Copyright talks start in Vancouver today
p2pnet news view | Politics:- Question: What can you expect if Stephen Harper’s Conservative government promises “broad and transparent consultations as it tries once again to tackle the thorny issue of copyright legislation”.
Answer: Narrow, secret, behind-closed-doors talks with self-serving legacy holders, featuring Hollywood and the Big 4 record labels, right at the front of the line.
The quotes come in a Sun Media story anticipating the opening of 10 in-camera [read secret] ’roundtable’ copyright discussions, with Vancouver as the location of the first, specifically »»»
Vancouver Public Library,l Central Branch
Library Square Conference Centre
Suite 214, 300 West Georgia Street
Vancouver, British Columbia
The discussions are slated to start at 12:45 pm.
“Last summer, when the government introduced Bill C-61, its first attempt to reform copyright legislation, it was sharply criticized for siding with the music industry because it proposed large fines for people found copying material or trying to break digital locks,” says Sun, continuing, “Bill C-61 died on the order paper when last fall’s federal election was called.”
Bill C-61 is, “Canada`s answer to America`s corporate-inspired DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) which has been, and continues to be, responsible for more grief and misery for people who really care about music than any other piece of bought-and-paid-for US legislation,” p2pnet posted.
At the time, then federal industry misminister Jim Prentice, “earnestly hopes the bill will please his corporate supporters,” we said. “You, the people who put him into power? You`re chopped liver.”
Now, “Duncan McKie, president of the Canadian Independent Record Production Association, said Bill C-61 didn’t go far enough and more protection is needed to ensure music doesn’t become worthless,” says the Sun story, continuing:
“Serge Sasseville, Quebecor’s vice-president of corporate and institutional affairs — Quebecor owns Sun Media — said opponents often criticize big business, but large corporations are losing lots of money because Canada has become a piracy heaven.”
Sasseville is quoting lurid statements originally made by Hollywood and Vivendi Universal, EMI, Warner Music and Sony Music, and which have been discredited on numerous occasions
Nonetheless, “If we don’t have legislation protecting, sufficiently, intellectual property, businesses won’t be interested in investing in Canada,” declares Sasseville.
The first of ten roundtable discussions on starts in Vancouver today and according to MediaMaster Magazine »»»
In preliminary consultation and documentation, government departments have asked stakeholders to comment on a number of questions related to copyright legislation and reform, including but not limited to:
1. Do the current provisions of the Copyright Act already adequately address ISP concerns?
2. Some ISPs and rights holders have entered into agreements for dealing with infringing material. In what respects is this approach sufficient or insufficient?
3. What other intermediary functions that have not been discussed in this section, but that are nonetheless being carried out by ISPs, ought to be considered when developing a policy regarding ISP liability?
4. To the extent that a notice and take-down system is being contemplated, how would such a system affect the framework in Canada for the collective management of copyright? What alternative proposals should be considered? Under what conditions would a compulsory licensing system be appropriate?
5. To the extent that issues surrounding the scope and application of the reproduction right are being examined in relation to Internet-based communications, are there reasons why this examination should be restricted to the question of ISP liability?
6. How would a “making available” right affect the balances among the various copyright interests?
7. In which respects might such a right require limitations or be subject to exceptions?
8. In which respects do existing rights, e.g., the reproduction right, fail to provide a measure of control which is comparable to a distinct “making available” right?
You, the people who put the politicians into power and keep the record labels, movie studios, ISPs, fat and happy?
You`re still chopped liver.
‘Broad and transparent’ notwithstanding, “The government will only reveal the participants of its in-camera roundtables after the meetings have taken place,” Sun Media has Deirdra McCracken, spokeswoman for heritage minister James Moore, stating.
Contacts
Office of the Honourable Tony Clement
Minister of Industry
Laryssa Waler
A/Press Secretary
613-995-9001
laryssa.waler@ic.gc.ca
Industry Canada
Media Relations
613-943-2502
Office of the Honourable James Moore (right)
Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages
Deirdra McCracken
Director of Communications
819-997-7788
deirdra.mccracken@pch.gc.ca
Canadian Heritage
Media Relations
819-994-9101
Stay tuned.
Sun Media – Conservatives plan to tackle federal copyright legislation, July 18, 2009
p2pnet – Bill C-61 Revisited: The Video, September 3, 2008
MediaMaster Magazine – Copyright Reform, Consultation In the Air, July 17, 2009
Use free p2pnet newsfeeds for your site. It`s really easy!
Subscribe to p2pnet.net | | rss feed: http://p2pnet.net/p2p.rss | | Mobile – http://p2pnet.net/index-wml.php
Net access blocked by government restrictions? Use Psiphon from the Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto. Go here for details.
July 20th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
I get a kick outta all these Quebecor people making statements about what’s good for business.
Quebecor’s foolishness has managed to run a number of companies into the ground, including the Toronto Sun, Canoe and 24 Hours!
______________________________
Interesting how ISPs are “automatically” included in the copyright equation in the preliminary questions, when the green light for ISPs to have any other role than “dumb pipe” is still yet to be decided.
These talks always begin and end with a corporate-only agenda.
July 20th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
a meeting that affects the public but the public isn’t allowed to have a say?
they continue to fail in taking our side seriously. if you feel the need to have secret meetings invovling all Canadian then your cealrly doing something WRONG
we know the loaction, is anyone up for operation valkyrie? surely that would get the governemtns attention
July 20th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
Time for those against this bullshit to protest loudly in Vancover and demand to know how much money the music industry and movie industry has paid Jim Pretence to push this bill.
Personally I don’t know how people could vote for that sleeze bag(although he’s no better than the rest of them) after his previous attempt at pushing this copyright shit.
Its time for protests and boycotts. Together we will prevail.
July 21st, 2009 at 9:56 am
ok so how do we get the word “honorable in the title of those officies?? just curious.and another thing i be curious bout, when prentis and the crew from ottawa and there Canadain counter parts in the “canadian music industry?” meet the us lobby,do they 1.drop to there knees and grovel 2.drop to there knees for other reasons at the sound of the zipper 3.or bend over and drop there drawers?just curious,cause any of the three or all would be deemed approiate for what they want to happen to Canadian’s writesin reguard to copy,right?if you must revisit this horendous topic,then do it from a truely Canadian point of view . openly and honestly.i know it sounds naive on my part but we stopped them once by rising up from the trenches,lets hope we can repeat if necessary.oh wait,could that be why all the meetings now seem to be in camera??naww,not possible??
July 21st, 2009 at 9:58 am
oh wait,silly me i thought the canadian government was inchare here ,but(sigh) guess i was wrong.just another country being run by the us record and movie industry!!