Evidence of meeting #130 for Industry, Science and Technology in the 42nd Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was games.
A video is available from Parliament.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Entertainment Software Association of Canada
There are actually exceptions in the copyright bill that allow for modifying games. The interoperability exception is one of them. There's also fair dealing for research and educational purposes and things like that. Those things already exist.
With respect to mods, yes, that's a massive issue for our industry.
Conservative
Dane Lloyd Conservative Sturgeon River—Parkland, AB
What if it's just for personal use and not for commercial use? Is that a concern?
President and Chief Executive Officer, Entertainment Software Association of Canada
I believe it falls within an exemption that already exists within the Copyright Act.
Conservative
Dane Lloyd Conservative Sturgeon River—Parkland, AB
So it's the commercialization of mods that's a very serious issue.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Entertainment Software Association of Canada
Absolutely. That's why we're here today, to ensure that the technological protection measures remain within the copyright bill. They work and they're extremely valuable for our industry.
Conservative
Dane Lloyd Conservative Sturgeon River—Parkland, AB
As a quick follow-up, I notice that Blizzard Entertainment just released StarCraft, a very well-known game. It's now free online. When a company makes a decision like that, they're obviously forgoing some revenue. Are those decisions possible in a universe where copyright isn't protected?
President and Chief Executive Officer, Entertainment Software Association of Canada
I'm unfamiliar with the specific game or the business model they've taken, but perhaps they're offering it for free and there are in-app purchases that will bring in revenue streams. Our industry is evolving and changing rapidly. We use numerous different business models, including subscriptions for online games and in-app purchases, things like that. I would suspect that there is some sort of business model built into that.
With respect to copyright, again, without the ability to protect the game, and have it distributed and played the way it was intended, it certainly limits the incentive for companies to continue to create and invest.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Dan Ruimy
Thank you very much.
I wish we had more time, but we don't. We have to go out and do some voting, which is coming up.
Thank you, everybody.
The meeting is adjourned.