Post Tagged with: "copyright"

Taking User Rights Seriously: Two Weeks That Changed Canadian Copyright Law

I delivered a keynote speech titled Taking User Rights Seriously: The Two Weeks That Changed Canadian Copyright as part of the 3^rd Global Congress on IP and the Public Interest at the University of Cape Town.

Two weeks changed Canadian copyright for the foreseeable future. In a single day, the Supreme Court of Canada’ ruled on five copyright cases. This was just weeks after the Canadian government passed long-awaited copyright reform legislation. This talk examines the decade-long process that resulted in a seismic shift in Canadian copyright law toward user rights.

December 11, 2013 — Comments are Disabled — Conferences, Keynote Speaking, Video

Inside the Fight for Digital Rights in Canada

I presented the closing keynote address at the Parkland Institutes 17th Annual Conference: Facts, Fictions and Truth. In recent years, the fight over digital rights, including online privacy, digital copyright, internet surveillance, and fair access, has captured the attention of a growing number of Canadians. I examined the emerging digital rights movement in Canada and its close connection to freedom of speech and privacy.

November 23, 2013 — Comments are Disabled — Conferences, Video

Leaked TPP Text Confirms Countries Had Plenty to Hide

The Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement, a massive proposed trade deal that includes Canada, the United States, Australia, Mexico, Malaysia, Singapore, New Zealand, Vietnam, Japan, Peru, and Chile, has long been the target of criticism owing to the veil of secrecy associated with the draft text. While negotiations have been ongoing for several years, participating countries have steadfastly refused to release the working text that addresses everything from agriculture to copyright, claiming that trade talks must be conducted behind closed doors.

Last week, Wikileaks released a leaked version of the intellectual property chapter, which confirmed that the U.S. hopes to use the agreement to export extreme intellectual property provisions that are out-of-step with international norms. Indeed, the 95-page document validates fears that the real reason for the TPP secrecy is that the negotiating countries have plenty to hide.

My weekly technology law column (Toronto Star version, homepage version) notes that while many of the leaked proposals are cause for concern, the good news is that Canada often finds itself opposing some of the most draconian demands with negotiators promoting Canadian law as a suitable alternative.

November 19, 2013 — 5 comments — Columns

Leaked TPP Text Confirms Countries Had Plenty to Hide

Appeared in the Toronto Star on November 16, 2013 as Leaked Document Provides Much-Needed Sunlight on Trade Talks The Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement, a massive proposed trade deal that includes Canada, the United States, Australia, Mexico, Malaysia, Singapore, New Zealand, Vietnam, Japan, Peru, and Chile, has long been the target […]

November 19, 2013 — Comments are Disabled — Columns Archive

The Trans Pacific Partnership IP Chapter Leaks: The Battle Over Internet Service Provider Liability

The leak of the Trans Pacific Partnership intellectual property chapter generated global coverage as full access to the proposed text provided a wake-up call on U.S. demands and the clear opposition from many TPP countries. My first post highlighted Canada’s opposition to many U.S. proposals, but nowhere is that more evident than in the section on Internet service provider liability. In fact, ISP liability in the TPP is shaping up to be a battle between Canada and the U.S., with countries lining up either in favour of a general notification obligation (Canada) or a notice-and-takedown system with the prospect of terminating subscriber Internet access and content blocking (U.S.).

November 14, 2013 — 14 comments — News