Apple Computer today announced that it plans to offer Canadians who purchased iPods subject to the private copying levy a refund of the levy portion of the purchase price (typically $25 per iPod). No word yet on how they plan to do this, but reports suggest that $4 million in […]

Fair Dealing by Giulia Forsythe (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) https://flic.kr/p/dRkXwP
Copyright
The Failure of Canada’s Private Copying System
Following on CRIA's pledge not to sue consumers who copy their CDs onto iPods or computer hard drives, my regular Law Bytes column (freely available hyperlinked version, Toronto Star version) reflects on the recent decision by the Canadian Supreme Court to let stand a ruling that upheld the legality of […]
The CRIA Pledge
Today's Sunday Star contains an important letter to the editor from Graham Henderson, President of the Canadian Recording Industry Association. Responding to concern that the exculsion of the iPod from the private copying system would lead to liability for Canadians who copy their own CDs to their iPods, Henderson pledges […]
CRIA’s Higher Risk Strategy
Of all the reactions to today's SCC decision to skip the appeal of the private copying decision, I thought the Canadian Recording Industry Association's was the most remarkable. I've obviously commented regularly on its high risk strategy of suing individual file sharers. I think this is a bad strategy for […]
Supreme Court Declines to Hear Private Copying Case
The Canadian Supreme Court this morning dismissed an application to hear an appeal of last December's Federal Court of Appeal decision involving the private copying levy and its application to MP3 players such as the Apple iPod. The decision means that the December decision stands, which affirms the legality of […]


Michael Geist on Substack
Recent Posts
The Law Bytes Podcast, Episode 273: Rebroadcast of the Globe and Mail’s The Decibel on Canada’s First Steps Towards a Social Media Ban
Midnight Madness: The Government Rushes Lawful Access Bill Through the House Without Debate or a Recorded Vote
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back: Bill C-36 Modernizes Canada’s Privacy Law, Then Delays It to 2030
Gary Anandasangaree’s Vic Toews Moment Shows the Government Has Lost Its Way on Lawful Access
Government Moves to Shut Down Lawful Access Hearing In Order To Fast Track Passing the Bill This Week
