Canadian Copyright Board approves iPod levy

News

Canadian Copyright Board approves iPod levy

The Copyright Board of Canada has released its decision on the application of a private copying levy to iPods and removable memory storage cards, including the popular SD format. Backing the levy is the Canadian Private Copyright Collective (CPCC), while the Canadian Storage Media Alliance and Retail Council of Canada are both against it, arguing that the Federal Court has struck struck down a previous levy on digital audio recorders as being outside the Copyright Act. Despite this earlier ruling, the Copyright Board has sided with the CPCC, and in fact stated that the levy might possibly expand to cover items such as cell phones and computers as well.

“CSMA expressed misgivings about the possibility that cellular phones and computers might end up being leviable,” the decision states. “We see no inherent problem with this scenario. A thing that is ordinarily used by individual consumers to make private copies should not be excluded from the private copying regime for the sole reason that it has other uses. Indeed, all media that are currently subject to the levy can be used for purposes other than private copying.” The entire 41-page decision is available online (PDF Link).

Share This Article & Win an iTunes Gift Card. Click Here to Enter.

Submit A News Tip

Next: Mix: Hello World, T-Mobile, Sony, 'iPhone'

Previous: OtterBox working on iPhone case

Comments

1

Get ready USA, we’re next.

Posted by Nusm on July 20, 2007 at 8:05 AM (PDT)

2

this is the levy which makes p2p networks legal in Canada.

for an excellent overview of the Canadian levy system and its concpetion of fair use check out this link

http://neil.eton.ca/copylevy.shtml

Posted by mike in boston or toronto on July 20, 2007 at 8:22 AM (PDT)

3

P2P networks are legal in Canada? Damn, and here I was, feeling all happy and proud because I thought I was getting away with something, sticking it to the RIAA/MPAA. BTW, P2P networking is legal everywhere…as long as you can get away with it.

Posted by The Soup Nazi on July 20, 2007 at 3:38 PM (PDT)

4

Once again, I’m embarassed to be associated with this country, when this is the kind of BS it spews from the depths of irrationality.

Why can’t these people just roll over and die already.

Posted by kloan on July 20, 2007 at 3:58 PM (PDT)

5

well not technically it’s illegal, according to the website December posted it’s okay to make your own copy and to download stuff from the internet, but uploading it on the web is against the law. kinda weird, but whatever.

Posted by aaron on July 20, 2007 at 4:45 PM (PDT)

6

P2P networking is legal in the US too, the only thing that is illegal is what is shared. Examples of legal P2P, torrents of Linux distros.

Posted by Gecko on July 20, 2007 at 9:05 PM (PDT)

7

Pathetic. Tax any idea that is popular. I am waiting for the RIAA to stop me on the street and demad that I prove where I got my music.

Posted by mango on July 21, 2007 at 6:19 AM (PDT)

If you have a comment, news tip, advertising inquiry, or coverage request, a question about iPods or accessories, or if you sell or market iPod products or services, read iLounge's Comments + Questions policies before posting, and fully identify yourself if you do. We will delete comments containing advertising, astroturfing, trolling, personal attacks, offensive language, or other objectionable content, then ban and/or publicly identify violators.

Recent Reviews

Recent Articles

Shop for Accessories: Cases, speakers, chargers, etc.

Amazon.com Widgets

iLounge

News