Michael Geist

This week’s Hill Times features an op-ed by Sara Bannerman that explores the Canadian history of fighting for independent copyright policies.  Bannerman notes that Bill C-32 “is more like a Canadian version of the American Digital Millennium Copyright Act than a made-in-Canada solution to copyright in the digital age.” Bannerman’s piece is adapted from her chapter in From “Radical Extremism” to “Balanced Copyright”: Canadian Copyright and the Digital Agenda and is one of several pieces that provide much-needed historical context to the current round of reforms.

Bannerman’s article notes that virtually from the moment of confederation, Canada has grappled with contentious copyright reform issues.  Reform efforts have invariably come as a response to international pressures, with the United Kingdom exerting significant influence over the early attempts to craft a genuine made-in-Canada copyright law.  Bannerman also places the spotlight on the challenges Canada has faced with international copyright treaties, with attitudes that have ranged from outright rejection to strong support.

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