Must Reads

• "Surrender Sovereignty Over Copyright Law"

  John Ibbitson discusses the implications for Canada of joining the Trans Pacific Partnership, noting it would likely include surrendering Canadian sovereignty over copyright law. A reminder that the government is currently consulting on the TPP. Details on the agreement and participating here, here, and here. Feb.06/12Comments (0)

• No Internet Lock-Down

  Open Media has launched a new campaign against copyright reforms that threaten digital rights including the prospect of website blocking, Internet termination, and digital locks. Feb.06/12Comments (0)

• ACTA Protests Escalate Throughout Europe

  AccessNow is maintaining an excellent map of the protests planned across the continent on February 11th, which has been designated an international day of action against ACTA. The issue has attracted mainstream media attention (eg. New York Times) and questions emerge about the likelihood the treaty will receive the necessary approvals for ratification. Feb.06/12Comments (0)

• Ubisoft Games Won't Work This Week

  Entertainment software giant Ubisoft, who the Ontario government gave $263 million in 2009 to create 80 jobs per year over 10 years (or $328,750 per job), has advised its customers that its games may not work sometime this week due to its reliance on digital locks and the migration of data servers.
  Feb.06/12Comments (4)

• Rogers Announces Plans To Drop Internet Throttling This Year

  Last week Rogers advised the CRTC that it plans to drop Internet throttling for all customers by the end of the year. The move was not unexpected given that its policy was an outlier among all major Canadian ISPs. I'll have more to say on this development soon. Feb.06/12Comments (1)

• Canadian Pharma: High Prices, Low Research & Development

  The Globe's Jeffrey Simpson has an excellent column on the state of big pharma in Canada, noting that Canadians pay high prices for pharmaceuticals but that big pharma has not met its commitment to devote 10 percent of sales to research and development.  Prices would increase further with potential legal reforms in the Canada - EU Trade Agreement. Feb.06/12Comments (0)

• Poland Suspends ACTA Ratification

  Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has announced the country is suspending its ratification of the Anti-Counterfeitint Trade Agreement. The announcement comes following huge protests in cities across the country. Feb.03/12Comments (2)

• "Why I Signed ACTA"

  Slovenia's Ambassador to Japan offers a full explanation for why she signed ACTA:
  
  I signed ACTA out of civic carelessness, because I did not pay enough attention. Quite simply, I did not clearly connect the agreement I had been instructed to sign with the agreement that, according to my own civic conviction, limits and withholds the freedom of engagement on the largest and most significant network in human history, and thus limits particularly the future of our children. Feb.03/12Comments (1)

• The Academic Spring

  The Economist reports on the growing boycott of Elsevier by thousands of academics over open access issues. Feb.03/12Comments (1)

• Transport Canada Issues DMCA Takedown Over On-the-Record Response

  Transport Canada has reportedly issued a DMCA takedown notice to Scribd over an on-the-record response it provided to a journalist. The move is particularly odd (though not unprecedented, see here and here) given the document was issued to a journalist and the government changed its crown copyright licence last year to allow for private and non-commercial public use without the need for further permission. Feb.02/12Comments (3)