Dozens of leading U.S. law professors have written
to the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance to express concern about the
lack of constitutional authority to approve the Anti-Counterfeiting
Trade Agreement without submitting it for Congressional approval. May.17/12Comments (0)
Harvard Professor Winston Hide has stepped
down from the editorial board of the prestigious Genomics journal
over the lack of open access. May.17/12Comments (0)
In addition to the UBC decision to not sign the Access Copyright model
licence, the Manitoba Library Association has added
its voice
in opposition to the agreement. Moreover, the Trent University Senate
has adopted a motion stating "that the Senate, in solidarity with the
CAUT, the CFS and dozens of other constituent and governing bodies,
reject this unfair and unreasonable AUCC-Access Copyright 'model
license' and instead affirm and abide by 'the right to fair and
reasonable access to copyrighted works for educational purposes.'"
May.16/12Comments (1)
The Globe's John Ibbitson has a column
that confirms much of the private speculation about lawful access,
namely that the bill is going nowhere so long as Vic Toews remains
public safety minister. This is consistent with the prevailing view
that Toews is so closely associated with the worst of the bill -
warrantless disclosure of subscriber information, new surveillance
technologies, and divisive us vs. them framing - that a change will be
needed for the bill to come back. Ibbitson focuses on the likelihood of
Parliament proroging before the bill is revamped and returns, yet
speculating on those issues is always difficult. What is certain
is
that lawful access will return at some point, meaning Canadians will
need to remain vigilant to ensure that any future bill addresses the myriad of
concerns associated with Bill C-30.
May.16/12Comments (2)
Conservative MP Dean Del Mastro offers up one of the oddest copyright
analogies during the C-11 debate, likening format shifting to socks
and shoes.
May.16/12Comments (11)
The Wall Streeet Journal's MarketWatch picks
up
on Canada's missing digital economy strategy, using the Penske File
framing to discuss the failure of Industry Minister Christian Paradis
to lead on the file.
May.16/12Comments (0)
Ariel Katz has an exhaustive,
4,000 word must-read post
on the Georgia State University fair use decision and some of the
implications for Canadian copyright and the university licensing. Every
Canadian university that signs the Access Copyright letter of intent
today should read this post first.
May.15/12Comments (1)
Queen's University has announced
it will sign a non-binding letter of intent to accept the Access
Copyright - AUCC deal. The University said the non-binding letter of
intent "will allow the university more time to consider whether to
accept the model licence." Look for many universities to follow suit
today as May 15th is the Access Copyright's imposed deadline for an
indication of support. May.15/12Comments (1)
Access Copyright will likely promote many universities signing its
agreement with AUCC tomorrow, but opposition to the deal continues to
mount across the country:
the Queen's University Senate will consider a motion
opposing the AUCC - Access Copyright agreement later this month.
Carleton University's Graduate Students' Association have posted
a public letter
opposing the deal
the B.C. Library Association passed a resolution
urging universities and colleges "not to capitulate to Access
Copyright's unfair and unreasonable demands"
