Private Copying Tariff for Blank CDs

Summary#

The Copyright Board approved and published the Private Copying Tariff, 2021, which requires the Canadian Private Copying Collective (CPCC) to collect levies on sales of certain blank audio recording media in Canada. The tariff takes effect January 1, 2021 and the notice was published on December 14, 2019.

What it does#

• Sets a levy of 29¢ for each blank compact disc of the types listed (for example CD‑R, CD‑RW, CD‑R Audio, CD‑RW Audio).
• Exempts media that are exported from Canada and media sold to organizations representing people with a perceptual disability.
• Designates CPCC as the collecting body responsible for taking in the levies.
• Directs how collected money is distributed after CPCC’s operating costs:
  • 58.2% shared among SOCAN, CMRRA, and SODRAC for eligible authors.
  • 23.8% to Re:Sound Music Licensing Company for eligible performers.
  • 18.0% to Re:Sound Music Licensing Company for eligible recording makers.
• Sets payment and reporting rules:
  • An “accounting period” is two months; payments are due by the last day of the month after each accounting period.
  • Manufacturers or importers who paid less than $2,000 in the previous semester can opt to pay every semester instead.
  • With each payment, manufacturers/importers must report company contact details and the number and types of blank audio media sold, exported, or sold to disability societies.
• Record-keeping and compliance:
  • Records must be kept for six years and are subject to audit.
  • If an audit finds amounts understated by more than 10%, the manufacturer/importer must pay the reasonable audit costs within 30 days.
  • Late payments carry interest at 1% above the Bank Rate, calculated daily (non‑compounding).

Who's affected#

• Primary: manufacturers and importers of blank audio recording media sold in Canada.
• Secondary: retailers who buy from those manufacturers/importers may see wholesale cost changes.
• Rights holders and licensing organizations: SOCAN, CMRRA, SODRAC, and Re:Sound will receive the distributions.
• Consumers might see small price effects on blank CDs, though the notice does not say how costs will be passed on.
• It is unclear from the notice whether newer types of storage (beyond the named CD formats) are covered unless later prescribed by regulation.

Why it matters#

• This creates a formal charge on certain blank audio discs sold in Canada to compensate creators, performers, and recording makers for private copying.
• Businesses that make or import these media must collect, report, keep records, and pay the levy on a set schedule. Non‑compliance can bring audits, interest charges, and extra costs.
• The money collected supports songwriters, performers, and producers through the named collecting societies, which affects how creators are paid for private copying of their work.