Slashdot points to a new Dutch study that finds that file sharing has positive economic effect on social welfare. The study, completed by several independent groups on behalf of the Dutch Ministries of Education, Economic Affairs, and Justice, acknowledges that file sharing may lead to some reduced sales for some […]
Archive for January 19th, 2009
Isle of Man To Create Legalized P2P
According to a New York Times article, the Isle Of Man plans to establish a legalized peer-to-peer system, similar to the one proposed by the Songwriters Association of Canada. The Isle of Man system would involve a monthly license fee paid with broadband subscriptions and then allow for legal downloading […]
DFAIT Consults on Canada – EU Trade Agreement
Howard Knopf points to a DFAIT consultation – with a deadline of tomorrow – on a possible trade agreement between Canada and the EU. Intellectual property figures prominently in the discussion. Note that DFAIT continues to accept comments on the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), which is being treated as an […]
Thinking Big About Flaherty Budget and Infrastructure Spending
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty will rise in the House of Commons next week to deliver the most anticipated federal budget in years. The subject of town hall meetings, corporate consultations, and political sparring, the budget will be closely watched by all Canadians anxious for a long-term plan to address the current economic crisis. While financial support for hard hit industries are a given, one of the most important elements in the budget will be the significant expenditures on infrastructure, which is viewed as a powerful job creation mechanism with benefits that can last for decades.
Money toward roads, bridges and other conventional infrastructure projects may generate some short-term employment, but my weekly technology law column (Toronto Star version, homepage version) argues that the opportunity to take a broader perspective on infrastructure should not be missed. Indeed, this budget offers a rare chance to put critically important technology projects that have languished for years back on track. These include:
Broadband infrastructure. Following repeated failed attempts to implement a national broadband strategy that guarantees access to high-speed networks for all Canadians, the Flaherty budget provides the ideal opportunity to address this neglected issue. Indeed, frustrated by years of federal inaction, several provinces recently pledged to support their own broadband initiatives, recognizing the economic importance of a connected population.
With Canada gradually slipping down the global broadband rankings as other countries benefit from better, faster, and cheaper options, committing serious dollars to a national broadband infrastructure would create jobs and lay the groundwork for new commercial, cultural, and educational opportunities.
Flaherty Budget Could Put Tech Back on Track
Appeared in the Toronto Star on January 19, 2009 as Flaherty Budget Could Put Tech Back on Track Finance Minister Jim Flaherty will rise in the House of Commons next week to deliver the most anticipated federal budget in years. The subject of town hall meetings, corporate consultations, and political […]