Rumours tonight indicate that the government has again decided to delay introducing the Canadian DMCA. With the House of Commons off next week and the budget coming the following week, if this is true it would appear that there will be no copyright legislation for at least another month (assuming […]
Post Tagged with: "copyright"
U.S. Copyright Lobby Complains About Canadian Copyright
The International Intellectual Property Alliance, a U.S.-based copyright lobby group representing the music, movie, and software lobbies, has released its annual list of demands for copyright reforms in dozens of countries around the world. Once again, Canada is in good company. The IIPA targets 51 countries including leading European countries (Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Italy, Greece, Hungary), Asian countries (Japan, South Korea), New Zealand, Israel, and a host of countries in South America and Africa.
On the Canadian front, the IIPA notes that Canada implemented anti-camcording legislation, but it wants more. Much more. Demands include WIPO implementation, clarification of privacy copying, tougher measures on ISPs, and more IP enforcement. The group makes it clear that it wants Canada to move well beyond WIPO implementation by instead following the DMCA model, arguing that Canada "should jettison the approach taken by Bill C-60" which took advantage of the flexibility found in the WIPO treaties. The IIPA report will no doubt play a key role in this year's USTR Special 301 report, which will again claim that Canada lags behind on copyright issues.
Canadian Library Association Launches Copyright Advocacy Kit
The Canadian Library Association has launched a new copyright advocacy kit. The kit includes a good backgrounder on copyright reform, a sample letter for MPs, and some tips for those meeting directly with their elected representatives.
Movie Piracy Stats Dissected
Waxy.org has produced a detailed look at movie piracy, pointing the range of sources for unauthorized copies of major films. While camcord versions are part of the story, the leaks clearly come from many other sources including screener copies and DVD leaks.
Microsoft Misleads on Copyright Reform
The Hill Times this week includes an astonishingly misleading and factually incorrect article on Canadian copyright written by Microsoft. The most egregious error comes in the following paragraph which attempts to demonstrate why Microsoft thinks reform is needed:
Imagine you're an aspiring author who decides to self-publish on the internet in hopes of supporting yourself and catching the eye of a publishing house. Now imagine someone hacks into your website and accesses your work and begins using the ideas expressed in your work for their own commercial benefit. You should be protected, right? In Canada, you are not.
Actually, you are protected.
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