In fact, we're talking here about the need for a copyright act that benefits authors. Ultimately, in our view, the method used to remunerate creators affords the opportunity for that creator to follow the economic life of his or her work, no matter how it is used. This principle is supported by three pillars: access to the work, authorization of the holder, and value based on multiple uses and reuses.

Let's consider those three points.

Access is not a major problem area because the digitization of works, particularly musical and audiovisual works, is now commonplace. Works are universally accessible. Digital warehouse initiatives would meet needs for access to authorized copies intrinsically containing universal metadata.

Authorization should not cause problems either since, on large scales and in high volumes, the system whereby collectives such as ours grant general or one-time licences works quite well and proceeds via an exchange of metadata. However, the many exceptions provided for in the Copyright Act nullify the authorization process. We will therefore be addressing the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology on the idea of reducing the number of exceptions.

The biggest challenge is to assign value based on multiple uses. Digital operators currently benefit from broader rights than those of the creators themselves, who are the ones who provide the raw material for those distribution platforms. How have we managed to migrate from an author protection system to a user protection system? Why are creators prevented from enjoying the potential economic impact of the use of their works, either as a result of exceptions under the act or because the responsibility of operators is unclear and because that constantly requires them to go to court to assert their rights?

This result is quite the opposite of what Parliament should wish for the cultural industry as a whole. Consequently, the departments of Industry and Canadian Heritage should join forces to review the Copyright Act and transform it into a tool to defend and promote rights holders.

We invite you to consider the following potential solutions, which we firmly believe acknowledge today's evolving digital market and the state of copyright in the 21^st century.

First, it must be acknowledged that content transmitted by a digital service provider is subject to a proprietary right that belongs to others. Authorities must take further action along these lines and acknowledge that certain Internet players, in particular Internet access providers, Facebook and YouTube, to name only a few, still deny all responsibility. In the new digital economy, however, they should ensure that creators are properly remunerated. Their contribution is therefore necessary.

The result of an enormous sector that distributes the music of creators but, in return, pays only a very small portion of revenues is a "value transfer" or "value gap". These two common expressions describe the transfer of the value inherent in creative works to the platforms that host and monetize them but that pay little or nothing in the way of royalties to those who have invested time and money in the creation of those works.

Second, the expropriation of creators' works must be prevented by reducing access to those works unless compensation is paid. The many exceptions contained in the present act have constantly been a recurring subject of complaints by rights holders. The parliamentary review that you are conducting must help improve the economic situation of creators. The way to do so is to reduce the number of exceptions under the act that result in no remuneration or inadequate remuneration.

Lastly, we must encourage the distribution of paid works through licences granted by copyright collectives.

In addition to maintaining greater defensive power for our members in order to assert their rights, we are developing a strong position on users. The strength of that position, however, will depend on what the Copyright Act enables us to do.

I believe our allotted speaking time is almost up.

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