How C-11 Will Affect Users of Digital Content
October 3, 2011
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Law Bytes
Episode 239: The Rise and Fall of Canada’s Digital Services Tax
byMichael Geist

June 30, 2025
Michael Geist
June 23, 2025
Michael Geist
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What irks me is that every clause seems to have a veto button for publications groups such that they can put a lock on the material (define what the lock does device/content/usage. Those locks override almost every fair use in the bill. It puts what’s legal and what’s illegal completely in the hands of corporations and other groups which have no business making the rules.
It’s a sham bill produced by lazy representatives.
“..not for the purposes of building up a library”
So a personal digital library will be outlawed. I guess translated into the past, this would mean that bookshelves larger than what might constitute a “library” would be illegal and building your own large bookshelf (to house many books) would be a crime!
Whoever was responsible for this clause needs to justify what is meant. Certainly the clause outlawing “commercial use” is fair, but why aren’t we entitled to personal digital libraries?
iTunes or Windows Media Player “Libraries” function precisely as a manager for local library content. The No Large Library clause would certainly be difficult to police without further definition of what it means. One might argue that the best way to avoid costly policing and to retain copyright is to avoid the digital age altogether!
It’s great to hear minister Moore proclaiming the advantages of allowing corporations (even foreigh ones) to establish Canadian law. Bravo! Maybe Moore should be one of our first exports!
Nah!
Maybe Moore should be one of our first exports!
Nobody’s the least bit interested in our toxic waste…