My regular Law Bytes column (freely available hyperlinked version; Toronto Star version, homepage version) features the second part of an examination of the recent Canadian Federal Court of Appeal decision involving the recording industry's attempt to identify 29 alleged file sharers. After considering the privacy issues last week, this column moves to the copyright implications by considering three questions: can the Canadian recording industry sue file sharers? Can it win such suits? And what legal reverberations might ensue if it does win?
Latest Posts
Debating Domain Names
It is not often that Members of Parliament engage in debates on domain name policies so yesterday’s extended debate in the House of Commons is worth noting.
The impetus for the debate is the registration by an opponent of same sex marriage legislation of domain names bearing the name of MPs who favour the legislation. The sites are pretty deceptive. For example, the Don Boudria site looks like it could be the MP’s official site with only a disclaimer that it is not the official site.
The legal response to this issue is pretty complex. CIRA’s domain name dispute resolution policy is expressly designed to protect good faith criticism sites. That provision was adopted out of concern for the impact under the ICANN UDRP which has seen many legitimate criticism sites transferred under the questionable claims of cybersquatting.
Shaw Charging for VoIP Quality of Service Enhancement
Mark Evans of the National Post reports this morning (subscription required) that Primus says that its VoIP offering has been subject to spotty service from Shaw, a leading cable provider in B.C. and Alberta.
File Sharing Decision States the Case For Privacy
My regular Law Bytes column (free hyperlinked version, Toronto Star version homepage version) is the first of a two-part look at the recent Federal Court of Appeal decision involving CRIA's attempt to identify 29 alleged file sharers.
What Part of Do-Not-Call Does the Government Not Understand?
So begins Tyler Hamilton’s devastating article in the Toronto Star on the current state of Canadian do-not-call legislation. Hamilton paints a bleak picture of legislation designed to protect consumers that is being slowly eviscerated by lobbying pressure from charitable groups and the Canadian Marketing Association.
Recent Posts
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 
AI Spending is Not an AI Strategy: Why the Government’s Artificial Intelligence Plan Avoids the Hard Governance Questions 
The Law Bytes Podcast, Episode 198: Richard Moon on the Return of the Section 13 Hate Speech Provision in the Online Harms Act 
Tweets Are Not Enough: Why Combatting Relentless Antisemitism in Canada Requires Real Leadership and Action
