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Canadian DMCA Coming This Spring
An anonymous reader writes "The Canadian government is reportedly ready to introduce copyright reform legislation this spring, provided that no election is called. The new bill would move Canada far closer to the U.S. on copyright, with DMCA-style anti-circumvention legislation that prohibits circumvention of DRM systems and bans software and mod chips that can be used to circumvent such systems."
""The Canadian government is reportedly ready to introduce copyright reform legislation this spring, provided that no election is called. The new bill would move Canada far closer to the U.S. on copyright [CC] [MD] [GC], with DMCA-style anti-circumvention legislation that prohibits circumvention of DRM systems and bans software and mod chips that can be used to circumvent such systems.""
On your marks! Get set! Complain!
It's not "coming" as the summary suggests, it's only a bill being put forward.
This is just a kneejerk reaction to the rumor about Internet radio stations moving to Canada since the CRB decided to price them out of business.
If I were Canadian, I wouldn't worry so much about DMCA as I would the US pushing hard enough that the Canadian government rolls over on measures that protect their own music and film industries. Hollywood has been losing business to Canadian industry for years now.
The DMCA would just be one measure to strong arm the entire continent into a position of propping up the **AA at any cost to the consumer.
Support NYCountryLawyer RIAA vs People
... what happened to charging the music industry's Big Four for cartel activities, or the movie industry over the DVD regions dividing the market into convenient zones (also cartel-like), despite WTO goals of free markets?
Oh, that's right. They paid off the politicans. Is the lobster to your taste, Mr. Hatch?
An election will be called within the next month or two, after that, it all depends on who gets into office, but I think it foolish to think that another other party in power would not be pressured by the various lobbies to do their bidding. And all political parties love the money that comes with lobbies.
but the kicker is this: we pay the levy on the blank cd's we use for our release. this means that some major-label canadian artist (ms. levign perhaps) is actually making money off of my band's record while my band is losing money.
Well, all you have to do is join the American Federation of Musicians, then apply to the Canadian Private Copying Collective for a zero-rating on the levy.
That should save you $105 on your purchase of 500 blanks (yes, $0.21 on ea.!!), and after the $60 application fee for the zero-rating and the $112.00 annual AFM dues plus the $115 initiation fee, you'll have saved -$182 ...oh.
I was archiving field recordings on blank media, and paying a levy. At some point, I just broke down and started downloading mp3's so that I didn't feel so ripped off.
Damn those pesky terrorists
While I agree with your sentiments, as a lawyer I can tell you that you are the one who will have serious problems if they decide to take action against you. Simply defending the case would probably bankrupt you, regardless of whether you were to win or loose. Getting a costs award is never a sure thing, so even if you win you can still be on the hook for all of your legal expenses. This is why it is important to fight against these laws. Anyone who thinks that they can simply ignore laws that they deem "stupid" is taking a huge risk. While you may think that you can explain your use in court, you likely do not have sufficient funds to hire a competent lawyer who will even get you that far.
Somehow I doubt knowing that a gun was registered will help after the fact in a murder-suicide. What are the cops going to do, exhume the killer and re-bury them in jail?
Laws do not persuade just because they threaten. --Seneca
'if we outlaw guns only outlaws will have guns'
... But I register my vehicle, I register to vote, I "register" with Revenue Canada when I take a job, I am obliged to take part in the census ...'
This is both accurate and logical.
'if you're doing nothing wrong, you've got nothing to hide'
This is neither accurate nor logical. A desire for privacy does NOT imply guilt, it is a fundamental need shared by most forms of life.
'Or, if you're using your gun for hunting and keeping the coyotes away from your chickens, why not register it? I know, it's nobody's damn business, it's more bureaucracy, it's a pain in the ass
Because I don't want the government to have information about me. I am opposed to all of those things. The less intelligence about me that government possesses the less harm they can do in my life. Registering your vehicle serves one purpose, allowing the government to track you. I can not see how that could EVER actually benefit me. Should I commit a traffic offense that would be quit helpful to the government in collecting revenues but it would never benefit me. If I am concerned about my vehicle being stolen then I'll call lojack.
It wasn't that long ago that none of those controls existed and somehow society functioned.
'As far as privacy goes, keeping the fact that I own a gun secret is pretty low on the list.'
My guns are for the protection of myself and my family. Perhaps you trust the powers at be and the police to be honest.. because you have faith. Perhaps you believe in flying spaghetti monsters as well. Maybe you think not trusting the police and government is paranoid. That's fine, you are entitled to your beliefs. I am just as entitled to mine. And my beliefs include those groups in the list of people who might try to use force to impose their will on me and my family. Why would I tell someone who may present a threat to my family that I have a gun? That intelligence could only help them.