The first three posts on the 32 Questions and Answers on Bill C-32's digital lock provisions focused first on general issues in the bill, second on C-32's circumvention exceptions, and third on the missing exceptions. Today's post discusses the consumer-focused provisions in the bill. For those that want it all in a single package, I've posted the full series as PDF download.
The Consumer Provisions
This section features answers to the following questions:
- Bill C-32 purports to allow consumer to legally shift music from CDs to their iPods or other devices. Do they lose that right if there are digital locks on their CD?
- Does Bill C-32 allow consumers to make legal backup copies of most commercial DVDs?
- Does Bill C-32 allow consumers to shift content from a DVD to a portable video player such as an iPad?
- C-32 purports to allow consumer to legally record television shows, yet cable companies are increasingly inserting anti-copying technologies into some broadcasts? Does C-32 allow for those programs to be recorded?
- C-32 includes an exception for unlocking cellphones. Isn't that a positive new development?
- Does C-32 require businesses to notify consumers about the presence of digital locks?
- Isn't there an "analog hole" that would allow someone to record a DVD without circumventing the digital lock?
