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Canadian DMCA Bill Withdrawn

Posted by kdawson on from the voice-of-the-people dept.

ToriaUru writes to let us know that Michael Geist is reporting that the Canadian Minister of Industry will not be introducing the proposed Canadian Digital Millennium Copyright Act legislation as scheduled. That proposed legislation, discussed here a couple of weeks back, is now reaching Canada's mainstream press. Geist doesn't speculate on why the legislation is being withdrawn, but it could have something to do with the massive popular outcry against the proposal that Geist helped to orchestrate.

5 of 198 comments (clear)

  1. Re:the usual by schon · · Score: 5, Informative

    Then they'll bother to read the actual bill. Contrary to belief, there was no actual bill to read.

    This was about a bill that was going to be tabled this week. Nobody knew what was in it, except for insiders (one of whom apparently leaked details to Geist.)

    This shows pretty much that Geist's source is credible - if the bill wasn't as bad as he said, then Minister would have tabled it, and made Geist look foolish.
  2. Re:well done by ToriaUru · · Score: 5, Informative

    Yes, thanks, and the praise should mostly go to Dr. Geist, who's fighting it tooth and nail. And the others on the band-wagon. We all need to keep writing the M.P.'s, the Ministers, the letters to the editors. Keep it out there, in public. Not hidden/forgotten. :)

    --
    Toria
  3. Re:well done by bouchecl · · Score: 5, Informative

    Actually, I was going to print and send in letters to my MP (John Godfrey, Liberal), the PM, the Minister of Industry (Jim Prentice), Minister of Canadian Heritage (Josee Verner), and get >25 people from my school to sign a petition to send to my MP on Monday, but I probably won't now. I could take the time to actually do something, but it's easier to wait until a weekday, where you have more contact with other people. Actually, the bill hasn't been withdrawn, it has been delayed, according to prof. Geist (be wary of /. headlines and read TFA anyway). I think your petition drive and the letter writing campaign is still in order because it could come back in 2008.
  4. Not withdrawn, delayed by apankrat · · Score: 4, Informative
    As per Michael Geist's own comment -

    I can't say with certainty why the bill has been delayed, nor whether it will be for a day or two, or for longer. I think that this presents an excellent opportunity for Prentice to engage in broader consultation and hold off introducing the bill until 2008.

    --
    3.243F6A8885A308D313
  5. Bill could still be introduced tomorrow by telso · · Score: 5, Informative

    As you can see on the Order Paper for Tuesday, the Minister of Industry can still introduce such a bill (with some last minute changes that water down only the most objectionable content, or no changes at all), just like he could yesterday. It'll stay on the "waiting to be introduced list" until it's introduced, or removed. With 4 more days until the holiday break, it should be interesting to watch; I know where I'll be tomorrow morning at 10 a.m....

    Oh, of course, as already mentioned, the title and summary of this story are wrong, since a bill that's never been introduced cannot be withdrawn. As usual with editors, YMMV.