COPYCENSE

“The music recording industry will no longer be able to present the united front it claimed to have on copyright issues, after a group of prominent musicians and singers this morning announced an association whose philosophy is at odds with the Canadian Recording Industry Association.

“The group, called the Canadian Music Creators Coalition (CMCC), says they got together because the recording industry seldom speaks for recording artists. The new group’s membership includes the Barenaked Ladies, Avril Lavigne, and Sarah McLachlan.

“The CMCC was blunt in its criticism of the recording industry “has been suing our fans against our will, and laws enabling these suits cannot be justified in our names …. The government should repeal provisions of the Copyright Act that allow labels to unfairly punish fans who share music for non-commercial purposes.”

Jack Kapica. Artists Revolt Against CRIA Policies. GlobeandMail.com. April 26, 2006.

See also:

Canadian Music Creators Coalition. A New Voice: Policy Positions of the Canadian Music Creators Coalition. (.pdf) April 26, 2006.

Canadian Music Creators Coalition. Launch of A New Voice: The Canadian Music Creators Coalition. (Press release.) April 26, 2006.

Updates:

Steven Page. A Barenaked Guide to Music Copyright Reform. National Post. Monday, May 1, 2006. (Page is a member of the music group Barenaked Ladies, one of the founding members of CMMC.)

CopyCense™: K. Matthew Dames on the law, business, and technology of digital content. A business venture of Seso Digital LLC.