CRTC Calls For Expanded Copying For Private Use

The Government is still in the midst of posting copyright consultation submissions. Yesterday it posted a notable response from the CRTC yesterday.  While it was somewhat surprising for the Commission to participate in the consultation, it used the opportunity to focus on three issues - tariff setting for radio, streamlining Copyright Board proceedings, and expanding the Copyright Act to legalize copying for private use. The CRTC argues that using fair dealing to legalize issues such as time shifting and format shifting would not provide sufficient certainty.  Instead, it favours several new rights for consumers distinct from fair dealing.  These include:

• time-shift radio and television programs;
• format-shift copyright material they own from one device to another for private use; and,
• make copies of copyright material they own for private use.

The CRTC did not recommend any compensation systems for these new copying rights.