The Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA) praised the federal government for tabling a long-overdue update to Canada's copyright law today.

"We've waited a very long time for this bill," comments CRIA President Graham Henderson. "We are relieved that Canadian Heritage Minister Liza Frulla and Industry Minister David Emerson kept their commitment to introduce revisions to copyright legislation before Parliament recessed for the summer. In doing so, they have advanced Canada's long-standing commitment to ratify international treaties and bring our law in tune with new digital realities."

"This draft legislation takes several key steps to usher in a new era for Canada's music industry, to provide the certainty that legitimate digital services need and to restore the balance that has been missing on the Internet," continues Mr. Henderson. "The government is to be commended for breaking the log jam and moving this vital legislation forward. That having been said, certain aspects of the bill would appear to still leave Canada behind in the digital realm and out of step with international norms. For instance, the bill fails to provide digital businesses with adequate protections from hackers, and we believe Internet service providers should shoulder more responsibility for piracy that occurs on their networks."

CRIA has been calling for revisions to Canada's copyright law for nearly a decade.

"We look forward to working with the government and members of all parties to enact as soon as possible the effective legislation that Canada, its online businesses and cultural industries need to compete in the digital realm," Mr. Henderson concludes.

The Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA) promotes the interests of Canadian record companies and artists. CRIA represents the producers, manufacturers and distributors of more than 95 per cent of all records produced and sold in Canada.