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Copyright

Bill C-11 Committee Timeline Set

The Bill C-11 committee reviewing the copyright reform bill met for the first time yesterday and set out a fast-paced plan to conclude review of the bill. The committee will meet for 12 hours per week – four times a week for three hours each – until mid-March. It will […]

February 15, 2012 — 9 comments — News

Deadline Day To Speak Out on TPP’s Copyright Term Extension

While many will be focused on the return of lawful access, today is also the deadline for submissions to the government’s public consultation on Canadian entry into the Trans Pacific Partnership negotiations. As I noted in earlier posts (here, here, here, and here), the TPP would have enormous implications for Canadian copyright law – the Globe’s John Ibbitson described as surrendering Canadian copyright sovereignty – as it would require stricter digital lock rules, extend the term of copyright, and mandate new Internet provider liability provisions.

I’ve posted my submission, which includes comments on the lack of transparency with the TPP negotiations, digital locks, Internet provider liability, and copyright term, below. Another submission focused on the public domain comes from Dr. Mark Akrigg, Founder, Project Gutenberg Canada.

February 14, 2012 — 3 comments — News

Bill C-11 and the Hazards of Digital Lock Provisions

The Electronic Frontier Foundation has a pair of excellent posts on Bill C-11 and the dangers of the digital lock rules. The first focuses specifically on digital lock rules and the second on U.S. pressure on Canadian copyright reform.

February 13, 2012 — 1 comment — News

Canadian Media Coverage Of Mounting C-11 Protests

The Canadian media has picked up on the mounting protests over part of Bill C-11. Recent coverage includes the Vancouver Sun, Straight.com, and Radio-Canada.

February 13, 2012 — Comments are Disabled — News

Can You Hear Us Now?

The second reading debate on Bill C-11 will conclude today with the bill headed to committee for further hearings and possible amendment. Yesterday, the Globe published an opinion piece by Peter Nowak that juxtaposes the widespread consultation on copyright reform in Canada with digital lock provisions that “wilfully ignores” public opinion. Nowak notes how the U.S. ultimately responded to public concern in stopping SOPA, while the same appears to be happening in Europe as protests over the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement continue to grow (there are continent-wide protests planned for February 11th).

One of my posts this week focused on concerns that Industry Minister Christian Paradis has said he cannot speculate on how Bill C-11’s digital lock rules will be enforced. The post identifies numerous examples of how the rules could harm creators, students, researchers, consumers, and even the visually impaired (further background information on Bill C-11 here and here). Yet these concerns are not new and have been raised for several years. Indeed, it is instructive to see how the public concern over the digital lock rules and now possible inclusion of SOPA-style amendments has mushroomed over the years.

February 10, 2012 — 46 comments — News