Last week I participated in a conference at American University, Washington College of Law called Beyond TRIPS: The Current Push for Greater International Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights. Webcasts of the two panels are available online (my panel on TRIPs and ACTA; a second panel on U.S. efforts to increase […]
News
Canadian Labour Congress Adopts New Copyright Policy
Earlier this year, I posted on a Canadian Labour Congress IP policy that was scheduled for approval by the CLC Council. The proposal represented a dramatic shift in approach that was exceptionally one-sided. The proposal did not pass, however, and the CLC formed a working group to develop a new policy. Sources advise that the new policy was approved late last month and the results much better reflect the diversity of interests within Canada's largest labour organization. In fact, the policy combines both copyright and net neutrality, adopting a broader approach to digital policy.
On copyright, the policy statement contains 14 recommendations including expanding fair dealing, limiting the application of statutory damages, eliminating crown copyright, and linking anti-circumvention legislation to actual infringement. The 14 recommendations:
NZ and Australian ACTA Criticism Mounts
Criticism of ACTA in Australia and New Zealand continues to mount with a steady stream of articles complaining that assurances that ACTA would be limited to commercial piracy "are turning to dust."
ESA Applauds RCMP IP Enforcement Work
The Entertainment Software Association has applauded the RCMP for its work in targeting infringing activities at the Pacific Mall, just north of Toronto. The actions come despite repeated unfounded claims that Canada is a "piracy haven."
This Magazine on Legalizing Music File Sharing
This Magazine has a feature story on legalizing music file sharing, with particular focus on the SAC proposal.
Recent Posts
The Law Bytes Podcast, Episode 232: What Will Canadian Digital Policy Look Like Under the New Liberal Carney Government? 
The Law Bytes Podcast, Episode 231: Sara Bannerman on How Canadian Political Parties Maximize Voter Data Collection and Minimize Privacy Safeguards 
The Law Bytes Podcast, Episode 230: Aengus Bridgman on the 2025 Federal Election, Social Media Platforms, and Misinformation 
The Law Bytes Podcast, Episode 229: My Digital Access Day Keynote – Assessing the Canadian Digital Policy Record 
Queen’s University Trustees Reject Divestment Efforts Emphasizing the Importance of Institutional Neutrality
