Jim Prentice Canada copyright locks
p2pnet news | Freedom:- By way of a follow-up to Michael Geist’s 30 suggestions on of the coming Canadian DMCA, and Harold Knopf’s analysis of Canada’s copyright laws, here’s a post from Jesse Brown on CBC Search Radio on whch he says, “Industry Canada says we’ll have a new Copyright bill by Christmas,”
He goes on:
“Based on the Ministry’s hints about the bill to date, and on Stephen Harper’s recent throne speech, digital rights watchers are fearing the worst. Here’s what they’re predicting:
“(It will) put digital locks on our computers, cellphones, iPods, other gadgets and tools and, ultimately, our culture.” – copyright lawyer Howard Knopf. “There is every indication this legislation will be a complete sell-out to U.S. government and lobbyist demands.” – Michael Geist (link)
The CBC story continues:
We want to give Canadians one last chance to be heard on this subject before their government moves forward, and that’s why we’re asking Industry Minister Jim Prentice on to Search Engine, to answer questions posed by you. We have every confidence that when Minister Prentice sees the amount of public concern on this topic, he’ll make himself available for a conversation. Submit your questions in the comments.
Below are just a few of the things Canadians whave to say:
This seems like another attempt to Americanize the Great White North. What benefit can these new laws provide? It stands up for the rich companies who can easily afford to spend huge amounts of money to strike fear into the youth. This seems to be a clear case of ageism. Who else does this type of legislation target except for the internet savvy youth?? The record companies still manage to post profits, so really it’s just limiting a new type of competition. – James Hills
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A lot of the music I download are songs from albums that I have purchased in the past, but due to the music industry’s practice of using fragile CDs I no longer have them. Does not my initial purchase give me the right to own this music in what ever form? How many times do I have to buy CD’s that crack, scratch,? such pratices should be illegal. – Fionn Closs
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Before the Minister brings forward new legistlation to further protect the entertainment industry maybe he could first explain a couple of points to Canadians.
First, why have we been paying a surcharge on all blank recordable media for as long as I can remember? When the surcharge was introduced it was to compensate the industry for losses incurred by people making copies of copyrighted material. Why then do they now need stiffer laws to effectively prosecute people for doing what they have been paying to do for decades?
Second, when will the Minister address the fair rights issue. Half of the CD’s you purchase today cannot easily be ripped to your computer for use with MP3 players or home music streaming devices. Will the Minister be forcing the recording industry to allow consumers fair use of the material they have paid for. Out of six CD’s I recently purchased three were encumbered with some sort of protection that prevented me from ripping their contents to my computer for use with my MP3 player. Will the legistlation provide me the consumer with a legal avenue to receive compensation from the record labels for loss of my right to fair use?
Before the Minister brings forward this legistlation I would hope he ensures that it is in the best interest of Canadian Consurmers and not just those of the RIAA and MPAA. – Stephen Waller
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Record labels, film studios, and other IP holders claim that illegal downloading is a moral failing and that it violates their property rights. If downloading music illegally is stealing, and stealing is wrong, then how do industry lobbyists and the government justify their actions and protective legislation, which only pillage the public in the form of *forced* “taxes” or “levies” upon products and services? – Charlie
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What about the recent study published by Industry Canada that shows ZERO net effect on record sales due to P2P file sharing? Now our own government’s study shows that sharing has no impact on sales, can we expect a refund in full for levies paid on blank media?
This legislation is being introduced solely by pressure from the CRIA with help from the RIAA and MPAA and their respective lobby groups. It has no benefit for the consumer and would exist only to protect profits and open the flood gates for frivolous lawsuits to be filed against supposed ‘pirates’ (think, moms, dads, grandmas, sisters, brothers).
Industry Canada’s study “The Impact of Music Downloads and P2P File-Sharing on the Purchase of Music: A Study for Industry Canada” shows that it is a waste of time to even consider such legislation. – Jason
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As a media producer for a Public school district, I have some concerns about the upcoming legislation. Not having actually seen a copy of the proposed legislation, I’d like to know how it will impact educational institutions’ right to use material in what is now considered ‘fair use’ situations such as parody, critical commentary, and other analytical processes. Will my district (or myself, for that matter) be criminalised for extracting a short video segment from a DVD for such purposes? If the law says that reverse-engineering copy protection schemes is illegal, that’s exactly what will happen.
I would also like to know what obligations this new legislation would put on me as a producer of original content. Will we still be permitted to immediately enter our material into the Public Domain or Creative Commons pools? Will other agencies be able to subvert our rights as original producers (such as would be the case from the proposed WIPO Broadcast Treaty)?
Finally (although I have a lot more questions, I’d like to keep this short), I think as Canadians, we have the right to know exactly how this legislation would benefit the American content industry.
We already know from StatsCan and others that our own recording and film industries are not suffering from so-called ‘illegal downloading’, and we have been generating millions of dollars in blank media levies for the last decade, that ostensibly have been going into the pockets of Canadian artists. Public perception (and probably the simple fact) is that our government is bowing to pressure from American (NOT ‘international’) lobby groups, which should not be the case. If we are signators to an international treaty (WIPO), we do need to meet those obligations. However, we are not required to exceed them in order to placate a powerful industry trade group; and in fact we should seriously consider whether the WIPO treaties we have signed are actually benefiting Canadians as both producers and consumers of content.
In conclusion, it might be a good idea for our government officials to indicate to the Americans that we’d be prepared to consider their demands once they actually start honouring the treaties THEY have signed; perhaps the WTO rulings would be a good place to start! – Jethro Taylor
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At what point does a Canadian consumer actually OWN something?
If I buy a barbie doll, I expect to be able to cut its hair and put on permanent make up.
If I buy a book, I expect to be able to quote it in my blog, loan it to a friend, and sell it at a second hand bookstore.
If I buy a song, I want to play it on my ipod, play it in my car, or use it as a ringtone.
If this legislation goes through, then we will OWN nothing – we will merely be licencing both the media and the rights to play that media from American companies.
How on earth does this benefit Canadian consumers? – Wee Willie
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And (almost) last, but not least >>>
Why will I not be able to legally copy my DVD’s onto archival copies in case of my children wrecking the original. If this law passes as it sounds like it may, this will make my personal freedoms moot. What about ripping CD’s onto my computer and then putting them on my MP3 player? I guess that’ll be history, if this law passes. I’d have hoped Canadian governments, especially when they are MINORITY governments would have listened better to the public. But, as usual we all sit back and do nothing. – Deb Johnson
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Definitely stay tuned.
The pic on the upper right is my (more accurate, IMHO) version of the one which appears on the CBC site.
Jon Newton – p2pnet
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December 3rd, 2007 at 8:39 pm
Once our morals are gone,we’ll merge with america, and see our canada become Camerica.