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Copyright Board Increases Private Copying Levy

By Michael Geist

The Copyright Board of Canada has released a decision on the private copying levy for 2008 and 2009.  The Board increased the levy on each blank CD to 29 cents (it had been 21 cents).  The Board argues that this will keep revenues constant at $30 million per year since blank CD sales are declining and there is no levy on digital audio players.  It justified the increase by noting that compression technologies allow consumers to pack more songs onto a single CD.  While several groups initially objected to the tariff, most dropped out of the process, leaving only the Retail Council of Canada, which did not present any evidence at the hearing into levy last spring.  The future of the levy remains in doubt as the Conservatives have indicated their desire to cancel it and had committed to a public consultation on the issue this past fall (which did not happen due to the national election).

Full post as published by Michael Geist on December 05, 2008 (boomark / email).