Slashdot Mirror
Canadian Copyright Official Dumped Over MPAA Conflict
An anonymous reader writes "The Canadian government's top copyright policy maker has been moved aside after revelations that she was in a personal relationship with Hollywood's top Canadian lobbyist. The development is raising questions about how the MPAA got an anti-camcording bill passed in only three weeks and what it means for the introduction of a Canadian DMCA."
The development is raising questions about how the MPAA got an anti-camcording bill passed in only three weeks and what it means for the introduction of a Canadian DMCA.
Well, it's kind of obvious. She's only against the use of camcorders in movie theaters. if you know what I mean.
The theory of relativity doesn't work right in Arkansas.
According to multiple sources, the personal reason involves a personal relationship with one of Canada's leading copyright lobbyists.
While Neri's personal life is no one's business but her own, this does raise troubling questions about the quick passage of Bill C-59, the anti-camcording legislation, since Neri appeared as a witness before a Senate hearing on the bill with the lobbyist in the room.
I'd be interested in watching the speed at which she is "dumped" by the lobbyist now that she has no power to help advance his career.
I was expecting some kind of payola, maybe free vacations, a car, ya know, the usual. But when the Canadian Lobbyist told his bosses he'd really give it his all...
Karma Whoring for Fun and Profit.
Surely, eventually, people will have to realise what the **AA are up to and call shenanigans on the whole show. And towards that end a story like this is nothing but good news.
Given that the lobbyists are always in bed with the lawmakers ;)
Well, I'm still jealous. At least Canada apparently cleans house every so often...
I see a follow-up article here.
Anyone seen my jagged little pill?
Would be nice to see if it changes anything, I've always liked Canada's stance. Australia seems much too happy just following along with the USA.
It doesn't actually change anything in any of the three countries. People all do the same stuff. It's just the Canadians aren't made criminals by doing the same activities as everyone else in the world.
I am government man, come from the government. The government has sent me. -- G.I.R.
I guess we can all dream.
I mean is anyone acctually surprised that this is how things get done? OMG she got caught doing what we all do! says the other government officials. sexual favours for getting bills passed and what not.
While Patricia Neri has been removed for this ethical violation, I doubt this indiscretion will have any effect on future legislation. Policy makers will still make their decisions based upon lobbying deals and merit. As for the MPAA, it's not like their reputation could get any worse.
The issues are the same - an unfair balance between parties. Once we (here in Canada) get up to ridiculous levels of copyright terms as you already are in the US then it's either reform time or - forbid - killing time. Culture is being locked up, fourteen years is enough for copyright. If it was still set at this reasonable time imagine what you could be downloading right now legally: all music, books, and movies from 1993 and before. This is fair not a defacto perpetual license to rip people off.
Shh.
Sleeping with the enemy.
Take what ye can. Give nothing back!
Either way she's still a corporate whore.
Is Canadians should re-establish their rights. First, their right to Smith & Wesson, Ruger, and Glock. Then tell their public officials that not only do they want the camcorder bill rescinded, and the Canadian DMCA dropped. But also a law passed rescinding ALL of the MPAA's copyrights for copyright abuse.
Big Troll but it's truly what should be done. I am not sure what the basis of legality for copyrights in Canada is. Here in the U.S., our patent and copyright laws are supposed to be for a limited time. And for the purpose of further invention and the arts. (No other purpose.)
Well,...it's not. And just as nearly all of our rights are slowly being eroded by re-interpretations, expansions, etc. *shrug* Just wait until the DFSA (Digital Free Speech Act) is passed restricting free speech to only verbal. I mean, the Constitution never explicitly allowed for digital speech. Therefore, it's clear that expressing your point of views online is NOT protected by the U.S. Constitution. (Ain't revisionist interpretation a !@#$%.)
Thankfully, a small segment of the American populace endeavor to maintain our 2nd Ammendment rights in order to ensure the rest of our rights.
So that's why Virgin Digital is shutting down!
This whole thing is so screwed.
Funny, I figured that legislation had no hope in hell of going anywhere.
So there I, after paying my $15 to watch a movie this weekend, and this commercial comes on. Guy in a prison cell. Looks hardcore, like a gang thug or something. The tag line is to the effect of "cameras can watch this dude all day long now... because he DARED bring a camera into a movie theatre".
I just about bust a gut laughing, then realized it was serious: there's a "Operating a recording device in a movie theatre is now illegal in Canada" message at the end.
