Appeared in the Toronto Star on June 14, 2010 as Opening Up Canada's Digital Economy Strategy The federal government’s national consultation on a digital economy strategy is now past the half-way mark having generated a somewhat tepid response so far. The consultation document itself may bear some of the blame […]
Articles by: Michael Geist
Setting the Record Straight: 32 Questions and Answers on C-32’s Digital Lock Provisions, Part Five
The first four 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, third on the missing exceptions, and fourth on consumer-focused provisions in the bill. This fifth post focuses on business considerations. For those that want it all in a single package, I've posted the full series as PDF download.
Business Considerations
This section features answers to the following questions:
- Isn't this just a matter of consumer choice? If consumers don't want products with digital locks, no one is forcing them to purchase them?
- Won't the digital lock provisions help bring new businesses to Canada like Hulu.com?
- Are the concerns associated with digital lock provisions in the United States legitimate? What issues have arisen in the U.S. under the DMCA?
- If these digital lock provisions are too restrictive, what compromises are available?
Conservative MP Cannan Says Bill C-32 Open To Amendments
Conservative MP Rob Cannan published an op-ed supporting Bill C-32. Cannan says he has heard from some constituents and notes that the Ministers are open to amendment proposals.
WIPO Publishes Study on the Public Domain
WIPO has published a scoping study on the public domain by Belgian law professor Séverine Dusollier. The study includes discussion of the impact of anti-circumvention rules on access to public domain works.
“Copyright Bill Could Digital Lock Us All”
Athabasca University VP Research Rory McGreal has an op-ed in the Calgary Herald that calls for an amendment to C-32 that would allow by-passing digital locks for any legal purpose.
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