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Last Chance To Stop SOPA From Coming To Canada

An anonymous reader writes "This weekend may be the last chance for Canadians to fight back against SOPA-style laws being added to Canadian copyright law, with the final hearing scheduled for Monday. In recent days, the copyright lobby has demanded website blocking, warrantless access to subscriber information, and unlimited damage awards. Michael Geist has the details on who to contact and Open Media has launched a campaign to encourage Canadians to speak out before Monday's Bill C-11 meeting. The group makes it easy to speak out against SOPA style reforms, harms to fair dealing, and unduly restrictive digital lock rules."

54 of 86 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Eh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    First, they came for the Canadians, but I did not speak up because I am not Canadian...

  2. Ah, you think you can stop it! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    That's so cute, you believe you are part of the political process, and that the elected aristocrats actually have a reason to answer to you.

    Nope, not even in Canada.

  3. Harper's in Office by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    If he wants the law to pass, it'll get done, despite what anyone, even his own party wants. The opposite is also true.

    1. Re:Harper's in Office by Desler · · Score: 1

      Don't ask someone else to do it. Do it yourself, tough guy.

    2. Re:Harper's in Office by Beardo+the+Bearded · · Score: 4, Funny

      Use a rifle. You don't even have to register them anymore.

      --

      ---
      ECHELON is a government program to find words like bomb, jihad, plutonium, assassinate, and anarchy.
    3. Re:Harper's in Office by billcopc · · Score: 5, Insightful

      This.

      He must be stopped. And by stopped I mean thrown in prison. And by prison I mean not one of the for-profit prisons he's established. And by established I mean sold to private interests. And by private interests I mean his cronies.

      He is George W. Bush with slightly better english diction.

      --
      -Billco, Fnarg.com
    4. Re:Harper's in Office by DarthVain · · Score: 2

      Cop #1: "So who did it?"
      Cop #2: "Irony."

    5. Re:Harper's in Office by Ironhandx · · Score: 1

      Responding to you because of the Anonymous Faggot who is attempting to spread disinformation.

      http://www.straight.com/article-119340/stephen-harper-opens-door-to-prison-privatization

      This is what the above poster is talking about.

      Yes Stephen Harper IS privatizing prisons.

      NO it is NOT a good idea.

    6. Re:Harper's in Office by billcopc · · Score: 1

      It's cool. In the last few years, I've come to instinctively assume that any and all AC posts are trolls, unless it's some sensitive, NDA-type topic, and even then I assume a 50% probability of trolliness.

      Y'know, it's times like this, I wish Canada had crazy outspoken conspiracy theorists like Alex Jones. For all his mad ranting, he does manage to disseminate a lot of dirty facts about the government. Harper's appointees are so nasty, yet nobody seems to know or care. Look at utter shitbags like Bruce Carson, who somehow got a security clearance and a privileged position by Harper's side, despite numerous fraud convictions. Meanwhile, a guy like me can be denied security clearance over bad credit or a shitty ex-employer. Our whole government is a goddamned joke while this clown is in power.

      --
      -Billco, Fnarg.com
    7. Re:Harper's in Office by gottspeed · · Score: 1

      You post AC because you're a cowardly boot-licking fascist who makes short term conclusions at the expense of your children's freedom and happiness. Read less news papers and do some fucking thinking.

    8. Re:Harper's in Office by Beardo+the+Bearded · · Score: 1

      It was just a joke. The registry was created in the wake of the L'ecole Polytechnique massacre. It didn't do much of anything and I think the Americans have it correct -- if you're going to commit to a life of crime, you're not going to bother with the paperwork for a rifle or handgun.

      There has been, as far as I know, one case where the registry was used to solve a crime, but it was where an employee of a sporting goods store was stealing rifles. Not really worth the time and expense.

      --

      ---
      ECHELON is a government program to find words like bomb, jihad, plutonium, assassinate, and anarchy.
  4. try anyways by WanQiaoYi · · Score: 2

    good luck Canada!

  5. Fuck you, Canada! by elrous0 · · Score: 2, Funny

    You think we're helping you after what you did to our Baldwins?!?!?

    --
    SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
    1. Re:Fuck you, Canada! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Canada has apologized numerous times for Bryan Adams.

  6. I still have a right to make backups by msobkow · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If the DMCA clauses pass, I'll still have a right to make backups. It'll be harder to get the software for ripping, but it won't slow me down in the least, or worry me at all.

