Canadian High Court Says ISPs Don't Owe Royalties

canwaf writes "According to the CBC, and the other guys: In a 9-0 decision, Canada's highest court ruled, despite the fact that ISPs provide the means for piracy, they are not liable for what people download. They continue in their decision that Internet access providers are not bound by federal copyright legislation. Coupled with an earlier story on Slashdot, this is a very good thing." Edward Scissorhands was one of many readers to link to the Globe and Mail's article, too.

Comments

so they don't owe the queen?

[iomanip]

are royalties treated different in a monarchy?

In other news

[Anonymous Coward]

The US supreme court found the atmosphere, specifically oxygena and nitrogen responsible for copyright violations since the atmosphere is the medium through which pirated music is heard.

The atmosphere's lawyer, Moria, had no comment, but whooshed out of the courthouse with a whistling sound.

Maybe I should move to Canada, eh?

[b0r0din]

Let's see: Pros
1) Not hated by the world
2) Speak mostly English
3) Hockey
4) Weaker music industry lobby.
5) Lower Crime Rate
6) No Bushes

Cons:
1) Cold
2) Curling
3) French-speaking People
4) French-speaking People

Not much of a decision here.

Re:Maybe I should move to Canada, eh?

[canwaf]

9) Celine Dion

You have got to be kidding? I apologize on a weekly basis on behalf of Canada for allowing Celine Dion to wreak havoc on the world.

Re:Maybe I should move to Canada, eh?

[Grey Ninja]

Yeah. Up here in Canada, we have some really nice beaver. We have more beaver than we know what do with. They get into our homes, our places of business... And we have to chase them out.

So when you're chasing beaver, nothing refreshes you better than a nice cold Molson Canadian.

Re:Maybe I should move to Canada, eh?

[drodver]

I'm busy that week.

ok, so the ISP thing didn't work...

[x0n]

So, what else can they sue?

CDR/CDRW discs: they facilitate recording pirated music;

Sound Card manufacturers: they facilitate ripping;

Loudspeaker makers: we can hear pirated music through this equipment.

My ears -- yes! sue my ears. They faciliate hearing this music!

Emm, I'm digging now, ehh; why not sew my lips shut too. I can whistle a tune without paying royalties.

See where this is going? DO YOU? DOOO YOU???

- Oisin

Terrible!

[orthogonal]

In a 9-0 decision, Canada's highest court ruled, despite the fact that ISPs provide the means for piracy, they are not liable for what people download. ...this is a very good thing."

Good? This is horrible!

How am I to continue my suit against paper-makers and ink producers on behalf of book publishers?

Oh, wait, I can still do that in the "Land of the Free", the United States.

(It's the land of the free for corporations -- they can get away with anything. It's the land of the fee for taxpayers.)

Dear RIAA

[tod_miller]

Please find enclosed all the tapes I made during the 90's of my favourite music, and a handy list of radio stations that I taped them off. You may now sue their asses, as they provided the means for me to infringe upon your copyrights.

The music is watermarked with a primitive technology called a 'jingle' that will help you identify which station it was.

Sincerely

Tod

Re:Exactly.

[Citizen of Earth]

Here in the US, most laws and court cases involving business are not decided on logic and right and wrong

Time to make a run for the border!

they are decided on which lobyists have greased the right palms and preformed the best fellatio.

I'm sure there are some cunning linguists out there, too.