Slashdot Mirror
Domain: ic.gc.ca
Stories and comments across the archive that link to ic.gc.ca.
Stories · 16
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Canadian Cellphone Bills Are Some of the Highest In the World, Says Report (straight.com)
Freshly Exhumed shares a report from Straight: A report released this week by the Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development (ISED) confirms that Canada ranks among the top three most costly countries for mobile wireless plans. Comparing the U.K, Italy, France, Australia, Japan, and the U.S. on six tiers of pricing -- which looked at talk-time, texts, and data -- the document shows that Canada has the most expensive mid-range and higher-tier plans in the world. "It is unacceptable that Canadians continue to pay ever-rising prices year after year for something as critical as mobile communications services," said Katy Anderson, Digital Rights Advocate at OpenMedia. -
Study Says P2P Downloaders Buy More Music
An anonymous reader writes "Michael Geist posts to his site about a study commissioned by the Canadian government intended to look into the buying habits of music fans. What the study found is that 'there is a positive correlation between peer-to-peer downloading and CD purchasing.' The report is entitled The Impact of Music Downloads and P2P File-Sharing on the Purchase of Music: A Study For Industry Canada, and it was 'conducted collaboratively by two professors from the University of London, Industry Canada, and Decima Research, who surveyed over 2,000 Canadians on their music downloading and purchasing habits. The authors believe this is the first ever empirical study to employ representative microeconomic data.'" -
Canada Task Force Calls For Anti-Spam Law
Canrights writes "Canada's National Task Force on Spam released its final report today. Despite prior spam actions on privacy grounds in Canada, the task force is calling for a tough new anti-spam law including penalties for failure to obtain appropriate opt-in consents before sending commercial email as well as private right of action to encourage Canadian lawsuits against spammers. Professor Michael Geist, who headed up the legal aspects of the task force, provides a good summary of the recommendations." -
Japanese Balloon Battle
mw2040 writes "Slate reports on a little-known method used by the Japanese during WWII - hydrogen-filled paper balloons with deadly payloads floated without a guidance-system across the Pacific. Both amazing low-tech warfare and a cautionary tale about censorship during wartime. More links (even one for our neighbors to the North) (shamelessly stolen from the article)." -
Government of Canada's Anti-Spam Initiative
FlyingOrca writes "Canada's minister for industry has announced 'a new partnership between government, the private sector and consumers' to combat spam. Light on specifics, but at least they seem to recognize the problem and want to do something about it. Here's the text of the minister's speech. Cue ISO Anti-Spam Proposal Response Form Letter in 5...4...3..." -
Canadian Bill C-234 to Require ISP licensing
Matthew Skala writes "In Monday's House of Commons proceedings, Canadian Member of Parliament Peter Stoffer (NDP member for Sackville-Musquodoboit Valley-Eastern Shore) introduced Bill C-234, an anti-child-pornography Bill. It requires all Internet Service Providers to get licenses from the Government, specifically including non-profits and individuals. Licensed ISPs then must block Web sites named by the Government as containing child pornography, and must "report information [of the Government's choice] to the Commission for the purposes of this Act" - a requirement that neatly slips in spy-on-your-users requirements under the radar of the ongoing Industry Canada consultation on "Lawful Access" (wiretapping/CanCarnivore)." -
Slashback: 640K, Pioneer, Payback
Slashback tonight with an mini-avalanche of updates and corrections on Pioneer 10 (it's not a Star Trek series), Canadian copyright hearings, Intel's stance on SSSCA and similar laws, and -- Oh Yes, whether 640K really is enough for anyone. Read on for the details. Update: 03/05 00:19 GMT by T : "Pioneer," not "Voyager." Asleep at the keyboard.Kudos to the guys behind Pioneer 10! Soft writes: "As a follow-up to yesterday's story, Pioneer 10 was successfully contacted for its 30th birthday, as announced in sci.space.news. The commands that were sent yesterday have been executed by the spacecraft, and more data has been collected by the Geiger Tube Telescope." lostchicken adds a link to Associated Press wire story on Yahoo!', writing "Not bad for a 30 year-old spacecraft. Perhaps those making time capsules could learn something from this?" Several readers also pointed out the SpaceDaily version of the goings on.
