Artists including Avril Lavigne and Barenaked Ladies have teamed up to form the Canadian Music Creators Coalition (CMCC) to demand tougher music copyright laws. The group's common goal is to "have our voices heard about the laws and policies that affect our livelihoods."

The CMCC refers to lawsuits filed against fans who download and share music illegally as "destructive and hypocritical" and insist it's the Canadian government's duty to protect local musicians from exploitation by enforcing copyright rules.

Other acts to form the coalition include Sum 41, Sarah McLachlan and members of indie rock group Broken Social Scene.

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)