News

Survey Finds Declining P2P Usage in Canada

The Copyright Board of Canada conducted hearings today on the private copying levy. Included as part of the evidence was a major survey (not online at the moment) on music copying conducted for the Canadian Private Copying Collective (CPCC) by Reseau Circum. The CPCC, which counts CRIA General Counsel Richard Pfohl as one of its board members, has tracked music copying habits since 2001-02.

The headliner in the latest survey is that file sharing activity is in steady decline in Canada. The survey, conducted in June 2006, finds that just 14 percent of Canadians have downloaded music in the last 12 months, down from 15 percent in 2005, 19 percent in 2004, 21 percent in 2003, and 21 percent in 2002. It goes without saying that this finding comes despite the absence of lawsuits, the absence of copyright reform, and the continual (yet questionable) claims that Canada is a world leader in file sharing.

October 24, 2006 — 12 comments — News

A Little More Light

Barry Sookman is widely regarded as one of Canada's leading IT lawyers – for good reason given that he's the author of an important text on the area and has been actively involved in several Supreme Court of Canada cases. Sookman and I have publicly debated one another in several fora, most recently on a DRM panel at the Future of Music Conference in Montreal (video here). Today's Hill Times includes a column from Sookman titled Copyright Reform: Let the Light Shine In, which is framed as a reply to my Hill Times column on copyright and the environment.

While it won't come as a surprise that I disagree with much of what Sookman writes, that alone doesn't merit a follow-up posting.

October 23, 2006 — 6 comments — News

CAB Wins Appeal of Commercial Radio Decision

The Federal Court of Appeal has overturned the Copyright Board's radio decision that boosted radio royalties by roughly thirty percent. The decision is a big win for the Canadian Association of Broadcasters. The collectives may seek leave to appeal to the Supreme Court. If they fail, the issue heads back […]

October 23, 2006 — Comments are Disabled — News

MSFT and the Ontario IPC Office

The Office of the Ontario Privacy Commissioner has long been a world leader in privacy advocacy, displaying a remarkable ability to anticipate the privacy impact of cutting-edge technologies. Given its track record, the attention being lavished on the release of a new document on identity management is much deserved as it merits wide reading. The Seven Laws of Identity builds on work being done by Microsoft designed to allow Internet users to better manage their online "identities" by limiting the disclosure of personal information ("data minimization"), using better authentication practices, and building in user consent and controls. In recent news reports, the Office has touted the virtues of its Seven Laws of Identity approach, with claims that it will help solve Internet ills such as phishing, pharming, and spam.

As I read the coverage and white paper, I am left somewhat uncomfortable.

October 19, 2006 — 4 comments — News