The Canadian government has re-launched its consultation on the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement. The last consultation was conducted in the spring. While the government did not release the results of that consultation, I recently reported on the findings based on documents obtained under the Access to Information Act. The new consultation […]
Archive for November, 2008
TVO Strikes Deal With YouTube
TVO, Ontario's public broadcaster, has announced plans to develop a dedicated YouTube channel featuring its programming and involving a revenue sharing partnership.
Pre-Judging James Moore
Billboard runs a story today titled Canadian Biz Raises Concerns About Government Appointment. The article features music industry criticisms of new Canadian Heritage Minister James Moore, with comments of the "fox running the chicken house" and that the appointment is "a kick in the head of Quebec for not supporting Harper." Those unwarranted criticisms suggest that Moore will not be sensitive to music industry demands since he has a broadcasting background and is not from Quebec.
Both of these criticisms are off-the-mark. First, a broadcast background increasingly appears to be a pre-requisite for the position – Josee Verner, Bev Oda, and Liza Frulla all came from the broadcast industry and no one would accuse them of siding against the music industry. Second, the notion that a Heritage minister must come from Quebec is also wrong – Sheila Copps is widely viewed as the most influential Heritage minister in recent times and she was from Hamilton.
The reality is that it is far too early to cast judgment on the appointment.
Broadcasters Win Right To Reduce Ad Production Costs From Royalty Payments
Bloomberg reports that Canadian radio stations have won a federal court decision that will allow them to exclude production costs of radio commercials from the amount on which royalties must be paid. SOCAN fears that the decision could result in the loss of millions of dollars in payments.
Globe Invites Comments on Future of Canadian Copyright
In light of the online opinion piece on copyright reform, the Globe has invited Canadians to share their ideas about copyright reform policy here.
Recent Posts
The Law Bytes Podcast, Episode 200: Colin Bennett on the EU’s Surprising Adequacy Finding on Canadian Privacy Law 
Debating the Online Harms Act: Insights from Two Recent Panels on Bill C-63 
The Law Bytes Podcast, Episode 199: Boris Bytensky on the Criminal Code Reforms in the Online Harms Act 
AI Spending is Not an AI Strategy: Why the Government’s Artificial Intelligence Plan Avoids the Hard Governance Questions 
The Law Bytes Podcast, Episode 198: Richard Moon on the Return of the Section 13 Hate Speech Provision in the Online Harms Act
