The Honourable Navdeep Bains, P.C., M.P. Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6 The Honourable Mélanie Joly Minister of Canadian Heritage House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6 Copyright Board of Canada 56 Sparks St., Suite 800 Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0C9 Re: A Consultation on Options for Reform to the Copyright Board of Canada Attention:
[email protected] A. INTRODUCTION Canadian Retransmission Collective (CRC) is pleased to respond to the Government of Canada’s request for submissions of August 9, 2017 to all Copyright Board stakeholders, requesting commentary on the matters raised in the Consultation on Options for Reform to the Copyright Board of Canada (the “Discussion Paper”). CRC is a copyright collective representing thousands of program rights holders. Its affiliates include independent Canadian program producers, the National Film Board of Canada, producers of programs shown on Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and Réseau France Outremer (RFO), educational TV producers in Canada (except Télé-Québec), all foreign producers and broadcasters outside North America, and producers of music videos used in Canadian programs. CRC’s mandate is to ensure that distant signal royalties reflect an equitable market value and are flowed through to program rightsholders in a timely and efficient manner. Achieving these goals is essential to promoting a copyright ecosystem that encourages the creation and dissemination of new content. CRC fully supports the Government of Canada’s and the Copyright Board’s policy goals in reviewing the legislative and regulatory framework of the powers and procedures of the Board. All stakeholders – copyright owners, intermediaries, and users alike – will benefit from a more efficient Copyright Board process.