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Notice to Members: Unpaid Mechanical and Video Royalties Canadian Class Action Settlement –Group III Claims Period begins on April 3, 2017

In 2008, a proposed class action was initiated in Ontario against Sony BMG Music (Canada) Inc., now Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc., (“Sony”), EMI Group Canada Inc. (“EMI”), Universal Music Canada Inc. (“Universal”), Warner Music Canada Co. (“Warner”), the Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency Ltd. (“CMRRA”) and the Society for Reproduction Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers (SODRAC) Inc. (“SODRAC”), in which it was alleged that the record companies were liable for reproducing certain musical works in sound recordings released in physical formats in Canada, without securing the necessary mechanical licenses and/or without payment of the necessary royalties.  Settlement agreements were reached with the defendants in 2010. The settlement agreements were approved by the Court by Order dated May 31, 2011.

Pursuant to the court-approved settlement agreements, CMRRA-SODRAC Inc. (“CSI”) was appointed as Settlement Administrator. An initial claims period was held for Group I Products which relate to Products Released at any time up to and including June 30, 2007 and Group II Products which are Products Released between July 1, 2007 and December 31, 2009, inclusive. The Group I and II Products claims period concluded in February of 2013.

The settlement agreements required a further payment of additional amounts on account of Group III Products which are Products Released between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2012, inclusive. The claims period for the Group III Items will commence on April 3, 2017.

In order to facilitate the individual class process for class members for the Medium- and High-Value Group III items, CSI will make the Medium- and High-Value Group III information available on a searchable web-based system (the “Claims Website”). The Claims Website can be accessed from CSI’s website at www.cmrrasodrac.ca.

Claims for Medium-Value items, which are those items with a value between $1,000 and $2,500, must be filed on or before October 3, 2017 while claims for High-Value Items, which are those items with a value of $2,500 and above, must be filed by April 3, 2018.

Once an ownership claim has been established and verified, CSI will facilitate payment to the class member. Claims will be reviewed and processed in a timely manner following the conclusion of the claims period.

If you have questions about the claims process, please visit the Claims Website at www.cmrrasodrac.ca, or contact CSI by e-mail at pendingsettlementinquiries@cmrrasodrac.ca. A copy of the Court-approved Notice of the Commencement of the Group III Claims Process, can be viewed at www.pendinglistsettlement.com.