Archive for June 19th, 2008

Angus Reid Poll on Copyright Reveals Strong Opposition to C-61

Angus Reid has just released a new poll of Canadian views on the new copyright bill. The survey finds that 39 percent of Canadians want their MP to vote against the bill, 32 percent in favour, and 29 percent are not sure. By province the numbers are even more revealing: […]

June 19, 2008 — Comments are Disabled — Stop CDMCA

The Search Engine Prentice Interview

Podcast is here. Prentice dodges the questions and ultimately hangs up on the interviewer. Update: YouTube version of the interview.

June 19, 2008 — 16 comments — News

The First Week of the Fight Against Bill C-61

It has now been one week since Industry Minister Jim Prentice unveiled Bill C-61. While the bill yielded the predictable voices of immediate support from lobby groups anxious to import the DMCA to Canada, it did not take long for the government's communication strategy to go off-the-rails (a none-too-impressive performance by Prentice at the press conference did not help). By virtually any standard, it has not been a good week for a minister who is often described in glowing terms as future leadership material. The media coverage has nearly universally criticized the legislation. A sampling of masthead editorials include:

Further, the online anger has surely exceeded the Minister's expectations:

June 19, 2008 — Comments are Disabled — Stop CDMCA

The First Week of the Fight Against Bill C-61

Further, the online anger has surely exceeded the Minister's expectations:

June 19, 2008 — 19 comments — News

Vancouver Sun, Ottawa Citizen Slam Canadian DMCA

Two of Canada's leading papers have issued masthead editorials critical of the Canadian DMCA. The Vancouver Sun doesn't pull any punches in its review of Bill C-61:

the amendments are draconian. While Prentice attempted to sell them as a balance between the rights of content creators and consumers, it's clear that consumers – and in many cases, creators – can only lose should the new regime become law.

The editorial concludes:

The fact that the bill relies on the American method is not just a coincidence, either, as it is almost entirely the result of the intense pressure U.S. authorities placed on Ottawa. In contrast, there was precious little public consultation during drafting of the proposed law. Prentice claims that the bill is a "win-win," though it's not entirely clear who will win. What is clear is that if the bill becomes law, all consumers, and many content creators, are destined to lose.

The Ottawa Citizen, meanwhile, laments that "enforcement will be difficult, if not impossible, and it will limit uses of digital material that have nothing to do with piracy." It concludes that:

June 19, 2008 — Comments are Disabled — Stop CDMCA