James Gannon had a post last week which was rather honest about the purpose of DRM protection in copyright law. It is all about supporting the business model that the incumbent industries want to adopt.

Unlike some Ministers of her Majesty's government, I am genuinely interested in understanding the perspective of those in this debate whom I disagree with.

Michael Geist has a timely article in the Star today discussing cell phone locking to cellular networks. The current copyright bill (C-32) makes a specific exception within its DRM provisions for allowing subscribers to unlock their cell phones for the purpose of switching network provider.

I had a conversation last night with a friend who is on our towns library board. The board had their final meeting before the summer break, and the issue of copyright never came up. [sigh] Aside from this all being part of the government's plan to keep this legislation as low key as possible, this library board is woefully ignorant of copyright issues. To help rectify that I am doing a little bit of research into copyright from the libraries perspective which we can hopefully provide to the board in time for them to make their own statement.

I read this article in Wired today. What blew me away most about it had nothing to do with yet-another-round-of-legal-shenanigans that the article was about. Rather, it was the quoted 30 million unique users per month that ISOHunt.com enjoys.

Well, in light of yesterday's new copyright Bill, it looks like it is time to start becoming active again. Below is the letter I drafted this morning to my MP.

If we are to have any chance of effecting real change to this bill, or killing it if change is not possible, then we must be vocal with our MPs and let them know how unhappy we are with it.

With Bill C-61 there was enough vocal opposition to it that it was delayed many months in the house until the government was finally prorogued. We must be able to do this again.

From today's Globe and Mail.

“Significant international discussions on Arctic issues should include those who have legitimate interests in the region,” the U.S. Secretary of State said.

Ms. Clinton apparently believed strongly enough, that all parties with vested interests should be included in the discussion, that she did not come to the conference.

Today's globe and mail has an editorial on Bill C-61 which is critical of the bill, but not nearly critical enough. Here is the reply I sent to the editor. I could have said much much more, but the likelihood of being printed and the length of the submission has a very strong inverse relationship.

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Catherine Ford at the Calgary Herald today struck upon what I consider to be the biggest negative aspect of this bill that everyone can easily relate to, and it will explicitly criminalize the vast majority of all Canadians.

She said: "There are at least 400 movies and an uncountable number of television shows on about 200 VHS tapes stored in my den. ... Should the amendment to Canada's copyright law pass without change, I will apparently be branded a thief"

Over at Creators Copyright of Canada, they appear to be keeping score of how their membership is responding to the introduction of bill C-61.

So far there are four member organizations listed on the blog. ACTRA and the Writers guild have only supported the principle of copyright reform without commenting on bill C-61 specifically.

The songwriters have come out opposed and the Federation of Musicians are supportive.

Here is a list of all the common and socially acceptable activities which will become illegal under this legislations

Definitely Illegal

Television Recording (when 'NO COPY' broadcast flag is set)

The Bill pretends to give fair use rights to time shift tv viewing 29.23(1), however the TPM clauses take precedence 29.23(1)(b). Therefore all the broadcasters need to do to take this right away is to set the 'NO COPY' flag in the digital broadcasts. They have absolutely no motivation not to do this, any plenty of motivation to do it. So expect it.