Three copyright steps: Angus to Prentice
p2pnet news | Politics:- Canadian industry minister Jim Prentice must, “start moving on copyright reform that will work for the benefit of Canadian artists and consumers,” warns NDP digital cultural spokesman Charlie Angus .
“Prentice, like his predecessor, had a number of embarrassing starts and stops with this contentious issue,” says Angus on his website.
The minister, seriously discombobulated when his plan to introduce a Canadian DMCA was foiled by online protesters, can follow three steps to update Canada’s copyright legislation, says the musician turned politician, outlining them as:
1.Live up to the government’s commitment to bring the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) treaty to the House of Commons for a vote before introducing new legislation;
2. Ensure adequate consultation prior to introducing news legislation between Parliamentarians with affected stakeholder groups including arts/artist groups, educators, software innovators, consumer groups and everyday Canadians;
3. Ensure new legislation addresses the reality of technological innovation so that artistic creators can be fairly compensated in a rapidly changing paradigm of information transmission and storage.
“It isn’t good enough for this government to simply mimic the failed Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) model in the United States,” he states.
“The Conservatives need to address the dramatic changes that are taking place in the world of digital content. Artists need to be able to share in the potential of markets that are still gray or forming.”
As for WIPO, “Prentice appears to be stalling on the government commitment to debate treaties before ratifying them,” say sAngus, adding, “Prentice can’t unilaterally break a government commitment.
“Lets deal with WIPO and then examine how forward-looking legislation can be enacted. If Prentice tries to get away with a quick fix, U.S.-style, DMCA plan under the guise of implementing WIPO, he is going to get his fingers burned again.”
Also See:
website – 3-step approach, February 6, 2008
seriously discombobulated – Prentice puts the brakes on Canada DMCA, December 11, 2007
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