Access Copyright

Access Copyright Foundation is pleased to announce this year's recipients of the Marian Hebb Research Grant. In total, $140,000 in grant funding has been awarded to 35 creators and organizations.

Please join us in congratulating Association of Canadian Publishers, Matthew Behrens, Vince Beiser, Sheima Benembarek, Marion Fraser, Alison Braid, Brick, A Literary Journal, Alec Bruce, Canzine Arts Festival, CARFAC Saskatchewan, Michaela Cavanagh, Marc Edge, the Editors' Association of Canada, Fiona Foster, Joyce Grant, Taras Grescoe, David Huebert, Alison Hughes, Richard Kemick, Joelle Kidd, James MacKinnon, Agnieszka Maksimowska, Ken McGoogan, the Ontario Book Publishers Organization, Vincenzo Pietropaolo, Karen Pinchin, RavenSpace Publishing, Candace Savage, Nilofar Shidmehr, Wanda Taylor, Melissa Than, Ayelet Tsabari, Visual Arts Nova Scotia, Oren Weisfeld & Karin Wells.

We also wish to thank this year's jurors for the Marian Hebb Research Grant program: Annahid Dashtgard, Jason McBride & Rhea Tregebov.

Access Copyright Foundation announces its 2024 Marian Hebb Research Grant recipients Access Copyright Foundation is pleased to unveil the 35 creators and organizations who have been awarded Marian Hebb Research Grants for 2024.

Check out John Degen's review of Hugh Stephens' 'In Defence of Copyright: An essential guide to the history and importance of copyright' - "A welcome and necessary defence"

John Degen reviews In Defence of Copyright: An essential guide to the John Degen reviews In Defence of Copyright: An essential guide to the history and importance of copyright, by Hugh Stephens (Toronto: Cormorant Books, 2023) $19.95 / 9781770866799

Canada has the opportunity to create a regulatory system for AI that supports the value of human creation and sustains our vital cultural industries. Let's not miss our chance.

Association nationale des éditeurs de livres - ANEL, the Canadian Authors Association, the Canadian Publishers' Council, Writers' Union of Canada, Union des écrivaines et des écrivains québécois, Literary Press Group of Canada, Association of Canadian Publishers, Copibec & Regroupement des éditeurs franco-canadiens.

Canadian Writing and Publishing Organizations Advocate for Artificial Intelligence Regulations in Ottawa In honor of World Book and Copyright Day, a coalition of ten writing, publishing, and creator organizations from across the country convened in Ottawa this week to meet with parliamentarians and government officials on the opportunities and challenges that generative artificial intelligence poses fo...

We were pleased to join our colleagues in Ottawa on Tuesday to advocate on the Hill about the impact of generative AI on Canadian creators and publishers and for a fair legal framework to regulate AI to protect their livelihoods.

We wish to thank all MPs and officials who took time to meet with us, in particular Minister of Canadian Heritage Pascale St-Onge Brome-Missisquoi, Parliamentary Secretary Taleeb Noormohamed, and the sponsor of our reception, Lisa Hepfner.

Our collective recommendations regarding AI regulation include:

Ensure the Copyright Act provides fair protection of the moral rights of authors, and the copyright of authors and publishers.

Do not introduce a new copyright exception or compulsory licence regime for Text and Data Mining (TDM).

Ensure that Bill C-27 includes reasonable provisions on transparency, similar to those introduced in the European Union, and that it obliges AI developers to comply with Canadian copyright law when they train and deploy their products.

Association nationale des éditeurs de livres - ANEL, the Canadian Authors Association, the Canadian Publishers' Council, The Writers' Union of Canada, Union des écrivaines et des écrivains québécois, Literary Press Group of Canada, Association of Canadian Publishers, Copibec & Regroupement des éditeurs franco-canadiens.

