Canada set to extend artist copyright term from 50 to 70 years

April 22, 2015

The Government of Canada has announced its intention to amend the term of copyright for sound recordings from 50 to 70 years in its 2015 Budget.

The move would bring Canadian artists and labels in line with more than 60 countries worldwide who protect copyright in sound recordings for a term of 70 years or longer – including all of Europe, the US and Australia.

Canadian artists currently lose copyright protection to their own recordings after half a century, when Canada’s Copyright Act pushes the tracks into the public domain.

The move has been welcomed by record label and artist body Music Canada, which has long lobbied for an extension.

“By proposing to extend the term of copyright in recorded music, Prime Minister Harper and the Government of Canada have demonstrated a real understanding of music’s importance to the Canadian economy. Thank you. We look forward to seeing the full details when the Budget Implementation Act is tabled,” says Graham Henderson, President of Music Canada.

“With each passing day, Canadian treasures like Universal Soldier by Buffy Sainte-Marie are lost to the public domain. This is not in the public interest. It does not benefit the creator or their investors and it will have an adverse impact on the Canadian economy.”

Without term extension for sound recordings, the early works of Leonard Cohen (pictured), Neil Young, Gordon Lightfoot, Joni Mitchell, and Anne Murray would be in public domain over the next five years.

“Many of us in our seventies and eighties depend on income from these songs for our livelihood.”
Leonard Cohen

Leonard Cohen said: “In just a few short years, songs we recorded in the late 1960s will no longer have copyright protection in Canada. Many of us in our 70s and 80s depend on income from these songs for our livelihood. We would deeply appreciate any adjustment that would avert a financial disaster in our lives.”

Fellow Canadian artists loudly applauded the Government’s move.

“The world has changed since our original copyright laws were drafted,” said Bruce Cockburn. “Every piece of music is, at least theoretically, with us forever. Extending the copyright term is an eminently sensible response to this new situation, and a welcome one!”

“I support extending the length of copyright for sound recordings in Canada to 70+ years,” added Jim Cuddy. “The copyright of a creative work should not expire in the lifetime of an author.”

Music Canada estimates significant average annual investment by music companies of over 28% of revenues in developing talent, the next generation of performing artists will benefit from this copyright amendment now and well into the future.

“I’m glad that Canada has extended our copyright term, so we can continue to use the proceeds from classic Canadian recordings to invest in great Canadian talent,” said Kardinal Offishall.