Archive for March 4th, 2006

Music and the Market

In case you missed it, last week CRIA was back in the news claiming that Canadian copyright law is in need of reform, arguing that Canadian digital download sales have not met expectations. The copyright lobby group chose to focus on sales of Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl.  In the U.S., the song has become the first to reach one million paid downloads.  By comparison, in Canada it has hit 20,000 paid downloads.  CRIA argues that based on population and broadband penetration rates, the Canadian figure should be 150,000.

I find this argument rather remarkable.  CRIA is obviously hoping to convince Canadian Heritage Minister Bev Oda and Industry Minister Maxime Bernier that the Canadian digital music market has been hurt by the absence of anti-circumvention legislation, yet the notion that music sales are a function of population size and broadband access is certainly subject to challenge.

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March 4, 2006 7 comments News

Online Gambling Ad Bill Advances to Committee

The Ontario online gambling advertising bill, introduced as a private member’s bill, appears to have some life.  The bill has received second reading and is headed to committee.  John Gregory reports that the bill has support from the Woodbine Entertainment Group, which may be looking to protect its horse racing […]

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March 4, 2006 1 comment News