Post Tagged with: "copyright"

The Battle Over Internet Filtering

Earlier this week I attended a seminar in Brussels on the "telecoms package" currently before the European Parliament [partial video]. One of the most controversial elements in the package are the prospect for mandated ISP filtering or blocking of allegedly copyright infringing materials. Those requirements would build on other national and international developments including the still-secret Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement and the "three strikes and you're out" policies ("graduated response") in some European countries.

The seminar was illuminating since all of the most vocal stakeholders were in attendance (either as part of the panel or in the audience) and most were pretty transparent about their interests in the issue. I walked away with the following scorecard:

August 29, 2008 — 14 comments — News

61 Reforms to C-61, Day 49: Education Harms – Lessons May Require DRM

The conditions attached to the lesson provisions do not end with destroying lessons that use the exemption at the conclusion of the course. There are two provisions that would appear to encourage (or possibly even require) the use of digital rights management to control the further distribution of these lessons. […]

August 28, 2008 — 11 comments — News

61 Reforms to C-61, Day 48: Education Harms – Lessons Must Be Destroyed After the Course

In addition to the prospect of new liability, the lesson provisions include a series of draconian conditions that undermine rather than facilitate education. For example, Section 30(5)(a) provides that the education institution is required to: destroy any fixation of the lesson within 30 days after the day on which the […]

August 27, 2008 — 13 comments — News

61 Reforms to C-61, Day 47: Education Harms – Lessons Include Special Infringement Provision

The new lesson provisions are extremely limited, yet they come with an astonishing number of conditions and limitations. In fact, Bill C-61 includes a special new infringement provision specifically for lessons. Under the bill: It is an infringement of copyright for any person to do any of the following acts […]

August 26, 2008 — 5 comments — News

61 Reforms to C-61, Day 46: Education Harms – Lesson Provisions Only Extend To Limited Exceptions

With the school year set to resume in just over a week, the 61 reforms series turns to the education concerns associated with Bill C-61. Statistics Canada confirmed last fall that the Internet is changing the face of Canadian education by altering the ways students conduct their research or participate in distance learning. This is particularly true for students from rural or small-town communities, who increasingly depend on the Internet for electronic distance learning. Many in the education community have reacted with alarm at C-61 including the Canadian Association of University Teachers, the Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences, and the Canadian Federation of Students. Moreover, University executives are beginning to speak out as well – Athabasca University Vice-President of Research Rory McGreal recently published an op-ed that warned that "the proposed new Bill C-61 will have profound negative effects on researchers and educators as well as the general public."

A particular sore point is the bill's treatment of "lessons." While the provisions purport to provide the education community with new rights to faciliate distance learning, these provisions are stunningly arcane and practically worthless.

August 25, 2008 — 9 comments — News