How fucking pathetic.
Fuck them. I'm officially downloading from here on in. HEY SHITHEADS: I JUST PAID TO SEE YOUR FUCKING MOVIE. PLEASE STOP THREATENING ME WITH A FUCKING PRISON TERM.
Yes, I'm that angry. Even having a minority government didn't stop this horseshit from passing.
Endless arguments over trivial contradictions in books written by ignorant savages to explain thunder in the dark.
... while it's clear a conflict of interest has occurred here, at least the government has been forced to remove Ms. Neri as the heritage minister, since it's an apparent violation of ethics laws. Contrast this to, say, the US, where such things are the norm, and are practically expected from elected officials.
IOW, while something clearly egregious has occurred here, I would argue that the removal of the heritage minister is a clear victory for the people. In addition, this may result in greater scrutiny of the current government, and may serve as an interesting piece of ammunition against a government that was, in theory, supposed to be the ethical alternative to the corrupt Liberals.
Canadia? Shouldn't it be Canadiaa? :)
this raises the (ahem!) barrier to entry for other lobbyists who might want to follow in his, ah, footsteps.
The higher the technology, the sharper that two-edged sword.
I wrote to the then Minister and complained about the fact that Bill C-59 had been pushed through due to lobbying and against the wishes of Ministry Staff, and the opening line stated "I'm concerned that my government would succumb to the pressures of foreign lobby groups and you've now proven that I was worried with cause.".
I received a response from Bev Oda, then the Minister of Heritage, that in no way addressed the issue of lobbying that I raised. At no point did she mention my concerns about lobbyists, and clearly attempted to deflect the issue. I think I was mislead and I'm pissed!!
I know .. why should I expect to get an honest answer from a Conservative government? Because they promised ethics and transparency in government after the Sponsorship Scandal! Liars!
Send in the man-whore to get something through a legislature? Hell, they do that five times before breakfast.
-jcr
The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."
Read this http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article413114.ece
Only the State obtains its revenue by coercion. - Murray Rothbard
You shouldn't.
Neither should you expect one from a Liberal government.
Deceit just the same, but different reasons.
Great! She is are doing to the Canadian Public what her Lover has been doing to her.
Criminals. I just suffered a DDOS from these people. I don't even BitTorrent movies, but they're sloppy and don't give a damn who the collateral damage is.
Wasn't Canada the country which places a tax on blank optical media, based on the assumption that all of it (or some, at least) will be used for piracy? Thus, you may not be a criminal, but you're already being punished because something you're buying could be used to commit a crime??
If so, fuck them. They're as bad as the rest. Worse, even.
Don't thank God, thank a doctor!
Before we actually crucify the MPAA, let's look at the big picture. Does anyone have it? I mean a picture of this Neri woman, because if she's hot it's just a simple case of bribery by "hide the salami", or as the MPAA says "An innocent relationship, which in no way affected Ms. Neri's opinion".
But what if she's a complete dog? I think then you could actually start charging people with bribery and MPAA with pimping. Come to think of it, MPAAs methods aren't too far from those of a street pimp, though MPAA actually prefers the term "Carborne entrepeneur":
*SMACK* *SLAP* "I don't give a s**t if you already bought da movie, gimme da money, b**ch!" *SLAP* *SMACK* *THUD*
She is the wife of the head of Vivendi Universal for god's sake, and the EU let her determine intellectual monopoly policy! The EU is nigh-on irredeemably corrupt.
In Canada, 'fuck the RIAA' has different meaning?
Yawn
In Canada people screw DMCA!
water is wet & politicians are corrupt
Thanks to file sharing, I purchase more CDs
Thanks to the RIAA, I buy them used...
I think this brings new meaning to ancient ideas.
Finally, a decent sex scandal in Canadian Politics! We haven't had one since Maggaret Trudeau was hanging out with rock stars.
Although there was that time a burglar was confronted by Aline Chretien at 24 Sussex...
Skot Nelson music is my saviour / i was maimed by rock and roll
person that was screwed by the MPAA
If you can't get the bill passed, have sex with the top people and blackmail them to pass it. We see this in the Bush administration every day. If they don't join you, set them up with a sex, then blackmail them to join you. After they get done, throw you away like a condom. Nice, Sweet, Fun and well just plain good ole American. The American way; The American Dream; Sex your way to the top!
I wonder what the going rate is for an former politician hooker? Do you think is would be more that $10.00 U.S. dollars.