Slashdot Mirror
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."
I agree, every Canadian should take a few hours to read the documents on that site and send in some sort of comment. Even if your comments don't affect their ultimate decision, at least you will be on record as standing up for your beliefs.
Let the government know that we assert its primary responsibility is to represent the interests of Canadian citizens, not those of international corporations.
Let them know that networked personal computers are more than mere content-delivery devices. Protest the fact that (for example) the music industry is charging you $0.21 for every CD-R you buy, even if you're using it to back up personal data or record your own music. Tell the government that you will not tolerate any further power-grabs by the music and video industries. Assert your right to create and manipulate your own data on your own PC, without interference.
Let them know that due process must be applied whenever a corporation wants to have a user's website shut down for alleged copyright infringement. Demand penalties and the user's right to seek compensation whenever a corporation makes a false accusation.
Refute the notion that content publishers are entitled to make the same profits they did with their pre-Internet business models. Times change, and economic factors change (just as they did when technology such as the phonograph and printing press were invented, essentially creating the publishing industry).
Demand the freedom to analyze, reverse-engineer, and discuss the technological systems used to control content. Prohibit only the disclosure of the encryption keys used by a particular protection method (following the general cryptographic principle that all the security is in the key, not the algorithm). Don't let corporations use your tax dollars to subsidize poor engineering (by arresting anyone who dares to point out the weakness in their ultra-secure "XOR-with-constant" protection technology).
Warn the government that extending the term of copyright (lifetime of author + 70 years, up from + 50 years), coupled with technology that replaces "sale" with "pay-per-view", will reduce the incentive to create new content (a goal of the copyright act) because it will be cheaper to just re-distribute the same old content over and over.
Say something!
p.s. Tell your friends, too. Many of my co-workers (at a dot.com) had never heard of Dmitry or the DMCA. Just because we see these stories every day, it doesn't mean the rest of the world does.