As much previously reported, Canada has not been kind to the music industry in its fight against online piracy, with judges there frequently declaring that the country's current copyright law can't be used to sue those who download unlicensed music, while politicians procrastinate big time about changing the law so that it has more bite in internet related infringement cases.
With that in mind, the boss of the International Federation Of The Phonographic Industry, John Kennedy, has told the Canadian Music Week conference in Toronto that the country's ability to launch and develop global music stars is in jeopardy because "sky-high piracy rates" are crippling Canada's native music industry.
According to Billboard, Kennedy argued that "the lack of interest in intellectual property by the Canadian government is truly astonishing", and added "this is becoming a problem because you are losing your best acts".
But, he said, all is not lost, adding that with the right political will Canada could catch up, perhaps by adopting measures similar to those being considered in the UK and France - ie those that involve more collaboration between the music companies and the internet service providers. He concluded: "I think can make up ground given the high level of digital high speed broadband penetration. But businesses have to see a decline in piracy so they can make a return on their investments".