Can you tell us about the creation and role of the ACPMQ?
It’s an idea that came up around ten years ago. Over time, in speaking with some competitors, we realized that we were experiencing the same frustrations regarding respect for the copyright of certain home manufacturers and other members of the industry. And when the time comes to defend them, our plan-creating companies don’t really know where to start.
The objectives are very clear: we want to make the industry aware of this situation, but also make people aware of what they can or cannot do. Between members, we share information and give each other a helping hand in order to resolve cases that may be more contentious, to avoid going to court, which is very costly. We currently have 20 member companies, as well as around twenty requests.
Besides industry members, are there other institutions or professionals who could be affected by the association?
Whether it is a building designer, an architectural technician, a designer or an architect, all these people are welcome with us. We want to reach customers, construction contractors, but also training centers: two CEGEPs are already interested in conferences, because during the training of an architectural technician, over three years, the question of rights authorship is never discussed. We also have collaborations with municipal services. For example, when they notice that a plan is not in the name of the citizen applying for a permit, or if there is any doubt, municipalities raise a red flag and warn us. Finally, we seek to raise awareness among the population, because even if people already have a certain notion of copyright concerning music or films, that linked to residential architecture is very little known.
Plagiarizing or borrowing house plans, is this a common practice?
PHOTO FRANÇOIS PINARD, PROVIDED BY THE ACPMQ
Yves Carignan, president of the Association of House Plan Designers of Quebec (ACPMQ)
Unfortunately, yes, the main reason being ignorance of the law. When an individual uses our models without consent and we contact them, the majority of the time, they tell us that they were not aware, and that is resolved fairly quickly. But currently, we have situations of use of our images with a refusal to respect our copyright, or of reproductions used to monetize a service, especially by companies. In this case, we have no choice but to resort to the justice system.
Does the association have coercive power?
No, but it can facilitate exchanges or provide legal assistance. If a dispute arises between two members of the association, we try to bring about a form of collaboration. If one of our members is a victim of plagiarism and the offender is not a member, we have collaborations with law firms specializing in copyright and intellectual property.
Do royalty-free house plans exist?
Yes, it exists, there is a type site open source in the United States, but it is currently very marginal in our industry.
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