Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Access Copyright @accesscopyright.bsky.social · 2m

Important advocacy work by Canada's music industry on behalf of Canadian copyright owners, including prioritizing the development of a market in Canada for licensing copyright-protected works for certain AI-related purposes. ca.billboard.com/business/ai-...

Canadian Music Organizations Raise Concerns About Artificial Intelligence at the House of Commons

After appearing before the Commons' Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, representatives from SOCAN and Music Publishers Canada tell Billboard Canada their priorities.

ca.billboard.com

Reposted by Access Copyright

Forest of Reading @forestofreading.bsky.social · 1d

Without further ado, we are pleased to announce the Canadian books chosen for the 2026 #ForestofReading program. 🎉 There are so many incredible stories to dive into and we can’t wait for you to discover them all! Visit bit.ly/ForestNomine...

A turquoise Forest of Reading nominee announcement graphic with 90 book cover images. Text reads: “Congratulations to the 2026 Forest of Reading nominees! For the full nominated lists, visit forestofreading.com.”

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Reposted by Access Copyright

Quebec Writers' Federation @officialqwf.bsky.social · 22h

Announcing: The 2025 QWF Literary Awards finalists!

35 finalists have made the shortlists in seven categories: fiction, non-fiction, poetry, first book, translation, spoken word, and children's and young adult literature.

See the finalists and learn more about the gala. 👇

qwf.org/the-2025-qwf...

The 2025 QWF Literary Awards Finalists - Quebec Writers' Federation

The Quebec Writers’ Federation has announced the finalists for the 2025 QWF Literary Awards.

qwf.org

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Access Copyright @accesscopyright.bsky.social · 19h

Congratulations Arjun!

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Access Copyright @accesscopyright.bsky.social · 20h

Good piece here by Hugh Stephens - well worth a read. hughstephensblog.net/2025/10/13/c...

Why a Wide TDM Exception Could Harm Copyright Protection

Explore the clash between copyright laws and AI training in Canada, and why a wide TDM exception could harm the creative sector's interests.

hughstephensblog.net

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Access Copyright @accesscopyright.bsky.social · 23h

Congratulations to AC affiliate Thao Lam!

Groundwood Books @groundwoodbooks.bsky.social · 7d

🏆 EVERYBELLY by Thao Lam is the winner of the KIRKUS PRIZE for Young Readers' Literature! 🎉

Huge congratulations to the incredible Thao Lam! 🎊

Learn more about EVERYBELLY here: houseofanansi.com/products/eve...

A yellow graphic reads, “Everybelly winner of the KIRKUS PRIZE.” Illustrated confetti appears around the cover of the book EVERYBELLY. The cover features a girl swimming underwater beside bodies in the water with bubbles floating above her.

Thao Lam stands at the podium accepting the 2025 Kirkus Prize for Everybelly.

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Access Copyright @accesscopyright.bsky.social · 2d

We are pleased to share that with mail delivery resuming through Canada Post, Payback cheques are in the mail today to eligible creator affiliates. If you receive royalties from us via cheque, please allow extra time for your Payback cheque to get to you. www.accesscopyright.ca/creators/pay...

2025 Payback payment details

Access Copyright has distributed this year’s Payback payment to our creator affiliates.

www.accesscopyright.ca

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Access Copyright @accesscopyright.bsky.social · 7d

Margaret McGuffin, CEO of Music Publishers Canada: "We’re in the business of licensing. We know how to do it. And this now needs to extend to the AI companies."

CTV News Winnipeg @ctvnewswinnipeg.bsky.social · 7d

Music industry asks MPs for action on unauthorized use of works by generative AI

The music industry is calling on the government to take action to address unauthorized use of music by generative AI systems.

bit.ly

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Access Copyright @accesscopyright.bsky.social · 7d

Access Copyright began distribution of this year’s Payback payment to our creator affiliates today.

Payments through direct deposit have gone out. Cheque payments will be mailed once the labour disruption involving Canada Post workers is resolved.

www.accesscopyright.ca/creators/pay...

