Consultation on the Implementation of CUSMA Extension to Canadian Copyright Terms

February 11, 2021

The Government of Canada today announced the launch a public consultation on how to implement a copyright term extension.

Under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), which entered into force on July 1, 2020, Canada committed to extend its general term from 50 years after the life of the author to 70 years after the life of the author.

In order to meet Canada’s CUSMA commitment to extend the general term of protection by the end of 2022, and take into account diverse stakeholder perspectives, this consultation will solicit views on whether accompanying measures should be adopted to address potential implications of term extension — and if so, what form such measures should take.

This consultation will be informed by the recent parliamentary review of the Copyright Act, and will support the development of a copyright framework that promotes a healthy marketplace.

The consultation will provide the public and interested stakeholders with an opportunity to discuss possible impacts and to consider measures that may address potential implications of the extended term of copyright protection.

Canadians are invited to share their views on:

• the adoption of accompanying measures to term extension, including which measures, if any, should be considered; and;
• any additional ideas, comments, legal analysis and evidence in support of potential accompanying measures.

Responses can be submitted to copyright-consultation-droitdauteur@canada.ca until March 12, 2021 at 11:59 pm. Following the consultation period, all responses will be made available online.

Additional Information:

• News Release
• Backgrounder
• Consultation Paper: Consultation on how to implement an extended general term of copyright protection in Canada 
• Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA)
  • Intellectual property chapter summary