Digital Copyright Canada

There are now only 5 days left to make your voice heard on this critically important issue. In recent years two different governments tabled copyright bills: the Liberal Bill C-60 on June 20, 2005 and the Conservative Bill C-61 on June 12, 2008. (Note: Similar numbers only coincidence). When looking at these bills, both of which died on the order paper, you will notice that the majority of the bills dealt with ratifying two treaties Canada signed in 1996. We must look at these treaties to understanding what will likely form the bulk of the next copyright bill.

>>> Read full article on IT World Canada's blog.

Economist Joseph Potvin weighs in on Bill C-61 (html, pdf)

Excerpt:

Bill C-61 was tabled in the Canadian Parliament on 12 June 2008 to ammend the Copyright Act. The methods implemented in the Bill would, if passed by Parliament, have pivotal impacts on the basic legal and competitive business environment for the software and hardware sectors generally. To date, primary attention in government, media and public discussion has been directed to the Bill's objectives and potential outcomes in relation to music, movies, and performances, as well as in relation to changing the SIM cards in cell phones. The impacts upon other sectors have not been widely considered. The purpose of this present brief is to outline the general implications of Bill C-61 for producers and users of software and hardware.

Rafael Ruffolo speculates for ComputerWorld Canada whether Bill C-61 and Copyright played a roll in the election.

I was on CJSF radio this evening on the show HiSciFi (Audio archive available this week online). The host Irma Arkus called me for the latter half of the show to discuss C-61, its origins, and what the various parties are thinking about Copyright during this election.

Major oops on my part not to mention the Green Party who is more of a factor in BC, and who also have a very modern view of technology law and copyright. I spoke about how I am excited to see what happens in Vancouver Center, with my rooting for Michael Byers who has a modern view of tech/copyright and against incumbent Hedy Fry who has been a bit of an old-economy wild-card. I also spoke about the CRIA candidate Dan McTeague in Pickering - Scarborough East (Ontario), and my hope that he won't be in the committee that studies copyright (either not elected, or not put in by Liberals).

Irma was already very well aware of the statements that the Conservatives have made, actually dedicating part of their platform to reintroducing the "made worse in Canada" C-61. Threat made, threat kept!

Waterloo Public Interest Research Group (WPIRG) and the Waterloo Students for the Information Commons (WSIC) are hosting me for a talk on Bill C-61 and Copyright Law in Canada this Wednesday, October 1. See details via communityevents.ca, Facebook, YaHoo.

The slides and recording of the talk are available online.

Kempton advertised a debate on September 30, 2008 in Calgary Centre-North, riding for Industry Minister Jim Prentice who tabled the anti-technology Bill C-61.

A blog article by Kate Scroggins for Carleton University's School of Journalism and Communication talks about Bill C-61 and the election.

For his part, Michael Geist is calling on people to get their candidates to take The Copyright Pledge - 2008 Election Edition.

Michael Geist has created an article that links to all 61 of his articles about needed reforms to the Conservative Bill C-61.

Bruno Godin (constituent in Vancouver Center) posted to the Vancouver Fair Copyright discussion list the text of an election mail out from incumbent Hedy Fry.

C-61: Copyright

Bill C-61, the Conservative government's Copyright Bill was recently tabled in Parliament.  In principle, this bill is necessary: Canada is signatory to World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) treaties, but lags behind other industrialised nations in domestic copyright protection laws.  However, as it stands, C-61 is seriously flawed.  Copyright legislation should balance creators' rights to fair reimbursement for intellectual property and consumer's need to have timely access to creative works.  In the digital age, this brings a new and complex challenge.

The minutes and transcript from the special August 26, 2008 to "discuss the recent cancelling of federal cultural financial assistance programs" are online.

This meeting was held when everyone pretty much knew an election would be called. This should be read as an election debate on federal government funding of cultural programs from some key politicians running for re-election. While Copyright wasn't on the agenda, it did get discussed.