Ottawa eyes new copyright, museums policies

The federal Department of Canadian Heritageis planninga new museums policy and revamping the nation's copyright law.

The two long-sought measures are included in an outline of plans and priorities released to the public last week.

The plans for 2007-08 also include a review of the mandates of Telefilm Canada and the National Film Board, and a review of the periodicals policy.

Canadian museums have been pressing for a national policy since the last attempt to create one died with the previous Liberal government.

The departmentsays it is planning to develop a renewed federal vision for museums in the 21st century, and creating new criteria for identifying collections of outstanding national importance, including collections held across the country.

Copyright law is a continuing irritant for the music recording and film industries.

Earlier this year, Canada was chastised by a U.S. industry association for not upgrading its copyright laws, andthis week Warner Bros. announced it would not release previews of new movies in Canada because of illegal copying.

The department plans to bring the Copyright Act into line with the two most recent World Intellectual Property Organization treaties on the subject, and be updated to"address issues related to technological advances and the internet," the document said.

Onperiodical policy, the department plans to consult with stakeholders this year to help its set out new policies to support Canadian magazines.

Preferred postal rate

Canada Post has promised a preferred rate of postage for magazines until 2008-9, but that also will be under review.

A review of federal audio-visual policy is on the agenda, including examining the mandate of Telefilm Canada and the National Film Board.

Canada's feature film policy will be again be under the microscope, after being revamped last in 2000. Among goals the federal government would like to achieve is creation of a central body to certify what should be considered Canadian content.

Currently, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, Canadian Television Fund, Telefilm and Canadian Audio-Visual Certification Officeall use different criteria. The federal government would like to centralize the decision-making in CAVCO.

Canadian Heritage acknowledges in the planning document the importance of Canada's cultural exports to create ties overseas, despite cuts in the last federal budget toa program that supported international touring .

The department has pledged to update cultural trade strategy but makes no suggestions on how it might support the arts internationally.

The department's budget is to be cut to $1.3 billion in 2008-09 from about $1.38 billion in 2007-08; a further $145 million is to be cut from its budget by 2010.