Archive for June, 2013

Canadian Government Maps Plan for Future Intellectual Property Reform

The House of Commons may have adjourned for the summer, but just hours before breaking, the government filed its response to the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology’s report on the Intellectual Property Regime in Canada. That may sound dry, but the document provides a clear indication of what the government has planned for the coming years on IP reform.

  So what’s in store? Leaving aside an assortment of promised studies, the government response includes five notable plans (or non-plans).  

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June 20, 2013 2 comments News

The Trouble with the TPP: The Full Transcript

Earlier this month, I appeared before the House of Commons Standing Committee on International Trade to raise concerns with the Trans Pacific Partnership. I posted my opening remarks here, but a transcript of the full hearing – including questions from Conservative, NDP, and Liberal MPs – is now available online.

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June 20, 2013 Comments are Disabled News

Canadian Government Launches Open Government Licence 2.0

The Canadian government has launched version two of its open government licence.  Discussion and analysis on the licence from Teresa Scassa and Russell McOrmond.

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June 20, 2013 Comments are Disabled News

Debating Surveillance and the Law in Canada

The recent stories about surveillance in the United States and Canada have generated increased debate in the media over the issue and I’ve been privileged to participate in several discussions. Last week, I sat down with Nick Taylor-Vaisey of Maclean’s to discuss the issue.  The full interview is now posted here.  Further, CBC’s Cross-Country Check-Up spent two hours discussing surveillance and privacy on Sunday’s show. I appeared as a guest at about the 54 minute mark.  Yesterday, I also participated in a far-ranging debate on surveillance and transparency on TVO’s The Agenda. The video version of the program should be online shortly, but in the meantime a podcast version is available.

Finally, my technology law column (Toronto Star version, homepage version) this week focuses again on the disconnect between 20th century laws and 21st century surveillance. It notes that revelations about secret surveillance in the United States involving both Internet-based communications and the collection of metadata from all cellphone calls immediately raised questions about the possibility of Canadian involvement or the inclusion of Canadian data. Given the common communication infrastructure and similarities between Canadian and U.S. laws, it seemed likely that Canada was engaged in much of the same activities. Within days, it was reported that Canada has its own metadata surveillance program, with the ministerial approval coming in 2011 from Defence Minister Peter McKay.

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June 18, 2013 11 comments Columns

Canadian Surveillance Laws Can’t Handle Modern Day Snooping Technologies

Appeared in the Toronto Star on June 15, 2013 as Surveillance Laws Can’t Handle Modern Snooping Technologies Revelations about secret surveillance in the United States involving both Internet-based communications and the collection of metadata from all cellphone calls immediately raised questions about the possibility of Canadian involvement or the inclusion […]

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June 18, 2013 Comments are Disabled Columns Archive