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Canada Says No To DMCA
P Starrson writes "
The Canadian government has reportedly said no to the DMCA. It
released its plans
for copyright reform today with a limited anti-circumvention provision
that would not cover the likes of DeCSS. It even avoided the U.S.
"notice and takedown system" that has caused a big headache for U.S.
ISPs. A good summary is available from Canadian law professor Michael Geist. "
Seriously, why can't the US government learn to keep their noses out of every aspect in our lives?!
IGB: More fun than eating oatmeal!
Good to see the Canada being more realistic and more free about stuff like this.
Go us! Now the question on everybody's mind up here is: with our refusal to put our official support behind the missile defense program and now this, how long before the border closes up completely?
I'll be honest, we're throwing science against the wall to see what sticks. -Cave Johnson
Eternal vigilance is the price of freedom (and its a PITA).
... The *new* Land of the Free. :-)
Yeah, a grow op of 20 plants on the property of a man with nearly a dozen charges of assault, uttering threats, threatening a police officer, firing a gun within city limits, driving infractions, and who was known to be less than stable. He'd sworn, on several occaisions, to kill people who angered him. The guy was a nut job, and in spite of all this, he had no problems buying all the guns he wanted from the government. Blaming this on weed is like blaming World War II on the German sausages causing indigestion.
I like to place meaningful quotes in my sig, so people will know that I know what meaningful quotes are.
Plain and simple, while these ppl are trying to change the law to their advantage, it is politicians who are doing so. ppl like Utah's senator, Hatch. Many do it not because it is good for America, but because they are gaining personally. That is bad politics.
In other cases, Politicians will do something as a cause and try to make it look like they are doing the right thing, when in reality they know it is wrong, but simply wish to have something for the election.
I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
However, the FAQ also notes that circumvention for the purposes of private copying will not be permitted, meaning people may find themselves paying for a CD and paying a levy on blank CD yet unable to make the copy of the underlying CD.
This is kind of sad. Ok, it may not be a DMCA-like reform we are heading toward, but it still eats away a chunck of my fair-use rights. I mean, now I won't have the right to circumvent DRM-protected files so I can play them on linux? In the future, if they begin to sell DRM-crippled CD's and CD player, I won't have the right to circumvent it's DRM scheme so I can put the music on my iPod (as an example only)? The rest seems to have reach a good balance, but this one I do not like how it sounds.
So ok, things like DeCSS won't be illegal in itself, but using it to rip my DVDs to my harddrive will so I should rejoice why exactly? Because it is not has bad as in the US? It's not as bad so it is ok? Way to go...
Sorry for the rant, this just frustrates me a lot.
I'd rather be sailing...
Blaming this on weed is like blaming World War II on the German sausages causing indigestion.
Not really. Think about it.
Scenario 1: Pot is legal. You grow pot. You sell pot. You smoke pot. You pay your taxes and uphold the law. The cops don't bother you.
Would you shoot a cop?
Scenario 2: Pot is illegal. If you are caught selling it, you get a large fine and possibly some jail time. If you are caught using it, you get a small fine. You grow pot. You sell pot. You smoke pot. Cops have been tipped off and are coming for you, and if you get caught you face a $20,000 fine up to a year in jail.
Would you shoot a cop?
Scenario 3: Pot is illegal. If you are caught selling it, you go to jail for 20 years. If you are caught using it, you are sent to jail for 3 years. You grow pot. You sell pot. You smoke pot. Cops have been tipped off and are coming for you, and if you get caught you go away for the rest of your life.
Would you shoot a cop?
It appears, because of this event, that they will be shelving legistlation to reduce the penalties involved in marijuana. Does anyone else think this is really stupid, or is it just me?
-1 Uncomfortable Truth
Having lived in both places, I'd definitely say that Canada has a far superior health care system. Lets just put it this way, if you are in the USA, you are only one major health issue from bankruptcy - even if you are making 6 figures.
I know you were probably joking, but why let an opportunity to correct a misconception slip by?
He may be illiterate and a self-titled jerk, but he does have a point. Which senators sponsor legislation like the DMCA come from? They happen to be from areas of the country that want to ban violent video games, make schools more like prisons than learning institutions, and let people sue pencil makers for poking themselves in their stupid, stupid eyes.
"No beer until you finish your tequila!" -Leela's Dad
Even bankruptcy won't help, as Congress is about to vote April 6th on the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005.
Aptly named, the act "protects" banks and lenders from those nasty middle-class comsumers who lose their jobs, whose families break up, and who suffer unforeseen medical emergencies.
Any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so.
The border is already effectively closed as far as I'm concerned. The USA has REPEATEDLY lost their battles over softwood tariffs and beef import restrictions and yet the politicians down there are still blocking imports by simply throwing up new laws/rules that they *know* will eventually be struck down again. NAFTA is a complete failure from the Canadian perspective as the "free flow of goods and services" is apparently only a one-way deal.
There is a growing sentiment up here that we should no longer offer the USA preferential access to our natural resources. If you don't want our lumber or our beef, why should we be paying high electric rates to subsidise California? Why should we be shipping our fresh water south by the truckload?
I (and many other Canadians) have stopped going to the USA on vacation. I now give my tourist dollars to countries in Asia, Europe and elsewhere.
Well, weather permitting, I would have to say the grass _does_ seem greener on our side of the fence.
An example of free speech: we don't get called unpatriotic and/or labelled a terrorist (and thus have almost all personal rights revoked) for saying that our political leader is a dickhead. I would even dare say that it's a necessity to question the competence of our leaders, otherwise they would get away with worse stuff than they do now.
Actually I think he has a point there. Have you ever watched Tony Blaire be cross-examined on the floor of the House of Lords? I may dislike his policies, but the guy has amazing oratory skills - he defends his policies and ideas with clarity and coherence. It adds to the public discourse on complex issues. This kind of accountability of the Executive leads to a cleaner and more transparent government.
I *WANT* to see all future US Presidents have to defend themselves in front of the US Senate.
I *WANT* to see GW Bush have to defend himself to cross-examination by opposition parties on the floor of the Senate.
So yeah, I do think there's something the US can learn from British Parliament-style government.