Shantel
Key Takeaways:
- The Government of Canada has announced the reappointment of Nathalie Théberge as Vice-Chair and Chief Executive Officer of the Copyright Board of Canada.
- Ms. Théberge will continue to lead the Board and oversee its operations for another five-year term, starting on October 1, 2023.
- Under Ms. Théberge’s leadership, the Copyright Board has undertaken significant modernization initiatives to ensure a functional copyright marketplace in the digital era.
Introduction: Commitment to Effective Copyright Regulation
The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, has announced the reappointment of Nathalie Théberge as Vice-Chair and Chief Executive Officer of the Copyright Board of Canada. In this role, Ms. Théberge will continue to provide leadership to the Board and oversee its operations. Her reappointment will take effect on October 1, 2023, for a five-year term.
Leading the Modernization Initiative
Ms. Théberge has been instrumental in leading the Copyright Board of Canada through significant reforms and modernization efforts since 2018. During the first phase of the Modernization Initiative, the Board undertook a comprehensive overhaul of its processes, internal policies, and organizational culture to ensure it remains current and effective in a rapidly evolving copyright landscape. The successful completion of this phase has set the foundation for the Board’s continued progress.
The second phase of the Modernization Initiative, which Ms. Théberge will lead, aims to further strengthen and expand the Board’s capacity to facilitate a functional copyright marketplace. In an era of rapidly advancing technology and digital content consumption, the Copyright Board plays a crucial role in maintaining a fair balance between the rights of creators and users, ensuring fair compensation for rights holders, reasonable prices for content providers and end-users, and broad access to copyrighted material for Canadians.
Minister’s Acknowledgment and Quote
The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, commended Ms. Théberge’s leadership and expertise, recognizing their significant value to the Copyright Board and Canadians. He emphasized the essential role of the Board in the digital world, stating, “The Copyright Board will continue to play a critical role, especially as technology facilitates countless market uses for creative works in our digital world.”
About the Copyright Board of Canada
The Copyright Board of Canada operates as an economic regulator and administrative tribunal, functioning independently from the Government of Canada while reporting its corporate activities to Parliament through the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry. The Board’s primary responsibility is to establish fair and equitable tariffs, including royalty rates, terms, and conditions for the use of collectively managed copyrights. These tariffs affect a wide range of industries and businesses, ensuring that creators, rights holders, content providers, and end-users are treated fairly and that Canadians have access to copyrighted content.
The Copyright Board’s Economic Impact
The Copyright Board’s influence is significant and continues to grow. In 2020, royalties generated through tariffs approved by the Board amounted to an estimated $662 million. These tariffs cover activities that engage all Canadians, highlighting the Board’s broad economic footprint.
