Just as reports surface that five Canadian companies have paid over $175,000 in damages arising from copyright infringing software usage [additional coverage here and here], an RCMP corporal has reportedly told a U.S. legal audience that Canadian copyright law is weak, that the way the courts interpret the law is problematic, and that many Canadians feel it is ok to dabble in piracy. While all of these claims can be easily countered, it is incredible to find Canadian law enforcement undermining the public perception of Canadian law, particularly during an election period when there is a virtual silence from public officials.
RCMP Criticizes Canadian Copyright Law
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bad boy rcmp
in my opinion: Cpl. David Sutherland should raked over the coals when he gets back and charged for treason. I think 3 yrs of learning Canadian laws in prison should be just right to teach him.
Well the RCMP kill people with tasers… Canadians already know the scope of ignorance that exists on the other side of the blue shield. No doubt his U.S. audience is now teething to capitalize on those comments. douche baggery might have just caused more frivolous infringment claims. Cpl David Sutherland can go sodomize himself to death with a baton and a taser.
Nothing like a well-informed elegant debate, eh? Maybe, and I know this is so difficult, but maybe wait until the facts are known and then assess whether or not this was appropriate. There are ways for an RCMP corporal to discuss perceptions of copyright law, issues arising from judicial interpretation, and proposals advanced to address those issues. Academics do it all the time, I believe. Even the author of this blog.
@above who has to report something for it to be considered a fact
\”\”The Canadian Supreme Court has protected making personal copies of copyrighted works, he said, and noted that consumers pay a levy on digital media that\’s “certainly adding 25 to 30 per cent in price” to compensate performers for infringement. Thus, he concludes, “a lot of the public feel it\’s OK to dabble in piracy.\”
Then he criticized the country as a whole, saying that Canada is home to less expertise on infringement than the United States.\”\” Globe and Mail, Jack kipica a writer for globe for over 15 yrs
How are we supposed to interpret this… Cpl Sutherland should resign.
I wish it was caught on video.
I’d love to see a strong leader come in who can bring the RCMP to heel. This dog has been eating from the table for too long and needs to learn its place again, instead of shooting its mouth off to the next door neighbors about how bad the owner is.
awwww. Somebody expressed an opposing view point.
Who cares if — Canadian law enforcement undermining the public perception of Canadian law — They want tougher laws and they sent someone to advocate. Your intelligent readers think that calls for treason? What kind of law do they teach in Ottawa?
What kind of ignorance do they teach in the RCMP how can you assume the reader who called it treason was educated by mr geist? Nice spin… You Failed
The problem is not that it was an opposing point of view. The problem is who said it, and to what audience. The role of law enforcement is to enforce the law with impartiality, not to comment on which laws they do or don’t agree with. Totally out of line.
Mounties = KGB
The Mounties always have been and still are puppets of the Elite, the ruling class in Canada. That’s who the Mounties are paid to protect. It’s Canada’s KGB.
In case, you don’t know the latter, then read the MacDonald Royal Commission of Inquiry into Certain Activities of the RCMP. If read, you will find out that P.M. Trudeau is branded a liar by the Commission.
Moreover you can learn that learn that Trudeau met weekly with the head of the Mounties – who told Trudeau in advance about all kinds of dirty tricks they were pulling off. Many of these dirty tricks involved dynamite!!
However, if you read, the above report you’ll notice a chapter title page about what the Mounties did with dynamite that they (the Mounties) stole!!! But when you flip the latter page – you’ll find the chapters consists of blank pages!!!
Johnny
Since 2001 cops figure they’re pretty much able to do whatever they want, and most citizens are happy with that. Damn shame that, used to be a decent country until governments started removing rights and cops started getting away with walking all over them. This is just another example of how cocky they are now.
BSA
I should have know. The BSA and their self severing statistics; “33 per cent of companies in Canada have improperly licensed software”. That’s a far cry from piracy or the Canadian perception of licensing.
Again, we see the U.S. DMCA being pushed on to other countries. In both cases, there were cash settlements and had it gone to the courts, we would’ve seen a different outcome. These companies do not have the time to quibble over a couple of employees bringing in doggy software to work.
Personally, after being accused of first ‘degree piracy’, I would like for alternative software and let the BSA do number dancing somewhere else.
bad cops
what kind of cops are the RCMP ???
first of all you never ever do a declaration like that in another country ans especialy the USA wich try to push on canada for copyrights
secondly it’s not true the canadian copyright l;aws works (those companies has been caught)I don’t have much respect for the mounties since they kill people with teaser guns but i think that Cpl. David Sutherland should resign
That’s the police for you
The police does not care about individual rights. All those things are impediments for the police to do it’s job, which is punish bad people.
Of course, like any bureaucracy, it has to justify it’s existence, and when there is a shortage of bad people, the police will manufacture more bad people either by inventing new regulations, or badly interpreting existing ones.
For the police, everyone is guilty of something, or at least suspect of something else. The police trusts no one. The police has absolutely zero trust in the public.
And the police does not understand that there has to be limits to what it does.
Police have commented before on adequacy of laws to achieve objectives. Examples include speeding leading to enactment of Ontario’s racing laws, gun control, etc. Why is this instance so surprising?
@above… And ? they were wrong about the street racing law Pwned by statistics.
The gun registry failed financially it was advocated by police forces across canada.
.: No it isn’t surprising you are correct.
maybe they should advocate everything they disagree with the public perception… maybe marijuana should equal a life sentence… oh wait Marc Emery is already facing that.
Next we’ll hear RCMP advocates new torture laws. and capital punishment. When and where is the line drawn? Their job is to enforce laws not advocate more.