Archive for January, 2012

Ten Key Questions and Answers About Bill C-11, SOPA, ACTA, and the TPP

In recent days there has been massive new interest in Canadian copyright reform as thousands of people write to their MPs to express concern about the prospect of adding SOPA-style rules to Bill C-11 (there are even plans for public protests beginning to emerge). The interest has resulted in some completely unacceptable threats and confusion – some claiming that the Canadian bill will be passed within 14 days (not true) and others stating that proposed SOPA-style changes are nothing more than technical changes to the bill (also not true).  Even the mainstream media is getting into the mix, with the Financial Post’s Terrance Corcoran offering his “expert” legal opinion that CRIA’s lawyers are likely to lose their lawsuit against isoHunt. 

Given the importance of Canadians speaking out accurately on Bill C-11, ACTA, and the TPP, I’ve posted ten key questions and answers to sort through the claims. The first eight questions address the links between Bill C-11 and SOPA as well as proposed changes to the current copyright law. The final two question focus on ACTA and the TPP.

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January 31, 2012 20 comments News

Elsevier Publishing Boycott Gathers Steam Among Academics

Over 2,000 academics have joined a boycott against Elsevier Publishing, one of the world’s largest academic publishers, over its support of an anti-open access bill.

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January 31, 2012 2 comments News

The Sky is Rising

Mike Masnick of Techdirt-fame has written a new report commissioned by the Consumer and Communications Industry Association that demonstrates how the entertainment industry is growing at a rapid pace.

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January 31, 2012 Comments are Disabled News

Two Universities Sign Agreement With Access Copyright

The University of Toronto and Western have signed an agreement with Access Copyright that will see their students pay $27.50 per year to the copyright collective. Update: Howard Knopf and Sam Trosow both provide analysis of the agreement explaining why it represents a big win for Access Copyright.

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January 31, 2012 1 comment News

The Daily Digital Lock Dissenter: The Series To Date

Throughout the fall, I ran a daily digital lock dissenter series, pointing to a wide range of organizations representing creators, consumers, businesses, educators, historians, archivists, and librarians who have issued policy statements that are at odds with the government’s approach to digital locks in Bill C-11. While the series took […]

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January 30, 2012 15 comments News