The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has denied an application from FairPlay Canada – a coalition of Canadian artists, content creators, unions, guilds, producers, performers, broadcasters, distributors, and exhibitors – to implement a proposed website-blocking regime to address copyright piracy because it does not have the jurisdiction under the Telecommunications Act. As such, the CRTC did not consider the merits of the proposal.

FairPlay Canada had requested in January 2018 that the CRTC create a regime that would identify websites and online services that are engaged in copyright piracy and require Internet service providers to block access to those websites and services.

The CRTC accepts that copyright piracy causes harm to the Canadian broadcasting system and the economy, but says it is of the view that other avenues are more suitable to address this issue, which include the ongoing parliamentary review of the Copyright Act, as well as the expert panel review of the Telecommunications Act and the Broadcasting Act.

Other posts by Colin Mann:

1. Analysis: SVoDs drive $220bn content spend
2. A TikToking clock heading towards regeneration – or not?
3. European pay-radio: Getting ready

Categories: Articles, Business, Content, OTT, OTT, Piracy, Policy, Regulation, Rights