Canadian court rules on downloads

Relevant offers

Digital Living

Minister 'Liked' pic of teen's genitals Companies launch cyber 'war games' Second time's a charm for CISPA bill The end of search as we know it Sky TV back on air Web giants likely to battle for music fans Russians attempt to topple Google in Vietnam Telecom sells 80-person IT unit Dotcom granted leave for Crown appeal Sweeping crackdown on US media leaks

Canada's Supreme Court has ruled that copyright tariffs should not be levied on cable companies or other digital providers when music is downloaded, but that artists should be compensated when music is streamed online.

The high court ruled that downloading an individual file is not considered a communication to the public within the Copyright Act, but that streaming music online is not a private transaction and should be subject to fees currently in place.

Streaming refers to watching or listening to videos and music online while downloading refers to saving a file to your hard drive.

Canada's Supreme Court partly overturned a lower court decision that had allowed an organisation representing musicians and the recording industry to collect tariffs for both activities for its members.

- AP

Comments