The reception last evening was also the launch of the Canadian Professional Writers Survey - a profile of the freelance writing sector in Canada. As well as being their 30'th anniversary, it was also the launch of a new logo to go with their new name (They were previously known as the Periodical Writers Association of Canada). Hon. Peter Milliken, the speaker of the house, was there to help in the launching of the new logo. There were many members of parliament from a variety of parties on hand.
Of particular interest to our community from the report is a set of four core principles that PWAC has developed. While the full report will likely be published online soon, the following excerpt (From pages 34 and 35) list these principles.
PWAC and Copyright in Canada
PWAC has been central to the ongoing copyright reform process in Canada. We were one of the founding organizations behind Access Copyright (originally known as CanCopy), the Canadian copyright licensing agency, and are still active participants in the organization. We have provided feedback in the form of an official submission to government as it tables legislation designed to bring the Canadian Copyright Act into the digital age. Through ongoing discussion with groups such as the Creator's Copyright Coalition, the Creators Rights Alliance, Access Copyright, publishers and user group representatives, PWAC has developed four core principles5 essential for the ongoing copyright reform (the first two are from the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights, and the second two arose out of ongoing PWAC discussion with the broader industry. They are:
(1) Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.
(2) Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author.
(3) All creators must be respected in the copyright reform process.
(4) There are myriad models for the production, distribution and remuneration of creative works. We need to create a copyright paradigm in which all models and choices are respected. Imposing a single-model solution is undemocratic and absolutely not in the interests of the creative community.
Avoiding exceptions to copyright is of paramount importance including the granting of wide-randing exceptions for educational use of copyright material. PWAC feels that educational use of written material is an important market for freelance writers and writers should, therefore, retain the basic right of protection of the moral and material interest in their work within the educational context.
PWAC further feels that simple, inexpensive and readily available licensing models already exist to make educational access to copyright materials seamless and affordable within the limits of educational budgets throughout Canada.
Former PWAC President Liz Warwick said in the 2004 PWAC submission to the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, "As professional content providers, we support the principle of unfettered educational access to our content. We simply ask that you do not expect us to provide that access for free."
5 Thanks to Ottawa software designer Russell McOrmond for helping PWAC define these core principles