"The Copyright Act does not adequately protect Canadian authors, rightsholders and publishers. The government must take action during the current parliamentary session to remedy this longstanding issue." Pascale St-Onge Brome-Missisquoi François-Philippe Champagne

Federal Budget 2024: Another Missed Opportunity for Copyright Reform Access Copyright and Copibec, copyright collectives serving over 40,000 writers, visual artists, and publishers across Canada, are alarmed by the Government of Canada's Budget 2024, which neglects to include long-needed action regarding Canada’s fair dealing regime.

From The Hill Times - "Canadian writers, visual artists, and publishers need copyright reform now" Justin Trudeau Pascale St-Onge Brome-Missisquoi François-Philippe Champagne

Canadian writers, visual artists, and publishers need copyright reform now Collective licensing has been severely eroded over the last decade in Canada. Continued inaction by the government only serves to legitimize a growing culture of taking without paying.

This year's Payback claim period is now open for all eligible creator affiliates. Claims will be accepted until May 31. For more information on whether you need to make a claim this year, please click: https://accesscopyright.ca/creators/payback-for-writers-and-payback-for-visual-artists

There's still time to get in your application for an Access Copyright Professional Development Grant. All the details are below.

Call for Applications: Access Copyright Foundation Professional Development Grants. Deadline: April 1, 2024 Seeking financial support to sharpen your skills or expand your expertise? Access Copyright Foundation’s Professional Development Grants program may be able to help.

''Federal Court of Canada Decision Reinforces Urgent Need to Repair Broken Copyright Regime'

Federal Court of Canada Decision Reinforces Urgent Need to Repair Broken Copyright Regime The Federal Court of Canada’s extremely disappointing decision in the legal action launched by the Ontario school boards and Ministries of Education (excluding British Columba and Quebec) (the “Plaintiffs”) against Access Copyright reinforces the urgent need for the federal government to repai...

Access Copyright Foundation is pleased to unveil its Events Grants recipients for 2023!

Please join us in congratulating AfterWords Literary Festival, • Anskohk Aboriginal Writers' Circle Inc., Asian Canadian Writers Workshop, The BC and Yukon Book Prizes, Book Publishers Association Of Alberta, Elephant Mountain Literary Festival, Funny Pages Society, GritLIT Literary Festival, Indigenous Editors Association, Lakefield Literary Festival, NorthWords Writers Festival Society, Ontario Library Association, Planet Earth Poetry, Saskatchewan Book Awards, Telling Tales, Alexandra Writers Centre Society, Victoria Festival of Authors, Writers' Federation of New Brunswick, Writers' Guild of Alberta & Young Alberta Book Society.

Access Copyright Foundation proud to unveil its 2023 Events Grant recipients Access Copyright Foundation is pleased to announce the 16 organizations that have been awarded a total of $100,000 in Events Grants funding.

This week is the 40th anniversary of Freedom to Read Week. Learn more about how you can get involved: https://www.freedomtoread.ca/freedom-to-read-week/

Access Copyright Foundation is proud to present its 2023 recipients of Professional Development Grants.

Please join us in congratulating Leah Bobet, Esmeralda Cabral, Heather Camlot, Conundrum Press, Dundurn Press, Fernwood Publishing, Freehand Books, Joan Marie Galat, Elizabeth Haynes, Karin Hedetniemi, Renée Hetherington, Richard Kemick, Chelene Knight, Kirsteen MacLeod, Premee Mohamed, Jessica Moore, Nancy O’Rourke, Portage & Main Press, Adelle Purdham, Writer, Renegade Arts, Room Magazine, SaskBooks, Leanne Shirtliffe, Melanie Siebert & Erin Soros.

Access Copyright Foundation Proud to Present its 2023 Professional Development Grant Recipients In 2023, Access Copyright Foundation awarded $60,000 in Professional Development Grant funding to 17 creators and eight organizations.

We are pleased to announce that Access Copyright Foundation has begun to accept applications for Professional Development Grants.

Are you seeking financial support to sharpen your skills or expand your expertise?