2025 Payback payment details

Access Copyright began distribution of this year’s Payback payment to our creator affiliates on October 9.

www.accesscopyright.ca

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Access Copyright @accesscopyright.bsky.social · 8d

Congratulations to AC affiliate Karen Solie on being shortlisted for the 2025 T.S. Eliot Prize.

T. S. Eliot Prize @tseliotprize.bsky.social · 10d

We are thrilled to be able to reveal this year's T.S. Eliot Prize shortlist!
Our judges have chosen ten books "of great range, suggestiveness and power; from Entebbe to Manitoba... there is something here for everyone."

Find out more now: tseliot.com/prize/news/

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Access Copyright @accesscopyright.bsky.social · 8d

The winners of the First Nation Communities READ Awards for Indigenous storytelling for 2025-2026 have been announced. Congratulations to Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley and Mary Ann Corbiere as well as AC affiliate Stella Shepard.

www.cbc.ca/books/winner...

Winners announced for $5K First Nation Communities READ Awards for Indigenous storytelling | CBC Books

The awards recognize outstanding Indigenous books for children, young adults and adults.

www.cbc.ca

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Access Copyright @accesscopyright.bsky.social · 9d

Congratulations to the authors on this year's Giller Prize shortlist, including AC affiliates @eddyboudeltan.bsky.social, @emmadonoghue.bsky.social & Souvankham Thammavongsa.

Giller Prize @gillerprize.bsky.social · 10d

We are pleased to share the 2025 #GillerPrize shortlist! Learn more here: gillerprize.ca/the-giller-p... #CravingCanLit #CanLit #canadianliterature

The Giller Prize Proudly Presents its 2025 Shortlist

October 6, 2025 (Toronto, ON) – Five remarkable Canadian writers have been named to the 2025 Giller Prize Shortlist. Representing the boldness, inventiveness, and transformational power of Canadian li...

gillerprize.ca

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Access Copyright @accesscopyright.bsky.social · 10d

Click below for important information from the Writers' Union of Canada for Canadian copyright owners related to the Anthropic copyright settlement. writersunion.ca/news/anthrop...

Anthropic Copyright Settlement | The Writers' Union of Canada

writersunion.ca

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Reposted by Access Copyright

Association of Canadian Publishers @cdnpublishers.bsky.social · 14d

ACP is excited to launch the Certified Canadian Publisher program! 🍁📚

Look for the seal when you buy books and you'll:

📖Support Canadian jobs
🏆Champion Canadian talent
🏘 Strengthen communities
💰Boost our economy
🍁 Preserve Canadian stories

www.certifiedcanadianpublisher.com

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Access Copyright @accesscopyright.bsky.social · 12d

Access Copyright will begin its distribution of this year’s Payback payment to creator affiliates on October 9.

More information on this year's payment and how we are responding to the labour disruption at Canada Post is available by clicking below.
accesscopyright.ca/creators/pay...

2025 Payback payment details

Access Copyright will begin its distribution of the 2025 Payback payment to our creator affiliates on October 9.

accesscopyright.ca

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Access Copyright @accesscopyright.bsky.social · 23d

Great to see AC affiliate Rachel Poliquin among those honoured for the 2024 SWCC Book Awards.

Science Writers and Communicators of Canada @swc-can.bsky.social · Sep 15

🎉📚 Congratulations to the SWCC 2024 Book Awards winners 🎉📚

We want to thank all publishers and authors for submitting a total of 62 (!) books, showing us again the diversity and abundance of Canadian Science Literature 📖

#SWCCBookAwards #SciComm #WinnersScienceBookAwards

Photo displaying the covers of the books and photos of the authors who won the SWCC 2024 Book Awards.

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Access Copyright @accesscopyright.bsky.social · 23d

Congratulations to everyone honoured at this year's Alberta Book Publishing Awards, including Kieran Leblanc for her many years of service to Canada's publishing sector as the head of the @abbookpub.bsky.social. www.cbc.ca/books/albert...

