John Ibbitson discusses the implications for Canada of joining the Trans Pacific Partnership, noting it would likely include surrendering Canadian sovereignty over copyright law. A reminder that the government is currently consulting on the TPP. Details on the agreement and participating here, here, and here.
Cooperation in the Pacific Rim by Jakob Polacsek, World Economic Forum (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) https://www.flickr.com/photos/worldeconomicforum/48179628441
Digital Trade
ACTA Protests Escalate Throughout Europe
AccessNow is maintaining an excellent map of the protests planned across the continent on February 11th, which has been designated an international day of action against ACTA. The issue has attracted mainstream media attention (eg. New York Times) and questions emerge about the likelihood the treaty will receive the necessary […]
Canadian Pharma: High Prices, Low Research & Development
The Globe’s Jeffrey Simpson has an excellent column on the state of big pharma in Canada, noting that Canadians pay high prices for pharmaceuticals but that big pharma has not met its commitment to devote 10 percent of sales to research and development. Prices would increase further with potential legal […]
Poland Suspends ACTA Ratification
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has announced the country is suspending its ratification of the Anti-Counterfeitint Trade Agreement. The announcement comes following huge protests in cities across the country.
Beyond SOPA: ACTA, WIPO, and the Global Copyfight
Last week, I delivered a keynote address on copyright issues at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg. The talk focused on the activism around SOPA and assessed the global strategies employed by the U.S. and copyright lobby groups of shifting away from WIPO toward closed negotiations such as the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement.
Recent Posts
What Is With This Government and Privacy?: Political Party Privacy Safeguards Removed in “Affordability Measures” Bill 
More Than Just Phone Book Data: Why the Government is Dangerously Misleading on its Warrantless Demands for Internet Subscriber Information 
Privacy At Risk: Government Buries Lawful Access Provisions in New Border Bill 
The Law Bytes Podcast, Episode 234: “Solutions Aren’t Going to be Found Through Nostalgia”: Mark Musselman on the CRTC Hearings on Canadian Content Rules 
Here We Go Again: Internet Age Verification and Website Blocking Bill Reintroduced in the Senate (With Some Changes)
