The Canadian Private Copying Collective (CPCC) is continuing its “Save the Levy” campaign -- to ensure that music creators are compensated when their music is copied onto digital devices and MP3 players – by urging music creators to act now.

Under current law, the private copying levy applies only to the blank media of audio cassettes, MiniDiscs and CD-Rs – all of which are being used less and less as time goes by, since digital MP3 players like the iPod have become the overwhelming medium of choice for copying and storing music.

The CPCC says that the Canadian Copyright Act must be updated to reflect the reality of private copying in the digital age. It says that if the legislation doesn’t change, the $30 million distributed annually to music rights holders through the private copying levy will quickly disappear.

The CPCC is recommending that music creators visit their Save the Levy website and click on the “Take Action” button at the top of the page. There's a link under that button that will take visitors directly to the “Contact Your MP” section. After filling out the information online, a letter will be automatically generated, addressed to the visitor's individual MP, with copies to both the Ministers of Industry and Canadian Heritage (the departments responsible for Canada’s Copyright Act).