Columns

Copyright and Faith in the Free Market

My weekly Law Bytes column (Toronto Star version, HTML backup article, homepage version) in the Toronto Star focuses on the Canadian recording industry's rejection of alternative compensation systems on the grounds that it prefers to rely on the free market. The column notes that the industry has been a leading proponent of government involvement, consistently seeking both financial support and legislative intervention. It concludes that as Canada heads toward yet another round of copyright reform, policymakers and politicians should be mindful that they have already used legislative intervention to establish many rights and protections that have tilted the copyright balance heavily toward creators at the expense of users.

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February 21, 2005 Comments are Disabled Columns

Privacy Breaches Shouldn’t Stay Private

Professor Geist’s weekly Toronto Star column (Toronto Star version, HTML backup article, homepage version) calls on Canadian lawmakers to follow the California lead by adopting a law that requires organizations to publicly disclose privacy breaches to their customers. It argues that privacy breaches, including instances of misused personal information or […]

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February 14, 2005 Comments are Disabled Columns

The Battle over Canadian Internet Pharmacies

Professor Geist’s weekly Toronto Star Law Bytes column (Toronto Star version, HTML backup article, homepage version) assesses the current battle over Internet pharmacies. The column argues that the Canadian and U.S. governments, supported by PhARMA, have relied on a series of demonstrably false premises to stir fear among the Canadian […]

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February 7, 2005 Comments are Disabled Columns

Is Canada Headed Toward a DMCCA?

Professor Geist's weekly Toronto Star Law Bytes column (Toronto Star version, HTML backup article, homepage version) examines whether Canada may be headed toward a Digital Millennium Copyright Canada Act. The column explores the risks associated with technological protection measures alongside anti-circumvention legislation and the potential that Canada may adopt DMCA-like […]

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January 31, 2005 Comments are Disabled Columns

Why Ottawa Should Stand On Guard in RIM Patent Case

Professor Geist’s weekly Toronto Star Law Bytes column (Toronto Star version, HTML backup article, homepage version) examines the recent intervention by the Canadian government in the Research in Motion patent dispute. The column argues that rather than criticizing the government for its involvement, a more appropriate response would be to […]

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January 24, 2005 Comments are Disabled Columns