Creative economies in transition: Maintaining balance at a time of digital disruption

Universities Canada’s submission to the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage’s Study on Remuneration Models for Artists and Creative Industries

Universities support a vibrant Canadian culture and encourage the federal government to examine policy and program levers that would directly mitigate the impacts of digital transformation on the creative economy while ensuring quality higher education.

Recommendations

1. Maintain fair dealing for education and other educational exceptions in the Copyright Act. Fair dealing is a legal right that facilitates educational opportunities. Even with the implementation of fair dealing policies, universities are spending more on content than ever before.

2. Maintain the optional status of blanket licences for educational institutions. An open market allows universities to choose how they acquire learning materials, including through exercising their right to fair dealing. This not only ensures Canadian students and researchers have the best information available but also ensures responsible spending of public funds.

3. Do not introduce draconian penalties for copyright infringement, including the expansion of statutory damages remedies that could be claimed against educational institutions. Coercive penalties for copyright infringement will force the educational sector into blanket licensing agreements that no longer meet their needs at the expense of Canadian students and taxpayers.

4. Help creators and creative industries adapt to the digital shift through programs that provide direct financial support to current and emerging creators, and to organizations that help creators get their work to the marketplace. Only direct investment in the creative economy will effectively support creators as they transition to a digital creative marketplace.