Post Tagged with: "c-61"

The First Week of the Fight Against Bill C-61

It has now been one week since Industry Minister Jim Prentice unveiled Bill C-61.  While the bill yielded the predictable voices of immediate support from lobby groups anxious to import the DMCA to Canada, it did not take long for the government's communication strategy to go off-the-rails (a none-too-impressive performance by Prentice at the press conference did not help).  By virtually any standard, it has not been a good week for a minister who is often described in glowing terms as future leadership material.  The media coverage has nearly universally criticized the legislation. A sampling of masthead editorials include:

Further, the online anger has surely exceeded the Minister's expectations:

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June 19, 2008 19 comments News

The First Week of the Fight Against Bill C-61

It has now been one week since Industry Minister Jim Prentice unveiled Bill C-61.  While the bill yielded the predictable voices of immediate support from lobby groups anxious to import the DMCA to Canada, it did not take long for the government's communication strategy to go off-the-rails (a none-too-impressive performance by Prentice at the press conference did not help).  By virtually any standard, it has not been a good week for a minister who is often described in glowing terms as future leadership material.  The media coverage has nearly universally criticized the legislation. A sampling of masthead editorials include:

Further, the online anger has surely exceeded the Minister's expectations:

Read more ›

June 19, 2008 Comments are Disabled Stop CDMCA

Vancouver Sun, Ottawa Citizen Slam Canadian DMCA

Two of Canada's leading papers have issued masthead editorials critical of the Canadian DMCA. The Vancouver Sun doesn't pull any punches in its review of Bill C-61:

the amendments are draconian. While Prentice attempted to sell them as a balance between the rights of content creators and consumers, it's clear that consumers – and in many cases, creators – can only lose should the new regime become law.

The editorial concludes:

The fact that the bill relies on the American method is not just a coincidence, either, as it is almost entirely the result of the intense pressure U.S. authorities placed on Ottawa. In contrast, there was precious little public consultation during drafting of the proposed law. Prentice claims that the bill is a "win-win," though it's not entirely clear who will win. What is clear is that if the bill becomes law, all consumers, and many content creators, are destined to lose.

The Ottawa Citizen, meanwhile, laments that "enforcement will be difficult, if not impossible, and it will limit uses of digital material that have nothing to do with piracy."  It concludes that:

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June 19, 2008 6 comments News

Vancouver Sun, Ottawa Citizen Slam Canadian DMCA

Two of Canada's leading papers have issued masthead editorials critical of the Canadian DMCA. The Vancouver Sun doesn't pull any punches in its review of Bill C-61:

the amendments are draconian. While Prentice attempted to sell them as a balance between the rights of content creators and consumers, it's clear that consumers – and in many cases, creators – can only lose should the new regime become law.

The editorial concludes:

The fact that the bill relies on the American method is not just a coincidence, either, as it is almost entirely the result of the intense pressure U.S. authorities placed on Ottawa. In contrast, there was precious little public consultation during drafting of the proposed law. Prentice claims that the bill is a "win-win," though it's not entirely clear who will win. What is clear is that if the bill becomes law, all consumers, and many content creators, are destined to lose.

The Ottawa Citizen, meanwhile, laments that "enforcement will be difficult, if not impossible, and it will limit uses of digital material that have nothing to do with piracy."  It concludes that:

Read more ›

June 19, 2008 Comments are Disabled Stop CDMCA

U.S. Consul-General Claims Canadian Copyright Weakest in G-8

The U.S. may have gotten its Canadian copyright bill, but that hasn't stopped officials from continuing their campaign of unjustifiably slamming Canadian law.  This week U.S. Consul-General Lewis Lukens told a conference audience that "Canada's current [intellectual property rights] protection may well be the weakest of any G-8 country, partly […]

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June 19, 2008 7 comments News