By Neal Jennings (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

Digital Economy

The Daily Digital Lock Dissenter, Day 45: Digital Security Coalition

The Digital Security Coalition was a coalition of leading Canadian digital security companies. The coalition’s mandate was to advocate on behalf of its members and of all Canadians for sound public policies and laws affecting digital security technologies. Members included AEPOS Technologies Corporation, Black Arts Illuminated Inc., Bob Young, Borderware Technologies Inc., Bridon Security & Training Services, Certicom Corp., CMS Consulting Inc., Digital Defence Inc., Elytra Enterprises Inc., Innusec Inc., Klocwork Inc., Priosec, Q1 Labs Inc., Random Knowledge Inc., Borderware Technologies, Rigel Kent Security and Advisory Services, Security Objectives, Technical Security & Intelligence, Titus Labs Inc. Third Brigade Ltd., and VE Networks Inc. The organization’s 2009 national copyright consultation submission included the following on digital locks:

Anti-circumvention rules should not apply in non-infringing circumstances, so they do not inadvertently impede ongoing research and innovation. The risk is in harming emerging Canadian digital security companies, and putting a “liability chill” on research in this area.

December 6, 2011 — Comments are Disabled — News

Digital Economy Strategy has Become the Federal Government’s “Penske File”

Later today, Industry Minister Christian Paradis will deliver a speech that will provide an update on the government’s digital economy strategy. The speech is likely to point to the recently launched Digital Technology Adoption Pilot Program, talk about moving forward with copyright and privacy legislation, describe work on spectrum, and indicate that a decision has still not been made on the removal of foreign investment restrictions. In other words, basically repackage several earlier speeches on the same issue.

My weekly technology law column (Toronto Star version, homepage version) focuses on the lack of movement on the digital economy strategy, arguing that it has emerged as the government’s “Penske File”- the source of considerable discussion and much “work” but thus far few tangible results (for non-Seinfeld watchers, the Penske file has become synonymous for a non-existent work project).

November 29, 2011 — 10 comments — Columns

Digital Economy Strategy Has Become Government’s “Penske File”

Appeared in the Toronto Star on November 27, 2011 as Digital Economy Strategy has Become Federal Government’s “Penske File” Earlier this month, Industry Minister Christian Paradis held a press conference to launch the Digital Technology Adoption Pilot Program, which will provide $80 million to small and medium sized businesses to […]

November 28, 2011 — 1 comment — Columns Archive

Canada’s National Digital Strategy: Hidden in Plain Sight

Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of delivering a keynote address at the Cybera Summit in Banff, Alberta. The conference focused on a wide range of cutting edge technology and network issues. My opening keynote discussed Canada digital economy legal strategy. While the formal digital strategy has yet to be revealed, I argued that the digital economy legal strategy is largely set with legislative plans touching on lawful access, privacy, online marketing, and copyright.

October 25, 2011 — 6 comments — Conferences, Keynote Speaking, Video

Is the Digital Economy Strategy Dead?

Industry Minister Christian Paradis gave a speech today at the Wireless Canada Technology Showcase. The talk included references to forthcoming copyright reform, the reintroduction of privacy reforms (formerly Bill C-29), and plans to move forward with spectrum auctions. It also talks about the importance of the digital economy and digital […]

September 20, 2011 — 7 comments — News