Harvard professor Yochai Benkler recently delivered an exceptional talk examining how the SOPA and ACTA protests unfolded. The talk highlights the role of online new sources and the rapidly changing key players in raising awareness or generating protest activity. The Guardian: Blueprint for Democratic Participation from The Guardian and The […]
Fair Dealing by Giulia Forsythe (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) https://flic.kr/p/dRkXwP
Copyright
Something for Nothing: The Non-Existent Benefit of Linking in the Access Copyright Deal
any reproduction, in any material form whatever, including a Digital Copy, that is made by or as a consequence of any of the following activities
(k) posting a link or hyperlink to a Digital Copy.
Critics argue that this provision gives the AUCC no value as there is simply no need to license such activities. The inclusion of the provision means students will be paying something – there must some notional part of the $26 annual fee that covers this section – for nothing. Supporters of the deal, including AUCC, claim otherwise. Indeed, the AUCC FAQ has two questions and answers on point:
Stop Being Poor: U.S. Piracy Watch List Hits A New Low With 2012 Report
The inclusion of Canada on the priority watch list is so lacking in objective analysis as to completely undermine the credibility of the report. The Canadian “analysis” amounts to 173 words that hits on the usual dubious complaints (and given criticism of countries such as Chile for their notice-and-notice system, Israel for their statutory damages rules, and many countries on border enforcement, the Canadian criticism will clearly not end with the enactment of Bill C-11). By comparison, China is treated as equivalent to Canada on the priority watch list, yet garners over 4,600 words.
Earlier this year, I completed a submission with Public Knowledge to the USTR Special 301 process that examined current Canadian law as well as Bill C-11. It concluded:
Search Engine on the Access Copyright – AUCC Agreement
TVO’s Search Engine spoke with me this week on the Access Copyright – AUCC agreement, open access, the implications for education, and the broader copyright implications.
Brazilian Copyright Collectives Indicted for Fraud
Brazil has been hit with a major copyright scandal as 15 directors of a local copyright collective have been indicted for fraud. The Brazilian Senate has proposed changes to the legal regulation of copyright collectives wth an emphasis on increased transparency.
Recent Posts
When the Drumbeat of Intolerance Becomes Too Loud to Ignore: Reflections on Campus Antisemitism, Academic Freedom and My Global Technology Law Exchange Course 
Solomon’s Choice: Charting the Future of AI Policy in Canada 
The Law Bytes Podcast, Episode 232: What Will Canadian Digital Policy Look Like Under the New Liberal Carney Government? 
The Law Bytes Podcast, Episode 231: Sara Bannerman on How Canadian Political Parties Maximize Voter Data Collection and Minimize Privacy Safeguards 
The Law Bytes Podcast, Episode 230: Aengus Bridgman on the 2025 Federal Election, Social Media Platforms, and Misinformation
