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Canadian Privacy Community Speaks Out on Copyright Reform

On the heels of the recent emergence of the CMCC, Canada's privacy community is today speaking out on its concerns with the prospect of copyright reform that provides legal protections for digital rights management but fails to account for the impact on personal privacy.  Dozens of groups and individuals, including civil liberties organizations, library and education associations, and prominent privacy leaders such as former Privacy Commissioner Bruce Phillips (I have also lent my name to the letter) have sent a public letter to Ministers Bernier and Oda calling on the government to ensure that privacy factors in the copyright reform process. 

The letter, supported by a background paper on the privacy concerns raised by copyright reform, seeks assurances that:

  1. any proposed copyright reforms will prioritize privacy protection by including a full privacy consultation and a full privacy impact assessment with the introduction of any copyright reform bill;
  2. any proposed anti-circumvention provisions will create no negative privacy impact; and
  3. any proposed copyright reforms will include pro-active privacy protections that, for example, enshrine the rights of Canadians to access and enjoy copyright works anonymously and in private.

Notably, several of Canada's privacy commissioners have lent their support to the open letter. 

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May 17, 2006 2 comments News

Angus on Copyright

Charlie Angus, the NDP's Canadian Heritage critic, has published a terrific piece on copyright reform and its broader consequences.  Must reading for politicians from all political parties seeking to better understand the context behind the copyright reform debate.  

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May 17, 2006 Comments are Disabled News

Copy/South

The Copy/South Research Group has produced a fascinating dossier on copyright concerns in the developing world that crystallizes many of the concerns in the south and north.

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May 17, 2006 Comments are Disabled News

CRTC Radio Review Needs to Dial In New Frequency

My weekly LawBytes column (Toronto Star version, homepage version) focuses on the CRTC's Commercial Radio Review.  I argue that missing from the debate is any real vision about how public policy goals to promote Canadian artists and encourage a diverse, financially successful commercial radio market can be adapted to an […]

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May 15, 2006 5 comments Columns

Soccer Broadcaster Offside With Demands

Soccer fans around the world are anxiously anticipating this summer's FIFA World Cup.  FIFA's broadcast partner, Infront Sports and Media, is apparently looking ahead to the World Cup for a different reason.  With the exclusive broadcast rights in hand, Infront's lawyers are sending pre-emptive notice and takedown notifications to Internet service providers.  One Canadian ISP has received a letter from Baker & McKenzie, the Infront's Canadian counsel, in which the firm notes the potential for the posting of unauthorized clips or images from the games and demands:

"Should your service be used for the purpose of such unlawful activities we will alert you as a matter of urgency and trust you will assist in taking down any infringing material so you can avoid any joint liability for such infringements, as well as assisting us in identifying the infringers."

While the World Cup is an important sports event, is it really so important that its rights holders and their lawyers believe that Canadian law doesn't apply to them?   At least three issues come to mind.

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May 11, 2006 3 comments News