Call for Applications: Access Copyright Foundation Professional Development Grants. Deadline: April 1, 2024 Seeking financial support to sharpen your skills or expand your expertise? Access Copyright Foundation’s Professional Development Grants program may be able to help.

Great to see the Globe and Mail commemorate the establishment of the Saskatchewan Arts Board (now SKArts) - the engine that does so much to keep Access Copyright Foundation running.

I love this feature in the Globe. Saturday spoke about the Saskatchewan Arts Board, which those of us outside that province know well as the organization that administers Access Copyright Foundation grants. (Thank you again for the 2023 professional development grant!)
SK Arts Access Copyright Whale Rock Workshops

Congratulations to Adeena Karasick & Ian Keteku.

The League of Canadian Poets is proud to present the inaugural winners of the LCP Spoken Word Award, selected by Andrea Thompson and Eric Schmaltz: Adeena Karasick and Ian Keteku!

Congratulations to both spoken word poets!

Launched in winter 2023, the LCP Spoken Word Award consists of two $1,000 awards, presented annually to two poets for a single poem or suite of poems up to 10 minutes in length.

With this award, the League celebrates the wide range of styles represented within the spoken word genre, from dub poetry to spoken word poetry to sound poetry and beyond. This award recognizes two poems or suites of poems that represent two distinct schools of spoken word poetry.

Visit our website to read their biographies and listen to their performances: poets.ca/swa2024-winners

We are currently experiencing a technical issue with the Access Copyright Foundation website. The link to the application portal is not impacted. Information about the Foundation's call for Research Grant application is available on our main site.

Access Copyright Foundation Marian Hebb Research Grant Applications. Deadline: February 15, 2024 Access Copyright Foundation Marian Hebb Research Grant Applications. Deadline: February 15, 2024

New joint release from a coalition of Canadian creator and publisher organizations - 'The book industry speaks out on artificial intelligence and copyright'

Association nationale des éditeurs de livres - ANEL Association of Canadian Publishers Association of English-language Publishers of Quebec Copibec Literary Press Group of Canada Journée Lire pour réussir The Writers' Union of Canada

The book industry speaks out on artificial intelligence and copyright As part of the ongoing public consultation on generative artificial intelligence and copyright, book industry associations are reminding the Canadian government of the crucial importance of regulating the responsible development of artificial intelligence and ensuring effective copyright protection.

The Board of Directors of Access Copyright is delighted to announce the appointment of Kate Edwards as the organization's new CEO, effective January 8, 2024.

Read more: https://www.accesscopyright.ca/media/announcements/access-copyright-names-kate-edwards-as-new-ceo/

Access Copyright Foundation has begun to accept applications for its annual round of Marian Hebb Research Grant funding.

Deadline for applications is February 15, 2024.

All the details are right here: https://acfoundation.ca/2023/12/07/access-copyright-foundation-marian-hebb-research-grant-applications-deadline-february-15-2024/

Today is the I Value Canadian Stories coalition’s Day of Action.

If you do one thing today, send your letter to Minister Pascale St-Onge Brome-Missisquoi and Minister François-Philippe Champagne urging them to finally enact the government’s promise to repair Canada’s Copyright Act.

I Value Canadian Stories Stop great Canadian content from disappearing.

Calling all Canadian visual artists & arts professionals. Canadian Heritage is looking for your input as the federal government works toward the implementation of an artist’s resale right. Please click below to fill out a short survey.

2023 Arts Market Survey Powered by SimpleSurvey.com | Build and manage your own online survey, voting, form and panel management applications.

Access Copyright stands with the people of Israel and all those impacted by the crisis in Israel and Gaza. We unequivocally condemn the horrific acts of terrorism by Hamas that have deliberately targeted innocent civilians. We are deeply saddened to acknowledge that this violence breeds further violence, leading to tragic losses on both sides as well as inflaming hatred and prejudice around the world. Though it seems a distant hope at times like these, we persist in longing for peace in the region. Access Copyright firmly rejects antisemitism and all other forms of bigotry which divide humanity. We are committed to countering evil and building understanding through moral courage and open dialogue.

