Planning a Wedding? Don’t Forget to Invite the Copyright Board of Canada

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PLANNINGAWEDDING?DON’TFORGETTOINVITETHECOPYRIGHTBOARD
OFCANADA
JASONMOSCOVICI*
ROBIC,LLP
LAWYERS,PATENTANDTRADE-MARKAGENTS
Theuseofmusicinpublicareasisasubiquitousasthesaleofpopcornatmovie
theatres.However,despitethefactthatmostofusinCanadataketheuseofthis
musicforgranted,therearestillthosewhoareentrustedwithensuringthattherights
holdersassociatedwiththismusicreapafinancialbenefitfromthepublicuseoftheir
works.
Tothisend,Re:Sound,anon-profitlicensingcompanyentrustedwithprotectingthe
financialinterestsofperformanceartistsandrecordcompaniesinCanada,has
recentlyobtainedcertificationfromtheCopyrightBoardofCanadaforanewtariff
applicabletorecordedmusicusedwhenaccompanyingliveeventssuchas
weddings,carnivals,garagesales,festivalsandnightclubs(Re:SoundTariff5-Use
ofMusictoAccompanyLiveEvents(PartsAtoG),2008-2012).
Previously,eventorganisersandvenueoperatorsonlypaidroyaltiestotheauthorsof
musicalworks,whosemusicwasusedorplayedatsaideventsorvenues,through
theSocietyofComposers,AuthorsandMusicPublishersofCanada(otherwise
knownasSOCAN).However,thisnewtariffisaddedtotheexistingSOCANtariff
andspecificallycompensatesthosewhoowntheperformancerightstothismusic,
andwhodidnotreceiveequitableremunerationpriortothenewtariff.
Thetariffseparatesallpubliceventsintosevencategories,suchthatnewand
additionalroyaltieswouldneedtobepaid,dependingonthetypeofeventand
numberofattendees:
a)Forallrecordedmusicthataccompaniesliveentertainmentincabarets,cafés,
clubs,restaurants,roadhouses,tavernsandsimilarestablishments;
b)Forallrecordedmusicusedasapartofreceptions(includingweddings),
conventions,assembliesandfashionshows;
c)Forallrecordedmusicusedbywayofkaraokemachinesatkaraokebarsand
similarestablishments;
d)Forallrecordedmusicusedinassociationwithfestivals,exhibitionsandfairs;
©CIPS,2012.*FromROBIC,LLP,amultidisciplinaryfirmofLawyers,andPatentandTrade-markAgents.Published
intheSummer2012(Vol.16,no.2)Newsletterofthefirm.Publication068.150E.

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MONTREAL1001Square-Victoria-BlocE-8thFloorMontreal,Quebec,CanadaH2Z2B7Tel.:+1514987-6242Fax:+1514845-7874
QUEBEC2828LaurierBoulevard,Tower1,Suite925Quebec,Quebec,CanadaG1V0B9Tel.:+1418653-1888Fax.:+1418653-0006
2
e)Forallrecordedmusicusedinassociationwithcircuses,iceshows,fireworks
displays,soundandlightshowsandsimilarevents.Inthisparticularcase,thistariff
appliesregardlessifthemusicisplayedindoorsorout,ifthemusicisplayedduring
theeventitself,duringintermissions,orduringtheentranceandexitoftheaudience.
f)Forallrecordedmusicusedbyfloatsinparades;
g)Forrecordedmusicusedpubliclyinparks,streetsandotheroublicareas.
Asmentionedabove,Re:Soundisentrustedwithcollectingthefeesunderthistariff
andreliesonan“honoursystem”reportingprocesstocollectfeesfromallimplicated
parties.Consequently,sinceRe:Soundmayauditorganisersandvenueoperatorsto
gainaccesstotheireventrecords,itisimportanttoconsultacopyrightprofessional
toverifywhetherthisnewtariffappliestoyou.
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MONTREAL1001Square-Victoria-BlocE-8thFloorMontreal,Quebec,CanadaH2Z2B7Tel.:+1514987-6242Fax:+1514845-7874
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