The Society of Music Authors, Composers and Publishers of Canada (SOCAN) has filed an application with the Copyright Board of Canada for an interim tariff to license the use of music on websites that profit from audiovisual webcasting and user-generated content services.
SOCAN has more than 100,000 Canadian members and represents the Canadian performing rights of more than three million international music creators and publishers.
“Like many other small businesses in Canada, music creators and publishers have suffered financial losses associated with the current economic climate, as well as uncompensated music file sharing over the past decade,” SOCAN CEO Eric Baptiste said in a press statement, outlining the reasons for the application. “In addition to this, compensation for the use of their works by for-profit online broadcasting services has been delayed for years. Further delays in compensation would create further, undue financial difficulties for them.”
The Copyright Board of Canada is already considering such tariffs. Tariff 22D (audiovisual webcasting) and Tariff 22G (user-generated content services) would provide businesses offering online broadcasting services with licensing opportunities comparable to those used by traditional broadcasters. The interim tariffs would enable online businesses that earn revenue from content that includes SOCAN’s repertoire to use that content legally and to compensate its members.