Digital Copyright Canada
CIPPIC opens Bell/Rogers internet throttling investigation
Multiple sources (Save Out Net, Howard Knopf) have indicated that CIPPIC is interested in hearing from individuals who have been subject to 'throttling' of their high speed internet connection. If you are currently subscribed, or once were a subscriber of either Bell or Rogers' high speed services and would like to express your concerns, please contact Robert Hester at CIPPIC.
Death of Free Internet is Imminent
An article by Kevin Parkinson on GlobalResearch.ca talks about a few issues with our incumbent monopolist phone and broadcast undertaking companies (wired and wireless). I am glad that these issues are increasingly being covered by people on all sides of the political spectrum(s), recognizing the importance of this infrastructure to our future economy as well as society as a whole.
Langley MP Mark Warawa and Newton-North Delta MP Sukh Dhaliwal
Langley MP Mark Warawa is quoted in an article by Andrew Bucholtz in the Langley Times as saying that, “We’ve tried to reach a balance, and we’ve done that over the last year and a half by meeting with all the stakeholders”.
A Detailed Explanation Of How The BSA Misleads With Piracy Stats
While my analysis has focused on the failure of the IDC/BSA studies to differentiate infringement from competition, an article by Mike Masnick in TechDirt takes on some of the other major flaws.
Popularity of cellphones lags in Canada: global study
A Canadian News Wire article discusses how "when it comes to owning and using mobile phones, Canada lags behind many nations, including several in the developing world,suggests a global study on telecommunications".
Government copyright bill fails green test
An article by Michael Geist (Toronto Star, his website) talks about a few of the ways in which a copyright bill can be "green" or non-green.
Copyright enforcers should learn lessons from the war on spam
Cory Doctorow's latest article for The Guardian documents why many of the technological fixes being attempted to reduce copyright infringement won't work, and have harmful unintended consequences.
Not mentioned is the elephant in the room of "Digital Rights Management" which locks down people's devices in an attempt to stop copyright infringement, and as an "unintended" consequence makes it harder/impossible for independent creators to create and distribute their works without the "permission" of a competing intermediary.
The BSA singles out eight states in software piracy report, suggests public safety link
An article by Jordan Golson for The Industry Standard talks about the release of the BSA 2007 State Piracy Study, which claimed that one in five pieces of software in use in the United States was unlicensed.
Before anyone worries too much, read Lies, Damned lies, and IIPA/BSA/etc statistics. They use these same bogus statistics in their promotion of Bill C-61 and other backward-facing legislative reforms.
Copyright Q&A with Tom King, NDP candidate for Guelph
The latest I have read is that by-elections for Guelph, Westmount--Ville-Marie, and Saint Lambert will be called on July 20 with a vote set for Monday, September 8. Those of us that consider fair copyright to be an important election issue are already excited by the candidacy of Tom King, a celebrated Canadian author, broadcaster, and University of Guelph professor (Read his "About me" for details -- you will very likely already know of him)
Mr King has indicated he will make copyright fairness an issue during the by-election, and has already announced an event in Toronto on July 24, 2008 to meet with regional artists, activists and academics who are opposed to the Conservatives’ Bill C-61.
The following is my Q&A with him.
Anthony Rota's view on Bill C-61
Here is the letter I got from my MP Anthony Rota in my hometown riding of Nippising-Timiskaming, in response to a message I sent him about Bill C-61.
Kyle,
Thank you for your correspondence regarding Bill C-61. I appreciate having the benefit of your comments.
In your email, you voice opposition to changes and criminalization of various actions that the bill will bring forth.
My Liberal colleagues and I understand your concerns and we believe that the bill must strike the right balance between consumers and creators.
Big Media Strikes Again with iPhone
John C. Dvorak offered a similar rant as part of the TWIT show, so it is great to see he did it in text for PC magazine.
The journalism community in general—and tech journalists in particular—discourage free enterprise and real competition. They are the worst kind of bandwagon-hoppers and hero-worshippers. No wonder the public does not think highly of the profession.
...
The irony is that giving too much attention to Microsoft allowed the company to take over the place; there was nobody left to actually advertise, and all the computer magazines shrank in size. Everyone then blamed the Internet.
Tom king continues to push the copyright issue as an issue for the guelph by-election.
Press release: TOM KING TO MEET COPYRIGHT ACTIVISTS IN TORONTO
GUELPH – NDP candidate for Guelph and author Tom King will be in Toronto on July 24, 2008 to meet with regional artists, activists and academics who are opposed to the Conservatives’ Bill C-61. The event, which is being held at the Edward Day Art Gallery, will look at strategies for opposing the U.S.-style copyright legislation.
Canadian open source community upset over proposed copyright law
An article by Ian Palmer for Linux.com discusses the impact of Bill C-61 on the Free/Libre and Open Source Software sector. It includes quotes from Sean Hurley (Tillsonburg, Ontario-based Open Computing), Ken Clark (intellectual property lawyer), and myself (CSIA member, CLUE policy coordinator, FLOSS developer).
Ken Clark spoke as a lawyer, and not as someone with any technical background. He suggested that "DRM might provide a way to prevent rampant copying", which anyone with a technical background would realize is not the case.
C-61 in 61 Seconds: The Canadian DMCA Video Competition
Spread the word and consider a submission!
European Copyright gets 'Use It Or Lose It' clause
An article by Andrew Orlowski of The Register reports:
The European Commission today approved an extension to the life of sound recording copyright, from 50 to 90 years - but with a twist.
The EC has insisted on a "use it or lose it" clause, which allows the recordings to revert to the performer if the producer or record company has no desire to market the recording.
Liberal party finances may mean 3 rather than 4 by-elections
An article by John Ivison for the National Post discusses the latest speculation about when by-elections might be called. It suggests by-elections in Guelph, Westmount--Ville-Marie, and Saint Lambert will be called on July 20 with a vote set for Monday, September 8.
John Godfrey, the Liberal MP for Don Valley West, is not going to resign until August 1. Speculation is that this is because the Liberals are too cash-strapped to have 4 by-elections at the same time. If this is true, how can they afford a general election?
Canada’s Copyright party is … the NDP?
In many of the comments about Bill C-61 on BLOGS all across Canada you can hear people saying that all the parties are the same, and that we need a Canadian Pirate Party. The Pirate Party (Swedish: Piratpartiet) is a political party in Sweden that focus on one issue: reforming of so-called "Intellectual Property" laws such as patent, copyright, trademark and other related laws (also called PCT) to better integrate with a modern technological and participatory society.
There is, however, something exciting happening in one party that warrants a closer look for those who think fair copyright reform is important, and that is the NDP.
Copyright Q&A with Michael Byers, presumptive NDP candidate for Vancouver Center
A Hill Times article NDP's 'star' candidate Byers sets sights on Vancouver Centre describes how a best-selling author and academic, Michael. Byers, is seeking the nomination in that riding. I decided to do a written interview with Mr. Byers on copyright, included below. It looks like Vancouver Center will be an important riding to watch for those of us interested in copyright.
Read the rest of this entry on IT World Canada »
Burnaby-Douglas MP Bill Siksay on Bill C-61
Burnaby-Douglas Link is a monthly publication produced by Hon. MP Bill Siksay's office and is sent to every household in the Burnaby-Douglas riding. On the front cover of Burnaby-Douglas Link's July 2008 issue, MP Siksay discusses in length the negative impacts that Bill C-61 will bring upon Canadians and describes his position on the said bill. The following is a text copy.
Dear Friends,
As I write, Parliament has just recessed for the summer.
There were several controversial pieces of legislation introduced late in the session.
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