[d@DCC] Copyright extremists on CBC's The Docket

From: Russell McOrmond <russell _-at-_ flora.ca>
To: EFC Talk <efc-talk (at) efc.ca>, Universal Access Canada <cpi-ua (at) vancouvercommunity.net>
Date: Tue, 25 Feb 2003 18:59:07 -0500 (EST)

(Please forward, and join the debate)

http://weblog.flora.ca/article.php3?story_id=357
(Go to the above link for a fully linked version of this article)

   Copyright extremists on CBC's The Docket

   Want to see how far some of the copyright extremists wish to go? CBC
   did a short documentary on Lesley Ellen Harris who is a copyright
   lawyer on a crusade. She's trying to teach people how to stay on the
   right side of copyright laws.
   
   CBC The Docket on copyright airs on Thursday Sept. 27th on Newsworld,
   at 7:30 pm ET. It is re-broadcast on Sunday March 2nd at 3:30 pm ET.
   
   Along with host Lisa Taylor, 3 guests debate the ideas presented in
   the documentary.
   
     * David Basskin (Toronto) from the Canadian Musical Reproduction
       Rights Agency, and the Canadian Private Copying Collective
       believes that Canada is falling behind the protectionist measures
       promoted by the USA (via WIPO treaties). As a lobbyist for the
       intermediaries, he was able to articulate his perspective well.
       More information on the CPCC can be found via the Canadian
       Coalition for Fair Digital Access (CCFDA).

     * Russell McOrmond (Ottawa) wants to change copyright laws to be on
       the right side of people. He believes that the intermediaries
       (recording and motion picture industry, royalty collectives, and
       related special interests) already have far too much power over
       creators and citizens. He feels it needs to be the delicate
       balance between the interests of creators and citizens that
       copyright should serve, not the interests of intermediaries. For a
       recent article about the CPCC and the CCFDA please read "Content
       industries on slippery slope with demand for blank media levy".

     * Allison Outhit (in Halifax with Lisa) was barely able to get a
       word into the debate as David dominated the discussion. To get an
       idea of her views I recommend searching on-line to find articles
       such as letters she has written to the Canadian Heritage Minister.
       
   If you become enraged by the documentary and discussion, or just want
   to ask more questions, I recommend you go to the website for The
   Docket and join their on-line forum. Some of the guests will be
   participating in that forum to answer questions on-line that weren't
   able to be adequately answered in the debate.

---
 Russell McOrmond, Internet Consultant: <http://www.flora.ca/>
 Any 'hardware assist' for communications, whether it be eye-glasses, 
 VCR's, or personal computers, must be under the control of the citizen 
 and not a third party.   -- http://www.flora.ca/russell/

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