    What it will do is encourage me to torrent download like a fiend to save the hassle of ripping and encoding my own DVDs for access via media server.

    --
    I do not fail; I succeed at finding out what does not work.
  7. Stupid by jpmorgan · · Score: 2

    C-11 is nothing like SOPA.

    Don't believe me? Read it for yourself.

    1. Re:Stupid by poetmatt · · Score: 5, Insightful

      That's not an excuse. It's subjecting Canada to the same problems as we have with US laws.

  8. Zero chance of stopping it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Canada has been taken over by a radical bunch of neo-cons. They have committed innumerable acts of election fraud in what has been effectively a coup.

    This SOPA-like shit is nothing in the grander scale of things.

    Now is Canada's time to shed some blood to refresh the tree of liberty in this country. An unimaginable change from a mere 10 years ago when we complained about the other party in government kowtowing to corporate wishes.

    Watch for the con-bots to appear claiming that they're the victim in this somehow. Or how John Doe got a speeding ticket, con-bots murdered someone, so everyone's a criminal, blah blah blah.

    Fuck, it makes me sick thinking about what's happened to this country. Honestly fucking want to puke.

    1. Re:Zero chance of stopping it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      A pussy with a dream/goal is still better than a dick who aimlessly pisses on those dreams/goals

      Both are better than an asshole who shits on everything though and ruin the world for everyone.

      Pussies can't do much about assholes, but a good pussy can entice a dick to rise up, and do something about the asshole.

      Now the writers of Team America World Police will come sue me for borrowing their analogy

  9. Where are they? by courteaudotbiz · · Score: 1

    Where is/are ANONYMOUS when we need him/her/them?!? A little technological pressure could help...

    1. Re:Where are they? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      In jail. In the USA.

      Next question?

    2. Re:Where are they? by nman64 · · Score: 2

      Or, some foolish script kiddies costing businesses money could fuel the arguments for more government regulation, control and interference. Legislators, lobbyists, CEOs and others of that ilk do not see Anonymous as crusaders of freedom representing the public's interests, but rather as obnoxious criminals pushing their own agenda.

    3. Re:Where are they? by courteaudotbiz · · Score: 2

      I don't believe "Anonymous" was only 2 people... (the one who got caught and the one who sold him).

    4. Re:Where are they? by Urban+Nightmare · · Score: 1

      That's funny because most citizens thing the corporations are obnoxious criminals pushing their own agenda.

      Everyone has an agenda. Everyone is a criminal if you pass enough laws.

      Even http://noagendashow.com/

    5. Re:Where are they? by nman64 · · Score: 1

      Or, some foolish legislators, lobbyists and CEOs costing businesses money could fuel the arguments for less government regulation, control and interference. Script kiddies, Anonymous and others of that ilk do not see legislators, lobbyists and CEOs as crusaders of freedom representing the public's interests, but rather as obnoxious criminals pushing their own agenda.

      There's the other perspective. The problem is, when it comes to making laws, the legislators, lobbyists and CEOs are the ones in control. When Anonymous acts, it will be the perspective of the legislators that will affect the laws formed in response.

      "Good. Bad. I'm the guy with the gun." - Ash

  10. Liberals+NDP by serbianheretic · · Score: 2

    If we can get Liberals and NDP to scream **bloody murder*** together with regular citizens, then it might dawn on those in Ottawa that this will hurt their re-election chances. Just a thought ...

    1. Re:Liberals+NDP by Maow · · Score: 3, Interesting

      If we can get Liberals and NDP to scream **bloody murder*** together with regular citizens, then it might dawn on those in Ottawa that this will hurt their re-election chances. Just a thought ...

      Bill C-30 will eventually get passed, some time before the next election.

      The clause inside it that allows the ISP "raids" to be performed by anyone designated by the minister is a dead giveaway, in conjunction with the massive election frauds, that it will be used by Conservative hacks to dig dirt on political opponents.

      There will be no more free & fair elections for the Conservatives to have to worry about losing. Remember the 2+ years of attack ads against Ignatief? Just wait until they can scour the records of all communications of all their opponents, coupled with planting evidence where none exists and the Cons expect a permanent majority.

      Anything less would leave them exposed to prosecution on criminal charges of everything up to treason.

    2. Re:Liberals+NDP by RJHelms · · Score: 1

      And then if/when that party wins enough power under the FPTP system to actually bring about that change, they will mysteriously lose their desire for proportional representation.