Cole Nowicki, Jarret Hartnell and A.J. Devlin among winners of the 2025 Alberta Book Publishing Awards | CBC Books

The prizes, administered by the Book Publishers Association of Alberta, annually celebrate the province's best books of the year across 16 categories.

www.cbc.ca

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Access Copyright @accesscopyright.bsky.social · 27d

Our upcoming webinar is for AC affiliates and members looking to learn more about:

· Key takeaways from global Generative AI litigation

· Government responses to regulating AI

· Private-sector responses to this new technology

Register for free here: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

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Access Copyright @accesscopyright.bsky.social · 28d

Congratulations to this year's Atwood Gibson Writers’ Trust Prize finalists, including AC affiliates Tim Bowling and Robert McGill.

www.cbc.ca/books/5-cana...

5 Canadian writers shortlisted for $70K Atwood Gibson Writers' Trust Fiction Prize | CBC Books

The award, named after Margaret Atwood and Graeme Gibson, recognizes the best Canadian fiction of the year.

www.cbc.ca

Access Copyright @accesscopyright.bsky.social · 28d

Great to see AC affiliates Nina Berkhout, @robmclennan.bsky.social, Denise Chong & Katherine Leyton
among this year's Ottawa Book Awards finalists!

CTV News Ottawa @ctvnewsottawa.bsky.social · 28d

City announces finalists for 2025 Ottawa Book Awards

The city has named 14 local authors as finalists for the 2025 Ottawa Book Awards.

bit.ly

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Access Copyright @accesscopyright.bsky.social · Sep 16

Congratulations to everyone longlisted for this year's Giller Prize!

Giller Prize @gillerprize.bsky.social · Sep 15

Fourteen outstanding Canadian authors have been named to the 2025 #GillerPrize longlist! gillerprize.ca/the-giller-p... #CravingCanLit #CanLit #canadianliterature #canadianfiction #canadianshortstories

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Access Copyright @accesscopyright.bsky.social · Sep 15

Join us on Wednesday, October 1 at 1:00 p.m. EDT for a one-hour, free online educational session on Generative AI & Strategic Considerations for Creators & Publishers with Erin Finlay, a leading expert on copyright law and AI.

Register here: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

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Access Copyright @accesscopyright.bsky.social · Sep 12

Congratulations to AC affiliate Nalo Hopkinson!

Sunburst Award @sunburstaward.bsky.social · Sep 11

✨🎉The Sunburst Award Society is delighted to announce that Blackheart Man (Simon & Schuster) by Nalo Hopkinson is the winner of the 2025 Sunburst Award for Excellence in Canadian Literature of the Fantastic. @nalohop.bsky.social is now a three time winner of the award. Congratulations Nalo!

Cover photo of Blackheart Man by Nalo Hopkinson, award-winning author of Brown Girl in the Ring. Image of 1 person with two other people's heads behind him. Text that says "Yet another brilliant novel from master writer." -KATE ELLIOT "Truly astounding." -THE WASHINGTON POST

Photo of author Nalo Hopkinson with a bald head, wearing glasses and a shiny green shirt. Photo credit David C. Findlay.

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Access Copyright @accesscopyright.bsky.social · Sep 10

Congratulations to this year's finalists, including AC affiliates Tessa McWatt & @authormiriamtoews.bsky.social.

Writers' Trust of Canada @writerstrust.bsky.social · Sep 10

Announcing finalists for the 2025 #HilaryWeston Writers' Trust Prize for Nonfiction 🏆 Congratulations to:

◢Omar El Akkad

◢Tessa McWatt

◢Vinh Nguyen

◢ @biidaasamose.bsky.social

◢ @authormiriamtoews.bsky.social

$75K winner announced Nov 13 at the #WTAwards bit.ly/4lXZqQk

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Access Copyright @accesscopyright.bsky.social · Sep 9

Access Copyright Foundation is accepting applications for its 2025 round of Events Grants funding.

The Events Grants program is ideal for those planning festivals, reading series, conferences, etc. that will celebrate Canadian literary and/or visual arts.

www.acfoundation.ca/2025/09/09/c...

Call for Applications – Access Copyright Foundation Events Grants. Deadline: November 1, 2025

Access Copyright Foundation is now accepting applications for its 2025 round of Events Grants funding.

www.acfoundation.ca

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