Archive for October 4th, 2011

Commenting on James Moore’s Copyright Comments

Canadian Heritage Minister James Moore recently granted TVO’s Search Engine an interview on Bill C-11 and Canadian copyright reform. The interview demonstrates yet again that Moore is one of the government’s most skilled ministers – he knows the copyright file and is able to actively debate its merits. Yet the interview raised several points worth challenging.

At 4:30, host Jesse Brown raises the issue of the “book burning” provision that requires students and teachers to destroy lessons that rely on the exception within 30 days of the conclusion of the course. Moore moves quickly to the departmental talking points that I obtained under Access to Information, which claim that this is simply part of the balance. Yet few teachers will rely on a provision that mandates the destruction of their materials at the conclusion of a course and few students will want to have their materials destroyed. The provision is an illusion – it looks at first glance like it will assist education, yet practically it will be ignored. At 6:00, Moore continues by arguing that it is common for students to encounter “time limited” materials. But this provision does more than just create time limitations for students since it creates matching time limits for teachers, which effectively ensures it will rarely be used.

At 12:00, Brown and Moore engage in a discussion on digital locks, with Moore turning to the claim that the government isn’t imposing digital locks, that the free market should work, government should get out of the way, and creators should be able to protect themselves against people who want to hack into their product and steal from them. Brown notes that a better balance is available by linking circumvention to infringment, to which Moore goes right back to the department talking points that simply state the government has the right balance.

Moore’s response demands a few comments.

Read more ›

October 4, 2011 52 comments News

The Daily Digital Lock Dissenter, Day 2: Canadian Consumer Initiative

The Canadian Consumer Initiative brings together four of Canada’s largest consumer advocacy groups: the Consumers Council of Canada, Option consommateurs, the Public Interest Advocacy Centre and Union des consommateurs. Their comments on Bill C-32 included: The legislation’s protection of digital locks will be detrimental to Canadian consumers and eliminate many […]

Read more ›

October 4, 2011 3 comments News

(Un)Lawful Access

UnLawful access is a great new project focused on the implications of the government’s forthcoming lawful access legislation.  I was pleased to participate in a terrific video on lawful access that includes Andrew Clement, David Fewer, David Lyon, David Murakami Wood, Dwayne Winseck, Ian Kerr, Natalie Des Rosiers, and Ron […]

Read more ›

October 4, 2011 2 comments News