Educating Canadians about copyright is essential for the development of Canada's Information Highway. How can users and creators be better informed about the application of copyright in a digital world?
The requirement for better understanding of copyright is not exclusively related to digital technology. Digital technology has made the low general level of understanding more apparent.
CAPIC supports the SubCommittee's view that the federal government should lead by example in implementing model copyright-user practices. Government practice has a tendency to filter into private industry. Where government users demand waiver of moral rights in all situations, they contradict the spirit of the Berne Convention. They are "educating" Canadians to devalue the concept of copyright.
Copyright is both a cultural and economic issue. Culture is in large part developed by its very economic viability. The creators who affect the culture can only continue as creators where there is adequate economic return.
A major problem is the general belief that infringement is somehow a victimless crime. In fact infringement makes us all victims, from the underpaid illustrator to the student who will never see the work of a creator who left the industry for economic reasons.
Public education must place special emphasis on the value of creative works and their potential to create jobs and revenues for Canadians. An informed public will recognize the pivotal role played by creators. Without a viable creative community there will be nothing of value to be produced by industry or legislated by government.
Recommendation CAPIC supports the general recommendations of the
SubCommittee and strongly endorses partnership of creators groups, industry
and government in a public education campaign.