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Canadian Government Says DRM Circumvention Not Related To Copyright

An anonymous reader writes "Michael Geist has followed up a recent release of internal government talking points on copyright with the full, internal clause-by-clause analysis of Bill C-32. A new copyright bill is expected as soon as this week and the government document confirms there is no defense to violations of the digital lock rules, noting 'a contravention of this prohibition is not an infringement of copyright and the defenses to infringement of copyright are not defenses to these prohibitions.' The government's own words on the digital lock provisions confirm that they may be unconstitutional since they fall outside the boundaries of copyright." Basically, if you break DRM even without violating copyright in the process you can still be held liable, and from this any defense based on copyright law (fair use, etc.) is not valid in such cases. On the flipside, several legal experts think that makes those provisions of the law less likely to stand up in court.

3 of 119 comments (clear)

  1. This is all about by ackthpt · · Score: 3, Funny

    Protecting revenues from sale of SCTV episodes, eh!

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    A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
  2. Re:What is this, minority report by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    > Punish illegal act.
    Error: fair use clause makes act legal.
    >sudo Punish illegal act.
    Punished.

  3. Re:It makes sense now by TheVelvetFlamebait · · Score: 4, Funny

    There were several unsolved murders committed in Montreal last year. I always wondered who commits all these murders, but now I think I have my answer! The world is made so simple with foregone conclusions!

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    You know, there is a difference between trolling and pointing out the flaws in your reasoning. Just saying.