Archive for February 19th, 2008

Corporate Giants Call for Copyright Compromise

My weekly technology law column (Toronto Star version, Vancouver Sun version, Ottawa Citizen version, homepage version) focuses on last week's big copyright reform development – the emergence of the Business Coalition for Balanced Copyright. I note that under most circumstances, Telus and Rogers Communications fiercely compete in the marketplace. The same can be said for Google and Yahoo!, the world’s two leading rival Internet search companies. Yet last week these companies joined forces with a who's who of the telecom, Internet, retail, and broadcast communities in a single cause – the call for fair and balanced copyright reform.
Following months of Industry Minister Jim Prentice citing business demands as a critical factor behind his commitment to copyright reform, a powerhouse group of companies and business associations formed the Business Coalition for Balanced Copyright (BCBC) to speak for themselves.

USTR Invites Submissions on ACTA

The U.S. Trade Representative has issued a public consultation on the negotiation of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement. The consultation, which runs until March 21, 2008, notes that comments should focus on international cooperation, enforcement practices, or the development of new legal framworks. Australia has similarly consulted on its potential involvement […]

Canadian Heritage Committee Seeks a Say in Copyright Reform

Howard Knopf points to a Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage recommendation that calls on the government to establish a Special Joint Committee to review the copyright bill once it is introduced. As Howard notes, this represents some pushback from the Committee that fears that it will be marginalized in the […]