Just received the following press release: Guelph residents’ voice must be heard in fight for copyright fairness for Canadian artists and consumers
GUELPH – NDP candidate Tom King today pledged to raise controversial changes to Canada’s copyright laws as an election issue in the upcoming Guelph by-election. King, a longtime artist and writer, fears that Conservative’s controversial Bill C-61 will reward U.S. corporate lobby efforts, while punishing Canadian artists and consumers.
“Under Bill C-61, if you purchase a new computer and have to break the lock on your i-pod to get the songs to the new computer, the Conservatives believe that is a criminal offence,” said King. “This type of American approach to copyright laws does not benefit Canadian consumers, or Canadian artists.”
King is calling on Guelph area activists to become politically active over the issues of digital culture -- whether it is copyright or issues of net neutrality.
“What we need to do in Guelph is build a coalition of the concerned; artists concerned for their ability to support themselves, and consumers concerned with the Conservative-Liberal attitude when it comes to how they manage their personal media files,” said King.
King says he is looking forward to working with grassroots activists on the issues of copyright and net neutrality. Already concerned educators, artists, consumer groups and innovators have voiced their opposition to this misguided Conservative bill.
“Citizens need to become informed and active in this election. As an artist I am passionate about the issues of digital culture. The NDP has been fighting on these issues. It’s time we put it on the political agenda of this country.”
The NDP has consistently pushed for new copyright legislation that will not criminalize fans and will ensure that artists aren’t left out in the cold when it comes to reasonable royalties.
To join Tom King's fight for copyright in Guelph go to:
www.tomking.ca/getinvolved
Biased reporting.
I find it interesting that when the Canwest News Service reported Mr. King's press release that they pushed propaganda from the proponents of the bill.
This isn't correct. It does not bring existing copyright laws 'up to speed' with the digital age, it tries to abuse copyright law to protect increasingly outdated business models and businesses from being replaced by modern business models and businesses. The purpose of the bill is not to promote innovation, but to stifle necessary competition.
An article in the CBC did the same thing, claiming that, "Bill C-61, introduced last month by Industry Minister Jim Prentice and Heritage Minister Josée Verner, seeks to update Canada's copyright rules and bring them in line with the country's obligations under the World Intellectual Property Organization treaty signed more than a decade ago."
This is also false, as Canada has absolutely no obligations to ratify the two 1996 WIPO treaties. Signing is to ratifying as dating is to marriage!
Free/Libre and Open Source Software (FLOSS) consultant.