      Don't forget, before political power was within his reach, Stephen Harper was a consistent advocate of proportional representation. Somehow that dropped by the wayside once the distortions in our electoral system started to work in his favour.

    3. Re:Liberals+NDP by Beardo+the+Bearded · · Score: 1

      Don't forget how McKay got the Air Force to dig through their emails to see if anyone could find out if his critics had ever flown in a helicopter.

      --

      ---
      ECHELON is a government program to find words like bomb, jihad, plutonium, assassinate, and anarchy.
    4. Re:Liberals+NDP by CanEHdian · · Score: 1

      If we can get Liberals and NDP to scream **bloody murder*** together with regular citizens, then it might dawn on those in Ottawa that this will hurt their re-election chances. Just a thought ...

      Not just that, they (including the Bloc and the Greens and perhaps the Pirate Party of Canada) should get together and already draft an amendment that will turn back all of the C11 pain points, e.g. the digital lock provision in non-infringing circumstances and any amendments the CRIA and their ilk propose.

      This is not a joke. Make the text publicly available, perhaps request comments, and when finalized, for the record pledge that as soon as the Coalition of the Unwilling gets a majority in parliament, this proposal will be tabled and passed. This is not just to reassure voters, but also everyone that benefits from C11, that these rules are only temporary and shouldn't be thought of as giving any kind of protection, as they will be undone, hopefully sooner rather than later.

      --
      When the copyright term is "forever minus a day", live every day like it's the last.
  11. Watching Closely by calgar99 · · Score: 2

    Anyone living just south of Canada... hell, everyone should be watching this closely. Who's to say it won't come to your neck of the woods?

  12. Only at second reading by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    http://www.parl.gc.ca/LegisInfo/Home.aspx?Language=E&Parl=41&Ses=1

    Not that you shouldn't contact your MP, but this thing has got a bit to go yet.

    1. Re:Only at second reading by Nerdfest · · Score: 3

      I actually just called mine and had a bit of a rant (at his assistant). If you have the time, it's probably worth more than an email.

  13. Yeah but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    then they sent down that Justin Beiber chick!

    1. Re:Yeah but... by forkfail · · Score: 1

      Have to blame ourselves for what happened there.

      After all, compare and contrast Beiber's media attention in the US with say Rush...

      --
      Check your premises.
    2. Re:Yeah but... by snemiro · · Score: 1

      well....Justin's haircut was much better than Neil's....maybe Alex could do the same!...No hope for Geddy.....

  14. Do not allow this madness the continue by Lunaritian · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The main problem is that every time a country adopts stupid laws like this, it becomes easier to pass it in other countries too.

    So please, Canada, make sure this law won't pass. This law isn't a threat just to you, it's a threat to the whole world.

  15. Fuck the conservatives. by gmarsh · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I think C-11 is an absolutely horrible bill.

    - It allows warrantless monitoring of a person's internet activity, which is an inexcusable invasion of privacy.
    - According to a law professor I've spoken to, it makes warrantless monitoring of my telephone legal since I'm using a VOIP telephone system provided by the cable company, and VOIP is just extra internet traffic. This is despite the fact that warrantless monitoring of a landline is highly illegal.
    - Oh, and if I burn a copy of a DVD I own, I've broken a digital lock and I'm now I'm potentially liable for unlimited damages. They were nice enough to add a backup provision to C-11, except it's not applicable if you're breaking a digital lock.

    Not to mention the fact it's being thrust on us by a majority government that got less than 50% of the overall vote at election time, may not actually have a legitimate majority thanks to the ongoing robocall scandal... and the whole fucking bill is being pushed on us with "support it or you're with the pedophiles" bullshit.

    And here's what I've done about it:

    - I've written my local (Conservative) MP about the bill, and got a template reply. Wrote back again, no response.
    - I wrote a former (NDP) MP in my previous district, and got back a really great "100% with you on this, but unfortunately they've got a majority so all we can do is whine and complain in the house" e-mail.

    What the frig else should I do?

