Received from Melanee Thomas:
;:Dear Ms. Lawson;
;:Thank you for your email. My responses are below. If you would like more information, please let me know!
Questions:
Music File-sharing: What is your position on the issue of file-sharing in Canada--should it be illegal?
;:A: I feel that file sharing should be legal.
Technological Protection of Copyrighted Materials: What is your position on using legislation to prohibit circumvention of TPMs?
;:A: I feel I need to think more about this issue, but I am leaning towards disagreeing with the prohibition of circumvention of TPMs in specific circumstances, such as personal legal use of music and other cases where the intent is not to infringe copyrights.
Educational Use of Internet Materials: Do you support an amendment to the Copyright Act to allow for the use of freely available materials on the Internet by participants in an educational program?
;:A: Yes.
ISP Liability for copyright infringement: Should ISPs be protected from liability for copyright infringement when others merely transmit copyrighted materials over their facilities, or when others post copyrighted works on websites that the ISP merely hosts?
;:A: Yes.
What is your position on the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage's proposed "notice and takedown" scheme requiring ISPs to remove content on the sole basis of alleged copyright infringement?
;:A: I feel that ISPs should be liable for copyright infringement unless they are merely acting as conduit for the transmission of information, and unless they comply with a "notice and takedown" scheme under which they must take down copyrighted material after being notified of its existence by a copyright holder. If the copyright holder does have rights to the material, then ISPs should comply with the copyright.
Open Source Software: What is your position on increasing or mandating the use of open source software in government operations?
;:A: I fully support mandating the use of open source software in government operations.
Spam: How do you propose to approach the problem of spam?
;:A: The problem of spam is pervasive and will be difficult to deal with. However, I feel we can take legislative measures to prohibit, or at least regulate spam, and provide resources to local forces to enforce the strategy. We should also seek an international agreement to address the international nature of spam.
National ID cards: What is your position on National ID cards?
;:A: I am opposed to National ID cards.
;:Melanee Thomas
;:Melanee Thomas
;:NDP Candidate
;:Lethbridge