Archive for May, 2013

Canadian ACTA Compliance Bill Inches Forward

Earlier this year, Industry Minister Christian Paradis introduced a bill aimed at ensuring that Canada complies with the discredited Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement. The bill raises a host of concerns including granting border guards increased powers without court oversight or review. The bill had not been heard from since its introduction, […]

Read more ›

May 31, 2013 7 comments News

Canada’s Lack of Innovation an Emerging Crisis

The political world may have been focused last week on crises at the Senate and the Toronto mayor’s office, but a new report from the government’s Science, Technology and Innovation Council quietly pointed to a serious, emerging economic crisis. The STIC reported that Canada’s research and development performance is lagging behind the world’s leading economies, continuing a disturbing decade-long decline.

My weekly technology law column (Toronto Star version, homepage version) notes the STIC report is the third produced since 2008, but the first to sound an unmistakable alarm on worrying trends that could have dire long-term consequences for the Canadian economy. Simply put, based on the latest data, Canada cannot be regarded as a serious player when it comes to innovation.

Read more ›

May 30, 2013 11 comments Columns

Digital Economy Deja Vu: My Appearance Before the Standing Committee on Industry, Science & Tech

I appeared yesterday before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry, Science, and Technology  for a hearing on the adoption of digital technologies by small and medium sized businesses.  While the hearing was shortened by a vote in the House of Commons, it still provided an opportunity to raise ongoing concerns with Canada’s digital economy strategy failure. My prepared remarks are posted below:

Appearance before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology, May 28, 2013

Read more ›

May 29, 2013 3 comments Committees, News

The Canadian Link to Copyright Enforcement Spyware Tools

The Internet is buzzing over a new report  from the Commission on the Theft of American Intellectual Property that recommends using spyware and ransom-ware to combat online infringement.  The recommendations are shocking as they represent next-generation digital locks that could lock down computers and even “retrieve” files from personal computers:

Software can be written that will allow only authorized users to open files containing valuable information. If an unauthorized person accesses the information, a range of actions might then occur. For example, the file could be rendered inaccessible and the unauthorized user’s computer could be locked down, with instructions on how to contact law enforcement to get the password needed to unlock the account.

While many of the recommendations sound outrageous (see further details here and here), it is worth noting that earlier this year Canadian business groups led by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce recommended that the Canadian government introduce a regulation that would permit the use of spyware for these kinds of purposes.

Read more ›

May 28, 2013 24 comments News

Canada’s Lack of Innovation an Emerging Crisis

Appeared in the Toronto Star on May 25, 2013 as Canada’s Lack of Innovation an Emerging Crisis The political world may have been focused last week on crises at the Senate and the Toronto mayor’s office, but a new report from the government’s Science, Technology and Innovation Council quietly pointed […]

Read more ›

May 28, 2013 Comments are Disabled Columns Archive