The Guardian reports that the UK government's bid to push the digital economy bill through has been dealt another setback after Siôn Simon, the creative industries minister appointed to pilot the legislation through parliament for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, announced he is resigning an MP.
News
Australian Judge Explains Why Three Strikes Isn’t Reasonable
Australian Internet users are today celebrating a landmark decision in which an Australian court ruled against the film industry in their lawsuit against iiNET, Australia's third largest ISP. The industry had asked the court to hold the ISP liable for infringing BitTorrent activities of its users. The court soundly rejected that demand, holding that the ISP could not be seen to have authorized the infringement.
While the authorization analysis is unquestionably the foundation of the decision, there is a detailed, must-read section on subscriber termination schemes, better known as three strikes and you're out (paragraphs 425-442). In it, Justice Dennis Cowdroy explains why such schemes are far more complicated than is often claimed and are simply not reasonable in many circumstances.
First, Justice Cowdroy confronts claims that ISPs terminate subscribers for non-payment of accounts, so why not for copyright infringement:
Garneau on a Canadian Digital Strategy
Liberal Industry critic Marc Garneau has published an op-ed on the need for a Canadian digital strategy. Garneau calls out the lack of action on connectivity, universal access, net neutrality, and intellectual property reform.
Public Domain Manifesto: Add Your Name Today
Lost amidst the ACTA news last week (on this blog at least) was the launch of the Public Domain Manifesto, a terrific initiative produced by a European group focused on the digital public domain. Add your name today!
USTR: ACTA Fears Based on Misconceptions
The USTR won't reveal ACTA, but it claims that fears associated with the still-secret treaty are based on "misconceptions."
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Debating the Online Harms Act: Insights from Two Recent Panels on Bill C-63 
The Law Bytes Podcast, Episode 199: Boris Bytensky on the Criminal Code Reforms in the Online Harms Act 
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The Law Bytes Podcast, Episode 198: Richard Moon on the Return of the Section 13 Hate Speech Provision in the Online Harms Act
