Archive for August, 2010

SAC Renews Calls for Legalized Downloading With Levies

The SAC’s Eddie Schwartz has an op-ed in the Straight, renewing the call for the legalization of downloading in return for a monthly ISP levy.

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August 4, 2010 2 comments News

U.S. Move to Pick Digital Locks Leaves Canadians Locked Out

My weekly technology law column (Toronto Star version, homepage version) picks up on last week’s DMCA exemption decision with a contrast to Bill C-32.  I note that since its introduction two months ago, the government’s copyright reform package has generated widespread debate over whether it strikes the right balance.  The digital lock provisions have been the most contentious aspect of the bill, with critics fearing that anytime a digital lock is used, it would trump virtually all other rights.

Supporters of the C-32 digital lock approach have sought to counter the criticism by arguing that the Canadian provisions simply mirror those found in other countries such as the United States.  Yet last week, the U.S. introduced changes to its digital lock rules that leave Canada with one of the most restrictive approaches in the world.

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August 3, 2010 58 comments Columns

Copyright Bill Disturbs Rights Balance Between Creators and Users

Jenna Wilson and Sangeetha Punniyamoorthy, IP lawyers with Dimock Stratton LLP in Toronto, argue in the Lawyers Weekly that “Anti-circumvention provisions could be implemented in the Copyright Act without significantly disturbing the balance between users and creators in the way Bill C-32 does.”

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August 3, 2010 1 comment News

NY Times, LA Times Both Approve New U.S. Digital Lock Exemptions

The NY Times and LA Times have both published masthead editorials approving the new digital lock exemptions announced last week in the U.S.

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August 3, 2010 1 comment News

Jaszi on the DMCA Exemptions

Peter Jaszi provides a great review of how the U.S. DMCA exemption process has evolved for the better.

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August 3, 2010 Comments are Disabled News