Digital Copyright Canada

Darryl Moore wrote:
> In particular, you think that what happened at Digg will only be of 
> value if it translates into some political action, without realizing 
> that what happened at Digg WAS A POLITICAL ACTION. It was the most basic 
> grass roots political action on earth. People were taking direct action 
> to influence policy that they felt strongly about.

   It influenced the policy of Digg, a pretty modern and obviously 
Web2.0 aware company, not the policy of the government.  Who a political 
action is aimed at matters.

> Why do you think so many people flout 
> the law and download movies and music so openly?

   Because they believe (IMHO correctly) that they are more likely to 
get hit by lightning than get caught for this infringement.  They are 
seen as doing it because they can get away with it, not because they 
have something substantive to say about the underlying laws.

   I hear this argument that infringement is a form of civil 
disobedience often, and I simply don't buy it.  Politicians are also not 
buying it, and believe that all that is needed to "fix" this problem is 
pass more laws -- especially those targeted at intermediaries (which are 
fewer, and thus easier to control).

> I think events like this one if seen by the country's politicians will 
> make them stand up and take note of just how much we will allow our 
> freedoms to be limited.

   "if seen by" -- and that is my point, it's not being seen by our 
politicians or other policy makers.

   Most politicians are unaware of anything we talk about and work with 
on a daily basis.  They think there is either only one or two sources of 
computer operating systems, and have no idea of the entertainment value 
of user generated content.

   Of the MPs I've met so far I believe that Bev Oda and Hedy Fry 
represent the majority of those that have an opinion at all on issues of 
copyright, and both have no problem shutting down all alternatives to 
the "professional"/incumbent methods of production, distribution and 
funding of content.  (IE: Goodbye personal ownership/control of ICT, 
user generated content, peer production, etc)

I'm a Green, Hedy Fry is Blue, Nickie is a Space Cadet, lets hang out in 
the Tiki Bar
http://www.digital-copyright.ca/node/3859

   Civil disobedience that isn't clearly documented and understandable 
to the policy makers who make the rules can easily backfire.  I believe 
all the infringement that is currently going on is further convincing 
Canadian policy makers to push towards more draconian laws.

   The petitions are written in a language that policy makers can 
understand (in fact, that is one of their flaws-- the general public has 
a harder time understanding them).  Copyright infringement isn't being 
seen by policy makers as a form of civil disobedience, just "theft". 
And this will never change until we stop speaking to ourselves and start 
speaking with them.

-- 
  Russell McOrmond, Internet Consultant: <http://www.flora.ca/>
  Please help us tell the Canadian Parliament to protect our property
  rights as owners of Information Technology. Sign the petition!
  http://www.digital-copyright.ca/petition/ict/

  "The government, lobbied by legacy copyright holders and hardware
   manufacturers, can pry my camcorder, computer, home theatre, or
   portable media player from my cold dead hands!"
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Digital Copyright Canada

Re: [d@DCC] Mixed feelings about "DVD DRM row sparks user rebellion"

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