Latest Posts

CETA’s Constitutional Problem

My colleague Jeremy deBeer has published an article on the constitutional challenges posed by the intellectual property provisions in the Canada – EU Trade Agreement.

Read more ›

May 1, 2012 Comments are Disabled News

Brazilian Copyright Collectives Indicted for Fraud

Brazil has been hit with a major copyright scandal as 15 directors of a local copyright collective have been indicted for fraud. The Brazilian Senate has proposed changes to the legal regulation of copyright collectives wth an emphasis on increased transparency.

Read more ›

May 1, 2012 Comments are Disabled News

Is the TPP Foundering?

Foreign Policy reports that the Trans Pacific Partnership may be foundering with growing opposition in countries such as Chile and Malaysia as well as exclusion of Canada, Mexico, and Japan.

Read more ›

May 1, 2012 1 comment News

Canada’s Domain Name Agency to the Public: We Don’t Trust You

The Canadian Internet Registration Authority, the non-profit agency charged with managing the dot-ca domain name, has emerged in recent years as an important voice on Internet governance. Backed by a big bank account – CIRA earns millions of dollars each year for maintaining the domain name registry – it has launched an annual Internet governance forum attended by hundreds of Canadians, partnered with various groups to help small businesses establish an online presence, and sponsored many Canadian Internet-related events.

Yet just as CIRA begins to fulfill its potential as an “important public resource” (as described in its mandate letter from the Government of Canada), my weekly technology law column (Toronto Star version, homepage version) notes it has proposed a new governance structure that seeks to sideline the public by limiting the ability to serve on the CIRA board. With more than a million registrants, CIRA is one of Canada’s largest Internet organizations and its message to members is clear: we don’t trust you.

Read more ›

April 30, 2012 11 comments Columns

Government To Shift Do-Not-Call Enforcement Costs to Industry

The government has announced plans to shift the costs of CRTC enforcement of the do-not-call list to industry. The CRTC will conduct a consultation this spring with plans to implement the new structure by next April.

Read more ›

April 30, 2012 3 comments News