Michael Geist

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Canada’s Grassroots National Digital Library Takes Shape

Last week, the European Commission released The New Renaissance, an expert report on efforts to digitize Europe’s cultural heritage. My weekly technology law column (Toronto Star version, homepage version) notes that Europe has been particularly aggressive about its digitization efforts, developing Europeana, an online portal currently featuring more than 15 million works of art, books, music, and film, as well as the European Library, which provides access to 24 million pages of full-text scanned by 14 national libraries.

Several European countries have set very ambitious digitization goals. The National Library of the Netherlands has committed to digitizing everything – all Dutch books, newspapers and periodicals dating back to 1470. The National Library of Norway set a similar goal in 2005, setting in motion plans to digitize its entire collection that now includes 170,000 books, 250,000 newspapers, 610,000 hours of radio broadcasts, 200,000 hours of television and 500,000 photographs.

Building on those efforts, the report recommended that public domain works be digitized with public funding and be made freely available for access and re-use. It also called on lawmakers to develop policies to facilitate the digitization of works still subject to copyright protection.

Canada could have attempted something similar years ago by committing to its own national digital library. Library and Archives Canada was given responsibility for the issue but was unable to muster the necessary support for a comprehensive plan. Last year, it published a final report on its national digital information strategy, noting that it â€œbrings to a close LAC’s role as facilitator of the consultations.â€

January 19, 2011 — 2 comments — Columns

The Roadmap to a Compromise on Bill C-32

Yesterday I posted on the urgent need for Canadians to speak out on Bill C-32, with the committee examining the bill inviting email submissions until January 31, 2011. The post included links to several background posts on the bill, digital locks, and fair dealing. A more specific proposal on digital lock reforms can be found here. This week I also have a guest op-ed in the Hill Times (HT version, homepage version) that suggests that the roadmap to a compromise on Bill C-32 can be found among the various policy comments from the political parties late last year.

January 18, 2011 — 10 comments — Columns

CWTA Divided Over Consumer Protection Laws for Wireless Services

Mobilicity, one of the new wireless entrants, has issued a stinging release criticizing the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association over its response to the Manitoba consultation on consumer protection for wireless users. The release includes: “We deeply disagree with the CWTA’s disregard for the need for more consumer protection not only […]

January 18, 2011 — 3 comments — News

Broadcasters Criticize CRTC Plan for Publicizing Digital Transition

Cartt.ca examines (sub required) the broadcaster responses to the CRTC’s plan to publicize the forthcoming broadcast digital transition. CTV argues that the planned public service announcements would result in millions in lost advertising revenue.

January 18, 2011 — 11 comments — News

Speak Out on Copyright: The Bill C-32 Edition

Last month, the Bill C-32 Legislative Committee invited Canadians to provide their views on the bill. The Committee has set the following parameters: In order for briefs on Bill C-32 to be considered by the Committee in a timely fashion, the document should be submitted to the Committee’s mailbox at […]

January 17, 2011 — 19 comments — News