p2pnet.net News:- As of November 15, the Big Four record label cartel’s Man in Canada will be Graham Henderson, senior vp of business affairs and e-commerce for Universal Music Canada.

Described as an ex-”high-profile entertainment lawyer” married to Cowboy Junkies singer Margo Timmins, Henderson managed Universal’s e-commerce strategy and helped launch plastic music site Puretracks.com, says the cartel’s CRIA (Canadian Recording Industry Association).

Under outgoing president Brian Robertson, the CRIA failed in its attempt to force five Canadian ISPs to hand over the names and addresses of 29 customers.

“These are individuals who are each illegally distributing hundreds if not thousands of music copyright files to millions of strangers,” said Robertson at the time. “Clearly these people are blatant exploiters of artists’ careers and their music, and have no apparent interest in where the music is going to come from in the future.”

Claiming file sharing is “devastating” the multi-billion-dollar music industry, Robertson also tried to lay the blame for “average staff layoffs of 20% and more” and the, “probability of a dramatic reduction in opportunities for Canadian artists and Canadian music” on the doortstep of Canadians who share music online.

The US RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) has sued 6,191 people since September 2003, claiming its efforts are having a marked effect in reducing online file sharing via the p2p networks.

It wants to do the same thing in Canada, where it’s not illegal to share music online.

Important Canadian and US studies report recently concluded that suing families and their children who share music is having zero effect.

As the new CRIA head, Henderson will, “continue to lobby the Minister of Canadian Heritage, Liza Frulla, to push forward the May 12 recommendations of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage,” says the CRIA, going on:

“The committee’s ‘Interim Report on Copyright Reform’ recommended that legislation to overhaul the Canadian Copyright Act be introduced in the House of Commons by November. The legislation includes provisions for Canada’s ratification of World Intellectual Property Organization treaties dealing with copyright protection in the digital age.

However, Henderson warns that even with the changes, Canada’s Copyright Act, “would still not be able to serve the needs of the business community”.

By that, he means in Canada, Big Music still wouldn’t be able to run rampant, as it’s able to do in the US.

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See:-
Canadian – RIAA law suits are failing, p2pnet, November 3, 2004
US – P2p study flawed says RIAA, p2pnet, October 28, 2004
Canada’s ratification - A Canadian DMCA?, p2pnet, November 8, 2004

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