Geist: There’s no Liberal iPod tax, but here’s the Tory one

[CHIMO]

Yet what Moore did not say is that ratification of the WIPO Internet treaties requires Canada to provide “national treatment” to all artists (in other words, treat Canadian and foreign performers equally). Since the current private copying levy system does not grant national treatment, this would likely lead to a substantial increase in payments from Canadian consumers to foreign performers and companies.

According to documents I recently obtained under the Access to Information Act, the Department of Justice has concluded that Canada’s current private copying levy system does not comply with the WIPO Internet treaties. In order to comply with the treaties, the private copying levy system would have to be expanded to include foreign record companies and performers.

A 2005 Industry Canada commissioned study estimated that this would result in either a doubling of the current levy (at the time as much as $35 million per year) almost all of which would immediately leave the country, or the current levy could remain unchanged, but Canadian record companies and performers would find their share cut roughly in half. In other words, Canadian consumers either pay millions more or Canadian creators lose millions in revenue.

Raising questions about the parties’ position on copyright and the private copying system is certainly fair game. But if the Liberals are asked to respond to iPod Tax claims, perhaps the Conservatives should explain why they left the existing system untouched in their copyright bill, thereby opening the door to millions more in consumer copyright fees or in lost revenue for creators.

http://www.thestar.com/business/article/975004--geist-there-s-no-liberal-ipod-tax-but-here-s-the-tory-one