Bill C-32, the Copyright Modernization Act
Background
Bill C-32, the Copyright Modernization Act, was tabled in the House of Commons on June 2, 2010. The bill takes a balanced approach, although more analysis will need to be done in the coming days. The Copyright Act has not been reformed significantly in the past 10 years. New rights and protections are required if rights holders are to better reach new markets, adapt their business models and combat infringement in a digital environment. While the new bill has been introduced, we still need your assistance in ensuring that this bill is passed by the government. We need to protect the jobs in Canada that are dependent on a strong intellectual property (IP) rights system.
What this means for Canadian business
Many companies, big and small, rely on the protection of intellectual property rights to thrive in Canada. Updated copyright legislation will bring Canada up to date with all major industrial economies and clarify copyright laws in light of the new Internet economy in the 21st century. Intellectual property is the economic currency of the future. Properly applied, IP rights drive job creation, economic growth and innovation.
A strong IP system is important for your community as all companies have intellectual property—company names, logos, client listings or research papers all qualify. Here are some examples of industries across Canada, where IP protection is crucial to their sector and Canada’s success:
- In Toronto, there are over 3,300 high-tech companies (digital media and Internet) generating revenues over $32.5 billion and employing 148,000 people.
- St. Catharines is home to prominent video game company Silicon Knights.
- In Drummondville, Kefiplan, an innovative biotech botanical company relies on patented bio-processes for its business success. Kefitech™ botanical formulas offer new innovative commercial product applications for human and animal health.
What you can do
We need local chambers and boards of trade across Canada to reach out to their MPs and send letters of support for the new copyright legislation so we can get this passed once and for all. Also, it would be great if you could send this information to local business members that rely on proper protection of IP rights for success and ask them to write to MPs too. The Canadian Chamber has provided draft letters and other background information for you to tailor.
The push for copyright reform is all about keeping Canadian jobs in the knowledge-based economy, identifying IP assets and being able to properly exploit them for a competitive advantage. It’s a message that we know your business community will support; help us get this bill passed for the benefit of businesses across the country.
For more information, please contact:
Chris Gray, Director of Innovation Policy, 613.238.4000 (251), [email protected].
Supporting documents: Backgrounder FAQsGovernment of Canada news release
Importance of IP in Canada Template letter to MPs
