PWAC Advocacy &Reports

2011 Canadian Cultural Industries' Joint Statement on Bill C-32

PWAC has been working in close communications with a broad coalition of organizations across the cultural sector including sister writers groups, performers, composers, visual artists and the publishers and producers who steward our rights in the various markets where our works comprise the content that drives our $46 billion, 600,000 job sector.

On February 3rd, the coalition released this joint statement calling for significant amendments to the draft bill currently before a legislative committee in Ottawa.

Click here to download the statement.

2010 Creators' Copyright Coalition (C.C.C) on Copyright Bill C-32

The Creators' Copyright Coalition (C.C.C) is an alliance of national associations, unions and collectives representing individual artists working primarily in the English language media in Canada. PWAC is a member of the Coalition along with the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA), Canadian Actors' Equity Association (Equity), Canadian Artists Representation (CARFAC), Canadian Artists Representation Copyright Collective (CARCC), Canadian Federation of Musicians (CFM), Canadian Music Centre, Canadian League of Composers, Directors Guild of Canada, League of Canadian Poets, The Literary Translators Association of Canada, Playwrights Guild of Canada, Screen Composers Guild of Canada (SCGC), Songwriters Association of Canada (SAC), Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN), Writers Guild of Canada (WGC), and The Writers' Union of Canada (TWUC). Together, these associations and collectives represent more than 100,000 creators (authors and performers) who are copyright owners.

Proposed reforms to Canada's copyright law will turn core principles of copyright on their head and gut protections that for decades helped ensure the economic survival of Canadian artists, writers, photographers, visual artists, directors, composers, musicians and performers, a group representing more than 100,000 professional creators said in a paper released today.

"As MPs scrutinize C-32 in Committee they have to bear in mind that modernization of copyright for the digital age must not be allowed to shut creators out," said Bill Freeman, Chair of The Creators' Copyright Coalition (CCC), which prepared the statement. "But that's exactly what C-32 will do."

"It's rare for arts groups to be unanimous in their views and to speak with a united voice," Marvin Dolgay, a music composer and President of the Screen Composers Guild of Canada, said. "We are 16 major arts groups representing a massive number of professionals in virtually every sector. To come together on this issue like this shows we mean business. We mean business, because our business is at risk."

Canada needs stronger collective licensing, not the weakening of protections for creators that C-32 proposes, the CCC paper argues. (Download the CCC paper at www.creatorscopyright.ca).

The Creators' Copyright Coalition supports the modernization of copyright and the encouragement of greater access to creators' works - but access for use and re-use of creative works must be compensated. The introduction of numerous broad exceptions for education and private purposes, and the refusal to adapt the private copying regime to a technology-neutral system that strengthens collective licensing, will shut Canadian artists out of the digital economy.

"Creators depend on a range of revenue streams for their economic survival," Mr. Freeman said, "and C-32 would eliminate a number of those revenue streams. Fair copyright legislation should give the public access to the works of creators in exchange for fair compensation. That principle is even more important in the evolving digital economy so creators can develop new business models that ensure that they are fairly compensated when their works are used - vital to them continuing to create," Mr. Freeman added.

The CCC proposes six changes to proposed reforms that disadvantage Canadian creators. These include the Bill's provisions for reproduction for 'private purposes,' user-generated content, exceptions for education, statutory damages, Internet Service Provider (ISP) liability and the weakening of collective licensing mechanisms.

"Parliament must change these legislative plans," actor Wendy Crewson said. "It must encourage - not discourage - the essential investments that Canadian musicians, composers, authors, poets, playwrights, artists, screenwriters and performers make and that will keep our digital economy healthy and productive. C-32 is flawed by a poor understanding of the structure of Canada's creative industries," continued Crewson.

Writers Coalition on Copyright's Letter to Federal Ministers Moore and Clement

PWAC Annual Report 2010

Respect And Remuneration: Attitudes about Editorial Working Conditions in the Canadian Magazine Industry

PWAC, in partnership with Magazines Canada and the Canadian Society of Magazine Editors (CSME), is pleased to announce the release of Respect And Remuneration: Attitudes about Editorial Working Conditions in the Canadian Magazine Industry. The report is the result of the Canadian Magazine Industry Task Force 2008 survey, an in-depth study of the magazine industry and those employed in it. Over 450 staff and freelance writers, editors and publishers were consulted.

"In order for the magazine industry to thrive, we need to identify its shortcomings and work together on arriving at solutions," said CSME President Bob Sexton. "This report is a great first step in that direction. It should be required reading for all editors, writers, publishers and those who care about the future of magazines in this country."

"The report gives us a solid basis for our next steps - solutions focused conversations," said Mark Jamison, Chief Executive Officer of Magazines Canada.

The findings of the report will serve as the basis for the next phase of the Magazine Industry Task Force's efforts, where key magazine industry stakeholders will gather for a series of round table meetings across Canada to work out a Best Standards and Practices agreement for the magazine publishing industry.

"We're all hoping that sitting down and coming to a mutual understanding of the issues facing the magazine business will prove valuable to all parties involved and help keep this important cultural industry vibrant," said David Johnston, PWAC Executive Director.

Click here to download the report in PDF format.

2008 Creators' Copyright Coalition (C.C.C) Platform on the Revision of Copyright

The Creators' Copyright Coalition (C.C.C) is an alliance of 16 professional associations of individual creators and performers, and copyright collective societies active in theatre, the visual arts, the applied arts, literature, music, recording and audiovisual (radio, television, film and commercials). Together, these associations and collectives represent more than 100,000 creators (authors and performers) who are copyright owners.

The C.C.C defends the interests of authors and performers in the revision of the Copyright Act of Canada.

Click here to download the 2008 C.C.C Platform in PDF format.

PWAC Annual Report 2009

PWAC Canadian Professional Writers Survey

In 2005, PWAC conducted its second freelance writers survey in ten years. This was the first comprehensive survey of the Canadian writing community and the first since the rise to prominence of the online marketplace.

Click here to download the survey report in PDF format.

PWAC Senate Submission

Analysis of Heather Robertson Decision