Advancing
Creativity

Supporting Creators by Defending Copyright

Copyright is the foundation of Canada’s creative economy and a bedrock principle that supports the livelihoods of millions of creators.  Works of art, culture, and entertainment not only enrich our lives, but drive economic and technological developments that fuel progress in our own backyards and around the world. They expand our horizons and give rise to ever-greater creativity and innovation.

Essential to this creativity are the copyright laws that encourage creators and makers among us to continue their work.  In 2022-23, screen-based production in Canada employed over 239,300 people across a diversity of skill sets and trades. From special effects technicians, to makeup artists, sound editors, carpenters and more – work in this sector generated over $11.5 billion in labour income and contributed more than $14.05 billion in GDP for the Canadian economy.

Strong copyright laws support the creative community and benefits consumers. To support strong and effective copyright law is to support technological ingenuity that ultimately benefits everyone.

Copyright protection is about providing the right incentives to make sure everyone has access to content across multiple platforms, and that the people who make that content are able to continue to do so.

Source: Profile 2023 Economic Report on the Screen-Based Media Production Industry in Canada (CMPA)

Content Protection

The ability of the motion picture and television industry to continue to deliver content to consumers in new and innovative ways is dependent upon our ability to protect our content. We believe in protecting the rights of the creative artists who write, direct, produce and star in the entertainment that billions of people across the globe have come to enjoy. To that end, we support new technologies and innovative approaches that create greater consumer choice for how, when and where content can be accessed legally at a variety of price points consumers want.

Thanks to advances in technology, audiences have more choices than ever before to access content—where, when, and on any device they want. However, as content increasingly moves online, piracy remains a threat. There were an estimated 2.6 billion total visits to movie and TV piracy sites in Canada in 2018. According to a study by RiskIQ, one out of four content theft sites visited by Canadians expose consumers to malicious content, which is often used for identity theft and other nefarious schemes. 

Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE)

ACE is a global coalition of leading content creators and entertainment services committed to supporting the legal marketplace for video content and addressing the challenge of online piracy. Learn more at www.alliance4creativity.org.

Content Protection Best Practices

For more than three decades, the MPA has managed security assessments at entertainment vendor facilities on behalf of its member studios. Using a set of Content Security Best Practices that outline standard controls to help secure content, we are continually working to strengthen security processes across production, post-production, marketing, and distribution.

Best Practices are designed to provide current and future third-party vendors with an understanding of general content security expectations, as well as a framework for assessing a facility’s ability to protect a client’s content.

Decisions regarding the use of vendors are made by each member studio solely on a unilateral basis.

The Best Practices outlined below are subject to local, state, regional, federal, and country laws or regulations. The industry standards or International Organization for Standardization (ISO) references contained herein, are subject to change periodically.

Compliance with best practices is strictly voluntary. This is not an accreditation program.

Trusted Partner Network

In 2018, the MPA joined forces with the Content Delivery & Security Association (CDSA) to form the Trusted Partner Network (TPN)—an industry-wide film and television content security initiative designed to help prevent leaks, breaches, and hacks in the production pipeline prior to a film or TV show’s intended release. The joint venture provides industry vendors with a voluntary, cost-effective way to ensure that the security of their facilities, staffs, and workflows meets MPA’s best practices and it accredits experienced auditors to conduct them globally. Through the TPN, the film and TV industry will elevate the security standards and responsiveness of the vendor community, while greatly expanding the number of facilities that are assessed annually.

If you have any questions about content protection, please email: contentsecurity@motionpictures.org.

Want to Know More about Copyright in Canada:

• Canadian Copyright Act
• Canadian Intellectual Property Office – Copyright
• To Register Copyright in Canada