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Internet Age Advice for the CBC

My weekly Law Bytes column (Toronto Star version, freely available version) reflects on the current debate on the future of the CBC and public broadcasting in Canada. I argue that missing from much of the dialogue has been the recognition that technology and the Internet may provide the CBC with […]

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October 30, 2005 Comments are Disabled Columns

On the Legislative Front

For those not closely tracking Hansard and government releases, there have been some noteworthy developments and non-developments in recent days.  Bill C-37, the do-not-call bill, is racing through the Senate.  The bill is already at second reading with some commentary from the Senators.  No word on whether additional hearings on […]

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October 28, 2005 Comments are Disabled News

The Real Story Behind Statscan’s Recording Industry Numbers

Statistics Canada is out today with a report on the state of the recording industry.  The news is not good as the government' s statistics agency reports that the Canadian recording industry experienced its worst performance in six years in 2003. While this is old news – similar numbers have […]

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October 26, 2005 2 comments News

Corus on the Cost of Copyright

Earlier this month I blogged about a Copyright Board decision on commercial radio royalty rates that represented a big win for the collectives and a big loss for commercial radio stations.  How big?  Today Corus Entertainment, one of Canada's leading radio networks, announced that the new royalty rates will cost […]

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October 25, 2005 2 comments News

Do-Not-Call Bill Passes With Newspaper Exception

The House of Commons yesterday passed Bill C-37, the legislation which creates the do-not-call list.  The bill as passed includes the long list of exceptions (polling companies, political parties, charities, prior business relationships) that I've focused on in recent weeks.  Moreover, all parties agreed to a further exception – newspapers […]

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October 25, 2005 2 comments News