Post Tagged with: "copyright"

ACTA Meeting Next Week: U.S. & EU Talk to Work Out Divide

Inside US Trade has an update on the ACTA negotiations that confirm many of the recent reports on a divide between the U.S. and the EU. The article quotes an industry source as saying the other ACTA participants encouraged the discussion on issues such as geographical indications since “countries feared […]

August 11, 2010 — 2 comments — News

C-32’s Fair Dealing Fears Greatly Exaggerated – Hill Times Edition

This week’s Hill Times includes my op-ed on the recent Access Copyright win at the Federal Court of Appeal and how the decision demonstrates that fears about fair dealing reform in Bill C-32 are greatly exaggerated. Text of the op-ed below.

The introduction of long-awaited copyright reform legislation has generated considerable discussion among Canadians about whether the latest bill strikes the right balance. While concern over Bill C-32’s digital lock rules has garnered the lion share of attention with expressions of concern from all opposition parties and a wide range of stakeholders, the other major issue in the bill is the extension of fair dealing – Canada’s version of fair use – to cover education, parody, and satire.

August 6, 2010 — 3 comments — Columns

Access to Knowledge in Africa: The Role of Copyright

My colleague Jeremy deBeer is one of several researchers who has edited a new volume that provides a detailed look at the role of copyright on access to knowledge in Africa. The full book is available as a free download.

August 6, 2010 — Comments are Disabled — News

SAC Renews Calls for Legalized Downloading With Levies

The SAC’s Eddie Schwartz has an op-ed in the Straight, renewing the call for the legalization of downloading in return for a monthly ISP levy.

August 4, 2010 — 2 comments — News

U.S. Move to Pick Digital Locks Leaves Canadians Locked Out

My weekly technology law column (Toronto Star version, homepage version) picks up on last week’s DMCA exemption decision with a contrast to Bill C-32. I note that since its introduction two months ago, the government’s copyright reform package has generated widespread debate over whether it strikes the right balance. The digital lock provisions have been the most contentious aspect of the bill, with critics fearing that anytime a digital lock is used, it would trump virtually all other rights.

Supporters of the C-32 digital lock approach have sought to counter the criticism by arguing that the Canadian provisions simply mirror those found in other countries such as the United States. Yet last week, the U.S. introduced changes to its digital lock rules that leave Canada with one of the most restrictive approaches in the world.

August 3, 2010 — 58 comments — Columns