke machines at karaoke bars and
similar establishments;
d) For all recorded music used in association with festivals, exhibitions and fairs;
© CIPS, 2012.
*
From ROBIC, LLP, a multidisciplinary firm of Lawyers, and Patent and Trade-mark Agents. Published
in the Summer 2012 (Vol. 16, no. 2) Newsletter of the firm. Publication 068.150E.
ROBIC, LLP
www.robic.ca
[email protected]
MONTREAL
1001 Square-Victoria - Bloc E - 8th Floor
Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2Z 2B7
Tel.: +1 514 987-6242 Fax: +1 514 845-7874
QUEBEC
2828 Laurier Boulevard, Tower 1, Suite 925
Quebec, Quebec, Canada G1V 0B9
Tel.: +1 418 653-1888 Fax.: +1 418 653-0006
2
e) For all recorded music used in association with circuses, ice shows, fireworks
displays, sound and light shows and similar events. In this particular case, this tariff
applies regardless if the music is played indoors or out, if the music is played during
the event itself, during intermissions, or during the entrance and exit of the audience.
f) For all recorded music used by floats in parades;
g) For recorded music used publicly in parks, streets and other oublic areas.
As mentioned above, Re:Sound is entrusted with collecting the fees under this tariff
and relies on an “honour system” reporting process to collect fees from all implicated
parties. Consequently, since Re:Sound may audit organisers and venue operators to
gain access to their event records, it is important to consult a copyright professional
to verify whether this new tariff applies to you.
ROBIC, un groupe d'avocats et d'agents de brevets et de marques de commerce voué depuis 1892 à
la protection et à la valorisation de la propriété intellectuelle dans tous les domaines: brevets, dessins
industriels et modèles utilitaires; marques de commerce, marques de certification et appellations
d'origine; droits d'auteur, propriété littéraire et artistique, droits voisins et de l'artiste interprète;
informatique, logiciels et circuits intégrés; biotechnologies, pharmaceutiques et obtentions végétales;
secrets de commerce, know-howet concurrence; licences, franchises et transferts de technologies;
commerce électronique, distribution et droit des affaires; marquage, publicité et étiquetage; poursuite,
litige et arbitrage; vérification diligente et audit. ROBIC, a group of lawyers and of patent and
trademark agents dedicated since 1892 to the protection and the valorization of all fields of intellectual
property: patents, industrial designs and utility patents; trademarks, certification marks and indications
of origin; copyright and entertainment law, artists and performers, neighbouring rights; computer,
software and integrated circuits; biotechnologies, pharmaceuticals and plant breeders; trade secrets,
know-how, competition and anti-trust; licensing, franchising and technology transfers; e-commerce,
distribution and business law; marketing, publicity and labelling; prosecution litigation and arbitration;
due diligence.
COPYRIGHTER
IDEAS LIVE HERE
IL A TOUT DE MÊME FALLU L'INVENTER!
LA MAÎTRISE DES INTANGIBLES
LEGER ROBIC RICHARD
NOS FENÊTRES GRANDES OUVERTES SUR LE MONDE DES AFFAIRES
PATENTER
R
ROBIC
ROBIC + DROIT +AFFAIRES +SCIENCES +ARTS
ROBIC ++++
ROBIC +LAW +BUSINESS +SCIENCE +ART
THE TRADEMARKER GROUP
TRADEMARKER
VOS IDÉES À LA PORTÉE DU MONDE , DES AFFAIRES À LA GRANDEUR DE LA PLANÈTE
YOUR BUSINESS IS THE WORLD OF IDEAS; OUR BUSINESS BRINGS YOUR IDEAS TO THE
WORLD
ROBIC, LLP
www.robic.ca
[email protected]
MONTREAL
1001 Square-Victoria - Bloc E - 8th Floor
Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2Z 2B7
Tel.: +1 514 987-6242 Fax: +1 514 845-7874
QUEBEC
2828 Laurier Boulevard, Tower 1, Suite 925
Quebec, Quebec, Canada G1V 0B9
Tel.: +1 418 653-1888 Fax.: +1 418 653-0006
3
Trade-marks of ROBIC, LLP ("ROBIC")
ROBIC, LLP
www.robic.ca
[email protected]
MONTREAL
1001 Square-Victoria - Bloc E - 8th Floor
Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2Z 2B7
Tel.: +1 514 987-6242 Fax: +1 514 845-7874
QUEBEC
2828 Laurier Boulevard, Tower 1, Suite 925
Quebec, Quebec, Canada G1V 0B9
Tel.: +1 418 653-1888 Fax.: +1 418 653-0006