Canada Court Ruling: ISPs not liable for royalties

ProgressChrome · 06-30-2004, 11:08 AM

from CBC.ca

OTTAWA - Internet service providers are not responsible for paying royalties on music downloaded by users, Canada's Supreme Court ruled Wednesday.

In a unanimous 9-0 decision, the court ruled that although ISPs provide the hardware and technology, they aren't responsible for what people download.

The court ruled that companies providing wide access to the web are "intermediaries" who are not bound by federal copyright legislation.

Millions of songs and videos are downloaded for free without musicians, composers and artists being paid any royalties.

The Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada, representing Canadian artists, argued that ISPs are liable because they have a hand in transmitting recorded music.

But the Canadian Association of Internet Providers, including companies like Bell, Sprint, and AOL, said artists should ask for royalties from sites that offer their works, not companies that provide the access.

Dead · 07-01-2004, 01:20 AM

I saw this on the news. They need to overturn the stupid CDR and other blank media levy. And the one for music devices like iPod also.

On TV they ruled the ISPs can't be charged for things people MIGHT be doing, and this is the same case as people buying CDRs. The same ruling should apply.

Know what I'm saying?!?!?

ProgressChrome · 07-01-2004, 12:04 PM

i don't care much for the levy since it mostly benefits big labels and not the artists. so, yah, i agree. the levy can hurt independent artists that are trying to make their own cds since their cost ends up being high even though they aren't using the cds to burn other artists music, therefore the labels shouldn't get money from it.

06-30-2004, 11:08 AM	#1
ProgressChrome Apocalyptic Poster Location: Waterloo, Ontario Posts: 2,900	Canada Court Ruling: ISPs not liable for royalties from CBC.ca OTTAWA - Internet service providers are not responsible for paying royalties on music downloaded by users, Canada's Supreme Court ruled Wednesday. In a unanimous 9-0 decision, the court ruled that although ISPs provide the hardware and technology, they aren't responsible for what people download. The court ruled that companies providing wide access to the web are "intermediaries" who are not bound by federal copyright legislation. Millions of songs and videos are downloaded for free without musicians, composers and artists being paid any royalties. The Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada, representing Canadian artists, argued that ISPs are liable because they have a hand in transmitting recorded music. But the Canadian Association of Internet Providers, including companies like Bell, Sprint, and AOL, said artists should ask for royalties from sites that offer their works, not companies that provide the access.

07-01-2004, 01:20 AM	#2
Dead Deaddy is your daddy! Location: Veronica Mars played with my Wii. Posts: 39,187	I saw this on the news. They need to overturn the stupid CDR and other blank media levy. And the one for music devices like iPod also. On TV they ruled the ISPs can't be charged for things people MIGHT be doing, and this is the same case as people buying CDRs. The same ruling should apply. Know what I'm saying?!?!?

07-01-2004, 12:04 PM	#3
ProgressChrome Apocalyptic Poster Location: Waterloo, Ontario Posts: 2,900	i don't care much for the levy since it mostly benefits big labels and not the artists. so, yah, i agree. the levy can hurt independent artists that are trying to make their own cds since their cost ends up being high even though they aren't using the cds to burn other artists music, therefore the labels shouldn't get money from it.