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Canadian ISPs Send Thousands of Copyright Notices

Posted by Zonk on from the you-there-off-the-internets dept.

An anonymous reader writes "The CBC reports that Canadian Internet service providers are passing along thousands of copyright infringement notifications to their customers. These notices are coming, not from Canada, but from US copyright lobby groups such as the Business Software Alliance under a system called notice and notice. Michael Geist comments that unlike the U.S. takedown approach, the Canadian system is proving effective while protecting privacy and free speech. Downloaders take the hint, and alter their behavior before they receive a more serious letter in the mail."

10 of 184 comments (clear)

  1. Altering behavior... by rovingeyes · · Score: 3, Insightful
    "Downloaders take the hint, and alter their behavior..."

    By altering behavior, if they mean using encryption, poxies, tor etc etc then it is a welcome change.

    1. Re:Altering behavior... by shmlco · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Have to wonder how this works in a "home" situation where the kid has download tons of crap in the basement and his parents get the notice. Bet there's some potential for "behavior alteration" there...

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  2. Re:First, how do they avoid these messages being . by GiovanniZero · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I dunno but hopefully the subpoena will also be caught in the spam filter...and all the fines

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  3. Re:Media fees by Bin+Naden · · Score: 5, Insightful

    So what are the fees that people pay for media for?

    Protection money.

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    There should be a "-1:Groupthink"
  4. Altered Behavior by Apocalypse111 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Alter their behavior? Like installing Peer Guardian? Or maybe a Tor client? Or perhaps just opening up a WAP?

    What do these US lobby groups (note: not law enforcement agencies) think they can do against Canadian citizens?

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    1. Re:Altered Behavior by phalkon30 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I see many people recommending Peer Guradian, but I question its usefulness. From past experience, it blocked many sites that I found useful, and tended not to block a whole lot else. Because it relies on user submited IP's. From their website: "How safe is PeerGuardian, really? Well, it is accurate in the sense that it blocks everything on your blocklist. It is impossible to know _all_ the addresses to block so while it will increase your safety to a good extent, it can never be perfect." IMO its like sticking your head in the sand and hoping noone sees you.

    2. Re:Altered Behavior by stratjakt · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Exact same thing they can do to American citizens. They could take you to court.

      This "US lobby group" shit is slashdot spin to whip you into an anti-US frenzy. Arrr how dare bush interfere!

      The BSA is an international group, and the BSA certainly had a presence in Canada when I lived there.

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    3. Re:Altered Behavior by Guaranteed · · Score: 1, Insightful

      While the legality of downloading movies/mp3 files/whatever might be dubious in Canada, ISPs can certainly revoke your access to their services for whatever reason they want, and getting a big wad of cash from US Lobby groups would certainly be a solid 'whatever' reason. Considering we've only got two major broadband providers in Canada, being booted off your ISP is a big deal.

  5. So much for the canadian slashdotter's stance by fotbr · · Score: 4, Insightful

    You know, the one where its legal to share files because they pay taxes.

    Then again, I also can't think of any country's borders the **AA actually respects. So welcome to the club.

  6. Re:Media fees by stratjakt · · Score: 3, Insightful

    It's not a fee, it's a tax. It is to compensate those industries hurt by piracy, not to give you a license to pirate.

    Your logic goes as follows:

    "tax money goes to womens relief shelters, I pay taxes, therefore I have the right to beat and rape women."

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