THE CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL IMAGE CREATORS
MP Brian Masse has provided an information package that includes, an act to abolish Crown Copyright in Canada, an issue backgrounder, letters of support from organizations and individuals, and a letter explaining how to participate in a social media and letter writing campaign in support of passing the bill.
You can access the information package in its entirety here.
January 23, 2017
Submitted via email – Download PDF
Hon Mélanie Joly, PC MP Ministry of Canadian Heritage House of Commons
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6
Dear Minister Joly:
I am writing to you on behalf of the Canadian Association of Professional Image Creators (CAPIC) in response to your request for consultations on strengthening Canadian content creation, discovery and exports in a digital world.
CAPIC is making this submission now because the Ministry did not initially respond to its inquiries and CAPIC was directed to the online submission portal after it was already closed. This initiative directly effects CAPIC and its image creator members, who support and create thousands of Canadian jobs. Given CAPIC’s longstanding and unique role in representing image creators, it was disappointing that CAPIC was not invited to contribute to this vital initiative and did not receive a timely response to its inquiries from the Ministry. CAPIC provides a distinct voice in representing stakeholders who are otherwise largely unrepresented in this process and trusts that it will not be overlooked again in the future.
November 7, 2012 was a significant day for professional image creators in Canada. One this day, Bill C-11 was passed, finally recognized independent professional photographers ownership of copyright works they produce as part of their work.
Canadian photographers are now the first owners of the copyright of the images they produce rights, and by default, as are particular illustrators, musicians, painters and writers. This applies to both photographs commissioned by a client and paid by them as photographs taken outside of a commercial context.
With a long history of fighting to change Copyright Law in favor of artists in Canada, now that we have seen the change CAPIC would like to ask that professionals in the industry use their voice for a new purpose – to spread knowledge. CAPIC has created these videos as resources to empower professionals in the industry (and supporters of the industry) to educate their public, clients and other creators about the changes to Copyright Law. We encourage you to take what you have learned here, and share the key lessons.