[d@DCC] Proposed amendments to Bill C-60 may create yet another Liberal levy (tax) on the Internet

From: Russell McOrmond <russell _-at-_ flora.ca>
To: Joy Smith <smithj (at) parl.gc.ca>
Cc: General Copyright Discussions <discuss -_at_- list.digital-copyright.ca>
Date: Mon, 10 Oct 2005 17:11:24 -0400 (EDT)

   Dear Mrs. Joy Smith,
   Conservative member of parliament for Kildonan-St. Paul,

   I notice that on September 30'th, and again on October 6'th you asked 
the Minister of Heritage a question about the proposed levy on educational 
use, and likely eventually all use, of the public part of the Internet. 
Both times the Minister tried to deflect your question with 
misinformation.

September 30'th: http://www.howdtheyvote.ca/quotes.php?b=5881#Q34115
October 6'th: http://www.howdtheyvote.ca/quotes.php?b=6037#Q35105

   On September 30th the Minister claimed that, "We want to have material 
available to students, but we also want to protect the rights of those who 
are giving that material".  This is false.  What is being proposed is to 
ignore the rights of those who are Internet literate and use the 
technology appropriately to support a full spectrum of modern business 
models.  The proposal is to levy the Internet to subsidize our competitors 
from Access Copyright. Access Copyright is an administrative body for a 
legacy business model used by the paper-publishing industry that does not 
apply to the Internet.

   On October 6'th the Minister claimed that, "What I am also saying is it 
is not because it is available on the Internet that it is free.".  This is 
also a misrepresentation of the facts.  The part of the Internet that is 
proposed to be levied is the part where no subscription or membership is 
required.  Technically literate authors worldwide have understood since 
the inception of the Internet that where no subscription/membership is 
required for access that no royalty can legitimately be expected.


   The Conservative party has already indicated that it would eliminate the 
controversial Private Copying levy on blank audio recording media.  This 
proposed Internet levy is far worse in that it applies only to the parts 
of the Internet where it is not legitimate to expect royalties, and the 
proceeds of the levy will go entirely to the competitors of those authors 
who are properly using the Internet.

   I would be happy to discuss this further with you.  I am a software and 
non-software literary author who focuses on Internet-era methods of 
production, distribution and funding of creativity.  There are 
considerable opportunities with the Internet to explore a full spectrum of 
competitive methods.  It is very important for the health of this dynamic 
part of the economy that the government not step in and "pick winners" by 
imposing business models.

Thank you.

Russell McOrmond
305 Southcrest Private,
Ottawa, ON
K1V 2B7
Phone: (613) 733-5836
http://www.flora.ca/#contact

Further reading:

4 Letters about Access Copyright (previously CANCOPY) in this week's Hill 
Times.
http://www.digital-copyright.ca/node/1108
- Letters to the editor published in the Hill Times discussing the Access
   Copyright proposal to levy the Internet

Exposing the extremists in the Canadian copyright debate
http://www.digital-copyright.ca/node/1094
- Discusses some background on Access Copyright's lobbying in this area,
   and why the levy is entirely inappropriate.

Freelance journalist Pippa Wysong speaks out about Access Copyright 
lobbying
http://www.digital-copyright.ca/node/1072

Uses and Abuses of Technical Protection Measures (TPMs) 
http://www.digital-copyright.ca/node/1109
  - Article tries to differentiate between the appropriate uses of
    technical measures (passwords, encryption - AKA: digital locks), and
    abuses which have harmful consequences.

-- 
  Russell McOrmond, Internet Consultant: <http://www.flora.ca/>
  2375+ Canadians oppose Bill C-60 which protects antiquated Recording,
  Motion Picture and "software manufacturing" industries from change...
  http://KillBillC60.ca    Sign--> http://digital-copyright.ca/petition/
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