Articles by: Michael Geist

Billboard on Canadian Copyright Reform

Billboard/Reuters focuses on the forthcoming copyright reform bill, oddly referring to Canada's Copyright Act that has been amended numerous times – including recording industry requested provisions such as private copying, rental rights, and statutory damages – as "the existing 1921 legislation."  The article includes a photo of musicians from the […]

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November 18, 2007 Comments are Disabled News

Galacticast Cast on Cancon

Casey McKinnon and Rudy Jahchan speak out against Internet cancon regulations.

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November 18, 2007 1 comment News

CBC.ca on Wireless in Canada

CBC.ca begins a week-long examination of cellphones and the wireless industry with articles on unlocking cellphones, service plans, and regulatory policy all on the way.

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November 18, 2007 Comments are Disabled News

CPCC Moves to Strike CRIA Intervention in iPod Levy Case

Earlier this week, I noted that CRIA has submitted its brief in the iPod levy case and that it appeared to ignore the judge's ruling that it limit its argument to the core issue before the court.  Apparently, I was not the only one to notice the similarity between CRIA's initial request to intervene and this most recent brief.  The CPCC has wasted no time in submitting its own motion to the Federal Court of Appeal asking it to strike out the entire brief.  According to the CPCC:

"An examination of CRIA's Memorandum shows that it is nothing more than a condensed version of the representations contained in its motion to intervene.  By addressing the seven issues identified in its motion CRIA has blatantly disregarded the ruling of this Court, which ordered that 'CRIA shall address only the three major issues before this Court…"

The CPCC is also furious that CRIA raised issues about the impact of P2P downloading and compliance with the Berne Convention, when there is no evidence on those issues before the court. 

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November 16, 2007 8 comments News

Canadian Copyright Bill “Weeks Away”

Dierdre McMurdy of the Ottawa Citizen confirms widespread speculation that a copyright bill is only a few weeks away.  The article notes the strong link between the bill and U.S. pressure with reports of meetings between U.S. Ambassador to Canada David Wilkins and both Industry Minister Jim Prentice and Canadian […]

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November 16, 2007 10 comments News