Post Tagged with: "prentice"

Prentice’s Failure to Communicate

Industry Minister Jim Prentice paid a visit to the University of Calgary on Friday to give a lecture at the law school on policy making. In the question and answer period that followed, the majority of questions focused on copyright (Part One, Part Two) [update: The Distant Librarian has posted a video of the full talk and Q&A period]. Prentice's responses provide five important insights:

First, despite the enormous opposition to a Canadian DMCA, Prentice continues to rely on a communication strategy based on tired claims about the WIPO Internet treaties and how copyright is a "framework" law in Canada. A Canadian DMCA will face opposition from consumer groups, education groups, creator groups, and business groups. Prentice is going to have come up with a much better communication strategy to justify a one-sided copyright law.

Second, Prentice will respond to concerns about the lack of consultation by claiming that there has been extensive consultation, pointing to the 2001 public consultation and several Parliamentary committee reports. This claim does not withstand even mild scrutiny.

February 9, 2008 — Comments are Disabled — Stop CDMCA

Angus Issues Three-Step Approach for Effective Copyright Reform

NDP MP Charlie Angus has issued a "three-step approach" for effective copyright legislation. Angus rightly emphasizes the need for further consultation: 1. Live up to the government's commitment to bring the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) treaty to the House of Commons for a vote before introducing new legislation; 2. […]

February 6, 2008 — 2 comments — News

Angus Issues Three-Step Approach for Effective Copyright Reform

February 6, 2008 — Comments are Disabled — Stop CDMCA

Prentice Backtracks On Treaty Policy

The Hill Times turns itself over to copyright this week with no less than four articles and op-eds on the topic (including one from me revealing a secret meetings between CRIA and the Canadian Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Wilson). The most important of article is a front page, lead […]

February 4, 2008 — 4 comments — News

Is Prentice’s Copyright Bill Born in the U.S.A.?

The Hill Times runs a special op-ed (HT version, homepage version) in which I note that while the influence of the U.S. government in crafting a Canadian version of the U.S. Digital Millennium Copyright Act has been a recurring theme, what has gone largely unnoticed is the role that some Canadian lobby groups have played in quietly encouraging the U.S. to step up the pressure. Indeed, according to documents recently obtained under the Access to Information Act, last spring Canadian Recording Industry Association President Graham Henderson met with Wilkins' counterpart – Canada's Ambassador to the United States Michael Wilson – to encourage him to pressure both governments to prioritize U.S. style copyright reforms.

February 4, 2008 — Comments are Disabled — Columns