For Immediate Release
The Writers’ Union of Canada (TWUC) is pleased with the cultural implications of the new USMCA, and congratulates the Government of Canada on its unwavering support for Canada’s cultural workers during trade negotiations. The extension of the copyright term of protection to 70 years after the death of the author is a significant improvement and strengthening of creators’ rights in Canada, and will stimulate the economy.
“All of our major trading partners have a Life +70 term, including the UK and the entire European Union,” noted TWUC Chair Eric Enno Tamm. “With Canada’s creators long stuck at Life +50, we were at a competitive disadvantage in selling and licensing our works both at home and abroad. Canada’s authors have seen the value of their literary estates greatly increased with this agreement.”
TWUC applauds Canada’s trade negotiators for standing firm on the cultural exception from NAFTA, and bringing it forward into this new trade pact. The exception has long supported and grown a domestic industry for Canadian writing and publishing. With the cultural exception in place, Canada remains free to create strong cultural policy that will encourage and protect the work of Canadian authors.
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The Writers’ Union of Canada is our country’s national organization representing approximately 2100 professional authors of books. The Union is dedicated to fostering writing in Canada, and promoting the rights, freedoms, and economic well-being of all writers. www.writersunion.ca
For additional information:
John Degen, Executive Director
The Writers’ Union of Canada
416.703.8982 Ext. 221
jdegen@writersunion.ca
DATE: October 3, 2018
