Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Canada May Lose Copyright Fair-Use Rights

Posted by kdawson on from the rights-eh? dept.

DotNM writes with an article from the CBC reporting that the Canadian government is considering removing fair-use rights from Canada's copyright law. From the article: "Exacerbating the situation is intense pressure from the United States, where Canada is considered a rogue when it comes to copyright and intellectual property. It still hasn't ratified a 1997 World Intellectual Property Organization copyright treaty... Two of the most controversial issues are [DRM] and the closely related technological protection measures."

10 of 303 comments (clear)

  1. Fight.. by QuantumG · · Score: 5, Insightful

    now is the time for Canadians to get out there and tell their elected representatives that they don't want US copyright. Do it now, before your politicians trade your dental plan for a keg of beer for their meetings.

    --
    How we know is more important than what we know.
    1. Re:Fight.. by Rufty · · Score: 5, Funny

      [Q] Why is American beer like sex in a canoe?
      [A] They're both fucking close to water...

      --
      Red to red, black to black. Switch it on, but stand well back.
    2. Re:Fight.. by JebusIsLord · · Score: 5, Informative

      First, go here to find your representative:

      http://webinfo.parl.gc.ca/MembersOfParliament/Main MPsCompleteList.aspx?TimePeriod=Current&Language=E

      then, email them the following (just a suggestion):

      Hi [representative],

      This is my first time writing to you, as a new constituent. I am writing concerning an article I read today on CBC.ca. http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2007/01/11/copy right-canada.html

      I am fairly concerned about possible changes to Canadian fair-use laws. I consider myself a patron of the arts, and one of the music industry's best customers. As a modern, technology-savy citizen, I primarily listen to the music CDs I purchase on my portable iPod, or on my PC. Changes to fair use laws would make the act of "ripping" these songs to my computer, illegal. I consider myself an ethical consumer, and I don't see how in any way this activity harms the music industry. I suppose one could argue that, should this law come into effect, I could purchase my music online and therefore no "illegal" copying from CD would take place. However, these downloadable files (by way of the iTunes music store, for example) already defeat fair-use by restricting your ability to move them to new devices, new PCs etc.

      In short, this law will punish good consumers, like me. Unethical consumers of music are already breaking the law by downloading pirated music, so this law will not affect them. If such legal changes are made, in order to continue listening to music in the manner I have been for years, I will probably opt to simply break the law - as I expect will the majority of iPod-owning Canadians. I will also seriously question whether or not such an industry should be supported financially by my hard-earned paycheques.

      Thank you for listening,
      [insert name here]

      --
      Jeremy
  2. Like anything by RichPowers · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It's harder to get fair use rights back once you lose them. Better to fight now than fight later...

  3. Conservatives? Yeah, sure. by dsanfte · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The Conservative Party in Canada is always on about cutting government intervention in the economy, and then goes and supports legislative corporate welfare like Bill C60. They're clearly just out to make their media friends some more bucks.

    Sadly, the biggest lie circulating is that these changes will somehow better promote "Quebec culture". There's this unfounded belief out there that more and more "protections" and "rights for creators", at the expense of their customers, will result in more content. I just don't see it.

    The US has some of the most restrictive copyright legislation out there, and the slide of music sales has only just now been stemmed by paid downloads. Where are the creators and all the extra content those laws were supposed to encourage? Yeah, on Youtube.com, giving their stuff away for free, rendering all these laws moot.

    If the Canadian government really wants to promote Quebec culture, work with Google to put up a Canadian bilingual version of Youtube on Google.ca. This is a no-brainer, guys...

    --
    occultae nullus est respectus musicae - originally a Greek proverb
  4. Bev Oda by maytagman · · Score: 5, Informative

    Bev Oda's (Canadian Heritage minister) campaign was funded by major record companies such as Universal Records. Basically the record companies are buying these new draconian laws. 'http://bevoda.ca' has recently pulled down the contact info after an obvious flood of hateful email. This has been extensively covered on http://boingboing.net/ and as usual days, weeks and months ahead of slashdot.
    http://www.boingboing.net/2006/09/11/how_hollywood s_mp_in.html
    http://www.boingboing.net/2006/11/08/canadian_copy right_c.html
    http://www.boingboing.net/2006/06/08/can_heritage_ ministe.html
    http://www.boingboing.net/2006/01/04/hollywoods_ca nadian_.html
    http://www.boingboing.net/2006/05/24/canadian_stud ents_as.html
    http://www.boingboing.net/2006/01/15/editorial_in_ toronto.html
    http://www.boingboing.net/2005/09/29/canadian_copy fight_t.html
    http://www.boingboing.net/2006/01/03/canadian_mp_i mports_.html
    http://www.boingboing.net/2005/06/21/canadas_dmca_ dissect.html
    http://www.boingboing.net/2006/09/18/canadians_how to_stop.html

  5. No problem by hammock · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I don't oppose this at all, however, first they have to refund the millions they have stolen by way of the blank media tax. As soon as I see some real money back that those motherfuckers stole from me when I bought backup media for my servers, we can talk about copyright reform.

    I am waiting to hear back from you.

  6. Canadian Troop Deployment by camperdave · · Score: 5, Funny

    The majority of our troops are in Afghanistan. The third one is rowing the submarine.

    --
    When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
  7. Not going to pass without major amendments... by Hamster+Lover · · Score: 5, Informative

    For those that have no clue about Canada's current political situation, the governing Conversative party holds minority power, less than 50% of the seats in Parliament, and as such requires the votes of the other parties, the NDP, the Liberals or the Bloq Quebecois, to pass any legislation. The Liberals, which have the largest number of seats after the Conservatives, have also just elected a new, dynamic leader to head their party and he is out for blood. So, regardless of the legislation that is introduced it is going to be amended when the bill heads to committee (second reading), if it even gets that far. Once the bill heads to committee look for it to be sliced and diced by the opposition if for no other reason than to earn some political points with the public. A similar situation occured when the Liberals amended the Conservatives much vaunted crime reform bill and watered down or removed key sections of the legislation.

    Stephen Dion, the new Liberal leader, has also indicated that he will not co-operate with the Conservatives on any legislative initiatives and has intimated that he will vote to bring down the government on the next confidence motion and force an election. So we may not even make it that far.

    Don't hold your breath on this passing.

  8. Make this a voting issue..... by Kernel+Kurtz · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Make this a voting issue, and make it clear to your MP and other government representatives that it is. We have a minority government here right now, and an election is likely sooner rather than later. Issues like this could swing the balance of power, or make the difference between a majority or another minority government.

    I voted CPC last election, but if they take away my fair use rights they will not get my vote again. Ever.