The amount of coverage and discussion about the Canadian DMCA has simply been overwhelming. You can view the actual introduction of the bill, local TV coverage, and national TV coverage. You can read mainstream media coverage (Globe, National Post, Toronto Star, Ottawa Citizen, Vancouver Sun, CBC), wire services coverage (UPI, […]
Archive for June 13th, 2008
Copyright Bill’s Fine Print Makes For a Disturbing Read
This morning I run a special column (Toronto Star version, Vancouver Sun version, Ottawa Citizen version, homepage version) on Bill C-61. Based largely on my initial post, I note that in 2004, the Supreme Court of Canada issued a landmark copyright decision in a battle between the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Ontario legal bar association, and CCH Canadian, a leading legal publisher. The court was faced with a dispute over an old technology – photocopying in a law library – and in a unanimous decision it ruled that the underlying purpose of copyright law is to serve the public interest. That interest, reasoned Chief Justice Beverly McLachlin, is best served by balancing both user rights and creator rights.
Yesterday Industry Minister Jim Prentice and Canadian Heritage Minister Josee Verner delivered what amounts to a stinging rebuke to the Supreme Court's copyright vision of public interest and balance. After months of internal discussions (though precious little public consultation), the government unveiled its much-anticipated copyright reform bill. Casting aside the concerns of major business, education, and consumer groups, the bill seeks to dramatically tilt Canadian law toward greater enforcement and restrictions on the use of digital content, leading Liberal Industry critic Scott Brison to warn that it could result in a "police state."
Copyright Bill’s Fine Print Makes For a Disturbing Read
Appeared in the Toronto Star on June 13, 2008 as Fine Print Reveals Troubling Details Appeared in the Ottawa Citizen on June 13, 2008 as Fine Print Makes For Disturbing Reading Appeared in the Vancouver Sun on June 13, 2008 as Copyright Bill's Fine Print a Disturbing Read In 2004, […]