How has Canadas Copyright Act Been Amended?
Modernization of Canadian copyright law is a work in progress. The Canadian Copyright Act came into force in 1924. Although there were a few amendments made to the Act in the years following its inception, a modernization of the Act did not begin until 1988. Amendments at that time included: an exhibition right for artistic works; explicit protection of computer programs; enhanced moral rights; the creation of a new Copyright Board; increased criminal sanctions; measures to improve the collective administration of copyright and the abolition of compulsory licences for the recording of musical works (a provision which compelled a copyright owner to allow someone to use his or her work subject to payment of a specified royalty rate). In January 1989, following the signing of the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement, the Copyright Act was amended to require cable and satellite companies to pay for the retransmission of works included in distant broadcast signals. The amendments also expanded
