Archive for July 31st, 2008

61 Reforms to C-61, Day 29: TPMs – Interoperability Exception Restricts Third Parties

The problems with the interoperability exception in Bill C-61 extend beyond its impact on open source software. The U.S. DMCA restricts the ability for a person to disclose information obtained through circumvention for the purposes of interoperability by stating that the information may be made available to others on the condition that the person "provides such information or means solely for the purpose of enabling interoperability of an independently created computer program with other programs, and to the extent that doing so does not constitute infringement under this title or violate applicable law other than this section."

Bill C-61 regulates not only the initial circumventer but anyone else that comes into possession of the information.  Section 41.12 (1) includes an interoperability of computer programs provision that is very similar to the U.S. DMCA.  Subsection (4) allows the same person to "communicate the information obtained under that subsection to another person for the purposes of allowing that person to make the computer program and any other computer program interoperable." That also covers similar terrain as the U.S. DMCA. 

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July 31, 2008 16 comments News

Rogers Caves on DNS Re-Directs?

A commenter to the blog reports that Rogers has caved on the DNS re-direct issue following intense criticism from many companies who found that the approach hampered the ability for employees to work from home.  The company has reportedly established an alternate DNS server at altdns.rnc.net.cable.rogers.com (64.71.255.202).  If this is […]

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July 31, 2008 8 comments News

Bell To Limit Competitor ISP Downloads

The CBC reports that Bell is planning to impose download limits on customers of independent ISPs, undermining the ISPs' ability to compete in the marketplace.

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July 31, 2008 6 comments News

“They Haven’t Waited for the DMCA”

A blog reader posts another C-61 mashup titled "They Haven't Waited for the DMCA."

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July 31, 2008 4 comments News

Copyfight Attracts Local Attention

The Tri-City News in Maple Ridge, B.C covers local Fair Copyright for Canada activity. NDP MP Dawn Black describes the bill as a "massive failure."

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July 31, 2008 2 comments News