Private Copying Levy for Recordable CDs (2022-2024)
Canada Gazette, Part I, Volume 155, Number 51: CPCC – Private Copying Tariff (2022-2024)
Sets a 29¢ levy on each recordable CD (CD-R, CD-RW, CD-R Audio, CD-RW Audio) for 2022–2024, to be collected by the Canadian Private Copying Collective (CPCC). Exempts exports and sales to societies for people with perceptual disabilities; collected funds are split among SOCAN/CMRRA (58.2% for authors) and Re:Sound (23.8% for performers, 18.0% for makers), and manufacturers/importers must report sales, keep six years of records and may be audited.
- Published
- December 18, 2021
- Department
- Unavailable
- Section
- COPYRIGHT BOARD
- Comment deadline
- Unavailable
- Effective date
- Unavailable
- Publication part
- Part I
Summary
Summary#
This is the CPCC – Private Copying Tariff (2022-2024). It sets a levy of 29¢ per recordable CD-type disc for 2022, 2023, and 2024, collected by CPCC and split among music rights organizations.
What it does#
- Imposes a levy of 29¢ on each CD-R, CD-RW, CD-R Audio or CD-RW Audio for 2022, 2023 and 2024.
- Exempts levies on media that are exported and on media sold to societies for people with a perceptual disability.
- Designates CPCC as the collecting body under the Copyright Act.
- Directs how collected money is shared:
- 58.2% to be shared between SOCAN and CMRRA for eligible authors;
- 23.8% to Re:Sound for eligible performers;
- 18.0% to Re:Sound for eligible makers.
- Sets accounting periods of two months and says payments are due by the last day of the month after each accounting period.
- Allows manufacturers or importers who paid less than $2,000 in the previous semester to opt for semesterly payments.
- Requires manufacturers/importers to keep records for six years and allows audits; if underpayments exceed 10%, the audited party must pay audit costs within 30 days.
- Charges interest on late payments at 1% above the Bank Rate, calculated daily and not compounded.
- Includes confidentiality rules for reporting, but says corporate name and the types of media reported are not confidential.
Who's affected#
- Manufacturers and importers of blank audio recording media (the tariff lists CD-R and similar discs explicitly).
- CPCC (the collector) and the collective societies named (SOCAN, CMRRA, Re:Sound) that receive the money.
- Societies for people with perceptual disabilities are explicitly treated as exempt recipients.
- It is possible (but not stated as required) that retailers or consumers could feel an effect if manufacturers or importers pass the levy on in prices.
Why it matters#
- The levy provides a revenue stream to pay songwriters, performers and makers when people make private copies on blank discs.
- It creates an ongoing cost and reporting duty for businesses that make or import blank discs, including record-keeping and possible audits.
- For ordinary buyers of blank CDs, the levy could affect retail prices if producers pass the cost along.
- The tariff covers a fixed period (2022–2024), so the rules and rates apply for that timeframe.
Key topics
Source: Canada Gazette