What, in the middle of Canadian winter?! schon writes: "An update to this /. story - The Canadian Copyright Board has announced the details of the public hearings on Canadian Digital Copyrights, at http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/SSG/rp00838e.html. Interested parties should register before attending (details available on the page.)"
Sent to you in compliance with the current Federal legislation An Anonymous Coward writes: "Back in June of 2000 Slashdot.org reported a story called ' Taking On A Spammer' about a spammer being hacked by a pissed sys-admin. The Behind Enemy Lines web page talked about a pump-and-dump spam done by Premier Services and Mark Rice."
(See this page for more information on that scam.)
"Well on February 25, 2002 the SEC filed charges against Mark Rice!"
Death of a legend? Jean-Luc writes "The New York Review of Books has published an article that contains an e-mail from Bill Gates denying he ever said the infamous "640K should be enough for anyone" quote. He foists the blame on IBM and claims he tried to convince them to include more address space from the get go. Very technical and fairly convincing, showing that for all his might Bill is still basically a geek's geek."
They hadn't even gotten to the bowlderizing chip yet ... Dan Gilmor pointed out Intel's strong statement Thursday on copy protection front, "much stronger than the letter sent yesterday. Surprising given their history..." Maybe Intel believes they can do a better job of what deciding what goes into Silicon than a committee of bureaucrats steered by the entertainment moguls can.
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Canada to Hold Public Hearings on Digital Copyright
Christopher Whitt writes: "It looks like the Canadian government is going to hold public hearings on the Copyright Act reform in progress. I responded to the Call for comments on the Consultation Paper On Digital Copyright Issues mentioned in a 2001-09-06 slashdot article. I received the notice below in my email this morning. I won't be able to make the hearings myself, so I hope some other Canadian readers can get out and make the fair use message heard!" Read on for the details from the notice.February 19, 2002
NOTICEAs part of the ongoing consultative process to reform the Copyright Act, the departments of Industry and Canadian Heritage are planning cross-country consultations on the issues outlined in the Consultation Paper on Digital Issues published in June 2001. These full day consultation sessions will be held in the following cities on the following dates:
- Halifax on March 8, 2002;
- Vancouver on March 15, 2002;
- Montreal on March 21, 2002;
- Toronto on March 26, 2002;
- Ottawa on April 11, 2002.
We will be sending you a formal invitation shortly which provides further details, along with relevant documentation.
We thank you very much for the time and interest which you are committing to our initiative and we look forward to meeting with you at these consultations."
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Canada to Hold Public Hearings on Digital Copyright
Christopher Whitt writes: "It looks like the Canadian government is going to hold public hearings on the Copyright Act reform in progress. I responded to the Call for comments on the Consultation Paper On Digital Copyright Issues mentioned in a 2001-09-06 slashdot article. I received the notice below in my email this morning. I won't be able to make the hearings myself, so I hope some other Canadian readers can get out and make the fair use message heard!" Read on for the details from the notice.February 19, 2002
NOTICEAs part of the ongoing consultative process to reform the Copyright Act, the departments of Industry and Canadian Heritage are planning cross-country consultations on the issues outlined in the Consultation Paper on Digital Issues published in June 2001. These full day consultation sessions will be held in the following cities on the following dates:
- Halifax on March 8, 2002;
- Vancouver on March 15, 2002;
- Montreal on March 21, 2002;
- Toronto on March 26, 2002;
- Ottawa on April 11, 2002.
We will be sending you a formal invitation shortly which provides further details, along with relevant documentation.
We thank you very much for the time and interest which you are committing to our initiative and we look forward to meeting with you at these consultations."
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IBM Canada's Position On DMCA
iplayfast writes: "In regards to Canadian "DMCA" Public Comments Becoming Available Most comments look pretty level headed, but as you start moving up the corporate ladder they start looking scary. This is IBM Canada's response "IBM urges the Government to amend the Copyright Act to create a civil and criminal offence for tampering with copyright protection technology systems including a product, service, device, component, or technology - either hardware, software or both - and only part thereof. This offence must have an intent component which should arise from evidence of any one of the following three criteria; -the device has been primarily designed or produced for the purpose of circumventing; or -it has only limited commercial purpose or use other than to circumvent; or -it is marketed by the person who manufactures it, imports it, offers it to the public, provides it or otherwise traffics in it with intent for use in circumventing.; If the person above does this indirectly through another party, both should be culpable." Hmm, Big Blue is showing his spots."This IBM response is quite lengthy, and worth reading. Besides the statement excerpted here, it includes among other things an argument against mandating particular technological means to combat copyright violations, and acknowledgement that copy-capable equipment is widely available and useful in business and personal contexts. Well ... if you're copying floppies, anyway.
