Retransmission Rights

By Marian Hebb for CARFAC Ontario © April 1990

The Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the United States has resulted in an amendment to Canada's Copyright Act. In the past, cable companies have picked up programs off the air and have retransmitted them without permission and without payment. But since January 1st, 1990, Canadian cable companies have had an obligation to pay the copyright owners whose works they retransmit to cable subscribers (by distant signals). The newly created retransmission right entitles a copyright owner -- MAYBE YOU -- to be paid a royalty, although it is subject to a compulsory licence which permits retransmission without specific authorization by the copyright owner.

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Retransmission Rights