It’s Official! Copyright in Canada Extended to 70 Years for Sound Recordings

Music Canada is pleased to announce that the Budget, the Economic Action Plan 2015, has received royal assent and is now law. We applaud the Government of Canada for the inclusion of copyright term extension. With the passing of this bill, the term of copyright for sound recordings has been extended from 50 to 70 years. This brings Canada’s copyright term for sound recordings in line with the international standard, protecting works of vital importance to many Canadian artists.

A copyright term of 70 years will mean that artists and other rights holders retain control of their sound recordings and can profit from them into their elder years. Without term extension for sound recordings, the early works of Leonard Cohen, Neil Young, Gordon Lightfoot, Joni Mitchell, and Anne Murray would have been in public domain over the next five years.

“I’m still releasing albums but my fans love my older songs. Thanks to the federal government for the recent legislation. Its passage will make sure the sun doesn’t go down on my early songs,” says Gordon Lightfoot.

For younger artists, additional profits derived by rights holders from older recordings will be reinvested in developing artists. The music industry is second to none in terms of reinvestment in new talent, with over 28% of revenue reinvested in 2014.

“In extending 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 are thrilled to see Canada brought in line with the international standard of 70 years.” says Graham Henderson, President of Music Canada.