Today, we distributed our annual Payback payment to eligible creator affiliates.

Learn more about this year's Payback distribution by clicking below.

2023 Payback payments out on October 10 Access Copyright will distribute this year’s Payback payment to our creator affiliates on October 10.

Call for Submissions!

Access Copyright Foundation is accepting applications for its Events Grants program until November 1.

For more details, please click below.

Call for Applications – Access Copyright Foundation Events Grants. Deadline: November 1, 2023 Access Copyright Foundation is pleased to announce that it is now accepting applications for this year’s round of Events Grants funding.

"“After suffering more than a decade of systematic, unfair copying by schools and post-secondaries without permission or compensation, we are counting on Minister St-Onge to press Minister Champagne to stand up for Canadian writers and publishers and represent our interests too." - Glenn Rollans, President and Publisher of Brush Education and the spokesperson for the Association of Canadian Publishers on copyright issues

Pascale St-Onge Brome-Missisquoi François-Philippe Champagne

Coalition calls on new heritage minister to amend Copyright Act - Quill and Quire Pascale St-Onge was named the minister of Canadian heritage on July 26, and takes over from Pablo Rodriguez, who had served as the minister from 2021.

From Publishing Perspectives - "No other developed nation’s legislators has seen such a profound rout of copyright protections as has resulted because of the loophole that educational interests have been able to exploit to make copies of legally copyrighted content without paying the per-student fees established to provide proper revenues to the rights holders of those works."

We urge François-Philippe Champagne & Pascale St-Onge Brome-Missisquoi to make copyright reform in Canada an urgent priority.

Canada: A Nationwide Coalition Demands a Copyright Fix 'Canada is an international embarrassment': A consortium of English- and French-language copyright advocates take the fight to Parliament Hill…

"Il existe une solution toute faite pour contrer l'impact dévastateur de l'utilisation équitable en matière d'éducation. Les créateurs et les éditeurs canadiens exhortent le gouvernement fédéral à agir dès aujourd'hui pour qu'il y ait des histoires canadiennes demain."

Pascale St-Onge Brome-Missisquoi François-Philippe Champagne

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"There is a ready-made solution to address the devastating impact of education fair dealing. Canadian creators and publishers urge the federal government to act today so there will be Canadian stories tomorrow."

Pascale St-Onge Brome-Missisquoi François-Philippe Champagne

https://ow.ly/bSvX50PrTRb

Access Copyright Foundation is pleased to announce the 37 creators who have been awarded Marian Hebb Research Grants for this year.

Please join us in congratulating Caroline Adderson Author, Jeremy Appel, Tanaz Bhathena, Becky Blake, Pamela Clark, Trevor Corkum, Nancy Jo Cullen, paulo da costa, Diana Davidson, Sadiqa de Meijer, Marcello Di Cintio, Bonnie Farmer, Vanessa Farnsworth, Yolande House, Teacher & Editor, Helen Humphreys, Joanna Kafarowski, Author, Kelly Kaur, Angela Long, Nadja Lubiw-Hazard, Jeanette Lynes, Gil McElroy, Cassidy McFadzean, Kim Pittaway, Alexandra Popoff, Clea Roberts, Ian Roy, María (Mary) Helena Rykov, Ron Smith, Erin Soros, Rachelle Stein-Wotten, Suzanne Stewart, Mohammad Tabesh, Kira Vermond Writer, Writer Peggy Walt, Russell Wangersky, Susan White & Paula Wild.

Thank you to the jurors for the 2023 Marian Hebb Research Grant program: Sneha Subramanian Kanta, Ken McGoogan & Karen Pinchin.

Access Copyright Foundation announces its 2023 Marian Hebb Research Grant recipients Access Copyright Foundation is pleased to announce the 37 creators who have been awarded Marian Hebb Research Grants for this year.