Wiertz Sebastien - Privacy by Sebastien Wiertz (CC BY 2.0) https://flic.kr/p/ahk6nh

Wiertz Sebastien - Privacy by Sebastien Wiertz (CC BY 2.0) https://flic.kr/p/ahk6nh

Privacy

The Canadian DMCA: A Summary To-Date

As the likelihood of the introduction of a Canadian DMCA increases, I've received a large number of requests for a brief summary the issue and the mounting concerns.  This is not easy given copyright's complexity, but it is important to ensure that more Canadians better understand the issue. 

My short version would be that there is concern with what the bill is likely to contain (modeled after the U.S. DMCA which has had a negative effect on innovation, privacy, education, and research), what it is unlikely to contain (nothing on fair dealing, time shifting, device shifting, the private copying levy), and how it came about (no public consultation, strong-armed pressure from the U.S.).  As for what reforms we should have, I think my eight Fair Copyright for Canada principles are balanced and meet the goal of complying with the WIPO treaties.

For those that want to dive a bit deeper, I'd recommend the following five posts:

Want to get involved?  Here is my list of 30 things you can do, which includes joining the national Fair Copyright for Canada Facebook group and a local chapter.  Copyright for Canadians has even more comprehensive list.

Want to dig even deeper? 

Read more ›

January 28, 2008 12 comments News

The Canadian DMCA: A Summary To-Date

As the likelihood of the introduction of a Canadian DMCA increases, I've received a large number of requests for a brief summary the issue and the mounting concerns.  This is not easy given copyright's complexity, but it is important to ensure that more Canadians better understand the issue. 

My short version would be that there is concern with what the bill is likely to contain (modeled after the U.S. DMCA which has had a negative effect on innovation, privacy, education, and research), what it is unlikely to contain (nothing on fair dealing, time shifting, device shifting, the private copying levy), and how it came about (no public consultation, strong-armed pressure from the U.S.).  As for what reforms we should have, I think my eight Fair Copyright for Canada principles are balanced and meet the goal of complying with the WIPO treaties.

For those that want to dive a bit deeper, I'd recommend the following five posts:

Want to get involved?  Here is my list of 30 things you can do, which includes joining the national Fair Copyright for Canada Facebook group and a local chapter.  Copyright for Canadians has even more comprehensive list.

Want to dig even deeper? 

Read more ›

January 28, 2008 Comments are Disabled Stop CDMCA

Privacy Coalition Warns on Copyright Reform

Following on Privacy Commissioner of Canada Jennifer Stoddart's public letter warning against weakening privacy through copyright reform, a broad coalition of privacy, education, civil liberties groups, and academics have signed a public letter raising similar concerns (I am a signatory).

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January 25, 2008 Comments are Disabled News

Two Copyright Columns To Start the Week

I have two copyright-related columns out this morning.  The first, Fair Copyright Provides Prentice With Reform Roadmap, appears in the Hill Times (HT version, homepage version).  The column raises the same fair copyright proposals that I posted last week.  The second,  Copyright Reform a Potential Threat to Privacy, is my […]

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January 21, 2008 1 comment Columns

Privacy Commissioner Warns Against Copyright Reform’s Threat to Privacy

Appeared in the Toronto Star on January 21, 2008 as Copyright Reform a Potential Threat to Privacy As Canada's top privacy watchdog, Privacy Commissioner of Canada Jennifer Stoddart regularly appears before House of Commons committee hearings to identify the privacy implications of government bills.  Late last week, Stoddart went one […]

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January 21, 2008 Comments are Disabled Columns Archive