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IBM Canada's Position On DMCA
iplayfast writes: "In regards to Canadian "DMCA" Public Comments Becoming Available Most comments look pretty level headed, but as you start moving up the corporate ladder they start looking scary. This is IBM Canada's response "IBM urges the Government to amend the Copyright Act to create a civil and criminal offence for tampering with copyright protection technology systems including a product, service, device, component, or technology - either hardware, software or both - and only part thereof. This offence must have an intent component which should arise from evidence of any one of the following three criteria; -the device has been primarily designed or produced for the purpose of circumventing; or -it has only limited commercial purpose or use other than to circumvent; or -it is marketed by the person who manufactures it, imports it, offers it to the public, provides it or otherwise traffics in it with intent for use in circumventing.; If the person above does this indirectly through another party, both should be culpable." Hmm, Big Blue is showing his spots."This IBM response is quite lengthy, and worth reading. Besides the statement excerpted here, it includes among other things an argument against mandating particular technological means to combat copyright violations, and acknowledgement that copy-capable equipment is widely available and useful in business and personal contexts. Well ... if you're copying floppies, anyway.
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Canadian Copyright Reform
mikers writes: "The Government of Canada is looking for submissions into their public consultation process of Copyright reform. Up until September 15th, 2001, we Canadians can voice our opinions on two consultation papers - the first of which is titled "Consultation Paper on Digital Copyright Issues" - that will shape changes made to the Canadian Copyright Act in the years to come. "Industry Canada and the Department of Canadian Heritage are seeking comments regarding possible amendments to the Copyright Act with respect to the issues described in these two consultation documents... Subject to consent, all written submissions received will be posted on the two departments' websites ..." Now would be a good time to get your comments in and tell our government our views, or else risk letting "industry experts" and other non-geeks (Canadian RIAA) have the only say." -
Canadian Copyright Reform
mikers writes: "The Government of Canada is looking for submissions into their public consultation process of Copyright reform. Up until September 15th, 2001, we Canadians can voice our opinions on two consultation papers - the first of which is titled "Consultation Paper on Digital Copyright Issues" - that will shape changes made to the Canadian Copyright Act in the years to come. "Industry Canada and the Department of Canadian Heritage are seeking comments regarding possible amendments to the Copyright Act with respect to the issues described in these two consultation documents... Subject to consent, all written submissions received will be posted on the two departments' websites ..." Now would be a good time to get your comments in and tell our government our views, or else risk letting "industry experts" and other non-geeks (Canadian RIAA) have the only say." -
Canadian Copyright Reform
mikers writes: "The Government of Canada is looking for submissions into their public consultation process of Copyright reform. Up until September 15th, 2001, we Canadians can voice our opinions on two consultation papers - the first of which is titled "Consultation Paper on Digital Copyright Issues" - that will shape changes made to the Canadian Copyright Act in the years to come. "Industry Canada and the Department of Canadian Heritage are seeking comments regarding possible amendments to the Copyright Act with respect to the issues described in these two consultation documents... Subject to consent, all written submissions received will be posted on the two departments' websites ..." Now would be a good time to get your comments in and tell our government our views, or else risk letting "industry experts" and other non-geeks (Canadian RIAA) have the only say." -
DMCA Worldwide: Canada, New Zealand, USA
cdlu writes: "Citing the need for up-to-date digital copyright laws, the Canadian government is starting hearings into our own version of the US's DMCA. Do you still wonder why people protest at the G-8 and other such summits?" Meanwhile, New Zealand is also planning to reform its copyright laws to include DMCA-like restrictions, and in the USA, Congress is planning to double the number of FBI agents and Federal attorneys devoted to pursuing copyright cases. -
Canada Considers Cellphone Jammers
Mark Cappel writes: "Computerworld reports the Canadian equivalent to the US FCC is considering licensing the use of cellphone jammers. One person quoted in the article says, essentially, if a property owner does not want people to use cell phones on his property, then why not jam 'em?"