Columns

Corporate Giants Call for Copyright Compromise

My weekly technology law column (Toronto Star version, Vancouver Sun version, Ottawa Citizen version, homepage version) focuses on last week's big copyright reform development – the emergence of the Business Coalition for Balanced Copyright. I note that under most circumstances, Telus and Rogers Communications fiercely compete in the marketplace. The same can be said for Google and Yahoo!, the world’s two leading rival Internet search companies. Yet last week these companies joined forces with a who's who of the telecom, Internet, retail, and broadcast communities in a single cause – the call for fair and balanced copyright reform.
Following months of Industry Minister Jim Prentice citing business demands as a critical factor behind his commitment to copyright reform, a powerhouse group of companies and business associations formed the Business Coalition for Balanced Copyright (BCBC) to speak for themselves.

February 19, 2008 — 10 comments — Columns

Technology Plays Key Role in Obama Success Story

My weekly law and technology column (Toronto Star version, Vancouver Sun version, Ottawa Citizen version, homepage version) turns to the U.S. Presidential primaries, which is in full swing with millions of Americans ready to vote today in the "Super Tuesday" group of state primaries. The surprise of the campaign thus far has been the emergence of Democratic Senator Barack Obama, who is battling Senator Hillary Clinton for his party’s nomination. Obama has garnered strong support from younger demographics – particularly those aged 18 to 30 – who pundits argue are drawn to his emphasis on change. Somewhat overlooked, however, has been the role that technology has played in Obama’s success. In fact, he has actively courted the youth vote more than any other candidate both by embracing the use of technology as well as by prioritizing technology policy issues.

February 5, 2008 — 8 comments — Columns

Is Prentice’s Copyright Bill Born in the U.S.A.?

The Hill Times runs a special op-ed (HT version, homepage version) in which I note that while the influence of the U.S. government in crafting a Canadian version of the U.S. Digital Millennium Copyright Act has been a recurring theme, what has gone largely unnoticed is the role that some Canadian lobby groups have played in quietly encouraging the U.S. to step up the pressure. Indeed, according to documents recently obtained under the Access to Information Act, last spring Canadian Recording Industry Association President Graham Henderson met with Wilkins' counterpart – Canada's Ambassador to the United States Michael Wilson – to encourage him to pressure both governments to prioritize U.S. style copyright reforms.

February 4, 2008 — Comments are Disabled — Columns

ISPs Face New Role in Network Control

My weekly technology law column (Toronto Star version, Ottawa Citizen version, BBC version, homepage version) focuses on the failure of the DRM, content-locking strategy and the move toward locking down the Internet. I note that this approach envisions requiring Internet service providers to install filtering and content monitoring technologies within their networks. ISPs would then become private network police, actively monitoring for content that might infringe copyright and stopping it from reaching subscribers' computers.

The support for locking down the Internet revives an old debate – the appropriate role and responsibility of ISPs for the activities that take place on their networks.

January 29, 2008 — 15 comments — Columns