brownie Posted December 8, 2009 Report Share Posted December 8, 2009 From the Toronto Star: http://www.thestar.com/business/article/73...er-infringement On the same subject, from the Boingboing blog: Major record labels rip off 300,000 songs for compilation CDs, may owe $60 billion in damages Jazz great Chet Baker's estate is suing the major record labels for releasing his music on Canadian CDs without paying compensation (a common practice in Canada, where over 300,000 songs have been released on CD without compensation). The defendants -- Warner Music Canada, Sony BMG Music Canada, EMI Music Canada, and Universal Music Canada -- have admitted that they owe at least CAD$50 million, but Baker's estate is entitled to up to CAD$60 billion. The claims arise from a longstanding practice of the recording industry in Canada, described in the lawsuit as "exploit now, pay later if at all." It involves the use of works that are often included in compilation CDs (ie. the top dance tracks of 2009) or live recordings. The record labels create, press, distribute and sell the CDs, but do not obtain the necessary copyright licences... It is difficult to understand why the industry has been so reluctant to pay its bills. Some works may be in the public domain or belong to a copyright owner difficult to ascertain or locate, yet the likes of Sarah McLachlan, Bruce Cockburn, Sloan, or the Watchmen are not hidden from view. The more likely reason is that the record labels have had little motivation to pay up. As the balance has grown, David Basskin, the president and CEO of the Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency Ltd., notes in his affidavit that "the record labels have devoted insufficient resources for identifying and paying the owners of musical works on the pending lists." The CRIA members now face the prospect of far greater liability. The class action seeks the option of statutory damages for each infringement. At $20,000 per infringement, potential liability exceeds $60 billion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Ayers Posted December 8, 2009 Report Share Posted December 8, 2009 Well, I hope they pay as much per infringement as the illegal downloaders they occasionally clobber. RCMP Piracy Warning: 'Canadian compilation CDs are illegal, and they're killing music' etc. [heh heh - OK let me enjoy this - for once it's not European copyright issues...] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Nessa Posted December 8, 2009 Report Share Posted December 8, 2009 Chet Baker composed very few tunes, so it is unlikely much money is due his estate for Canadian releases since the '80s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted December 8, 2009 Report Share Posted December 8, 2009 Perhaps the $60 billion is for the entire class and Chet Baker's estate is just the named plaintiff acting on behalf of the class. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brownie Posted December 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2009 The Toronto Star mentions that the Baker's estate "still owns the copyright in more than 50 of his works". At $20,000 per infringement that may add up to quite a lot of money! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Van Basten II Posted December 8, 2009 Report Share Posted December 8, 2009 Aaaah those evil Canadians Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceH Posted December 8, 2009 Report Share Posted December 8, 2009 Exactly. Who'd have thought they were so diabolical and dastardly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted December 8, 2009 Report Share Posted December 8, 2009 And when are they going to win the NHL again? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Van Basten II Posted December 8, 2009 Report Share Posted December 8, 2009 Next , we'll be making the whole world our slaves thanks to our maple syrup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papsrus Posted December 8, 2009 Report Share Posted December 8, 2009 I think that Canada-bashing Colbert must have a hand in all this somehow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brownie Posted January 11, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2011 Tentative agreement has been reached... from The Toronto Star Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Ayers Posted January 11, 2011 Report Share Posted January 11, 2011 Thanks for the update. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GA Russell Posted January 11, 2011 Report Share Posted January 11, 2011 The record companies agreed to pay 90% of the demand. That appears to me to be a great victory for the artists. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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