    1. Re:Fuck the conservatives. by dryeo · · Score: 2

      Pray the Supreme Court shows some sanity? Seems most parts of this law are unconstitutional from unreasonable searches to stepping on the Provinces toes by passing legislation regulating private property.
      Also be a bonus if a bunch of election results were thrown out forcing bye-elections and removing the Conservatives majority but I doubt that that would happen, they''ll just go on about it being anti-democratic and prorogue Parliament until people forget the truth and believe their attack ads.
      I'll write my MP again but he honestly believes the bullshit about intellectual property and if anything this law doesn't go far enough to protect the rights of the artists ctrl-w publishers.

      --
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverted_totalitarianism
    2. Re:Fuck the conservatives. by MrKevvy · · Score: 1

      - I wrote a former (NDP) MP in my previous district, and got back a really great "100% with you on this, but unfortunately they've got a majority so all we can do is whine and complain in the house" e-mail.
      What the frig else should I do?

      Harper was found in Contempt of Parliament years ago and nothing was ever done about it. This should be reopened and actioned.

      --
      -- Insert witty one-liner here. --
    3. Re:Fuck the conservatives. by alexo · · Score: 2

      What the frig else should I do?

      Here are some suggestions, in no particular order:

      * Spread the message. Contact people electronically and in person to let them know that C-30, C-11 and their ilk are evil incarnate. Use facts but don't be afraid of hyperbole.

      * Get a commitment from the Liberal, NDP, Green and independent candidates in your riding to fight to revoke the parts of these bills you find unacceptable should they get elected, in return to your helping their campaign. Then choose one and HELP THEIR CAMPAIGN.

      * Talk to young people, middle- and high-school students in particular are not yet completely brainwashed. Explain to them that they do not want to live under a regimes that wants to make everyone a criminal for the sake of the for-profit jails. Some of them will be old enough to vote in the next election, some in the following ones. Start early. The older generations are most likely a lost cause.

      * Use easy-to-understand and hard-to-argue-against examples to frame the argument. E.g.:
      1) Want to watch your legally-bought DVD on your iPad or iPhone? Go to jail!
      2) What if your Ex's cousin is a dirty cop? They are now legally allowed to stalk you without court oversight!
      3) http://www.smbc-comics.com/comics/20120202.gif
      etc.

      * Share every little success that you have with your Conservative MP. Thank them for giving you the motivation to fight the good fight and remind them that you could be using all this energy to help THEM instead, if only they took a firm stand against C-20 and C-11.

      It's WAR. Start treating it like one.

    4. Re:Fuck the conservatives. by Ironhandx · · Score: 1

      Majority motion to re-open has to pass the house. Guess whats not happening now?

    5. Re:Fuck the conservatives. by Maow · · Score: 1

      What the frig else should I do?

      Write the Governor General info@gg.ca and demand he dissolve Parliament.

      Dunno if he can do it, but it's one of the few non-drastic measures left.

      (Fantasizing a bit for next bit here:)
      Maybe ask a bunch of active service Afghan vets to storm Parliament and arrest Conservatives: a military coup would be preferable to what happened last May 2nd.

      Plus the irony of Mr "Support our Troops or you support the Taliban" Harper being arrested for treason by... our troops would be delicious beyond description.

      Actually, the military coup, followed by elections within 12 months (should only take 3 months) isn't a bad idea. At least hasty military trials for treason, swiftly followed involuntary Conservative donations to organ transplant programmes would start to right the good ship Canada.

      Good gawd, how low we've sunk!

  16. My Email to my MP by Petersko · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I'd like to take a moment to address the question of C-11. I have, in fact, read it in its entirety, since media coverage is never without bias.

    http://www.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?Docid=5144516&file=4

    I'm sure you've heard from people who are far more rabid in their disdain for this legislation than I, and you've likely heard all of the arguments against it.

    I will therefore restrict myself to declaring that, should this legislation pass, I will not be voting for you in the future. That is an unconditional promise.

    Yours,

    Petersko

    1. Re:My Email to my MP by alexo · · Score: 1

      I will therefore restrict myself to declaring that, should this legislation pass, I will not be voting for you in the future. That is an unconditional promise.

      No good. You voice is just a single one, it will not influence their decision.

      Instead, make a pledge to your MP that you will spend your time, energy and resources to help THEIR OPPONENTS FOR SEVEN GENERATIONS win.
      Then follow up.

      I go into a little more details here.

  17. Re:Eh by billcopc · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It will be fun when our Amerifag P.M. says "hey BushBamaRomney our prisons are generating record profits thanks to SOPA", and this whole mess gets re-shoved down American citizens' throats, only this time without a last-minute reversal.

    See, the funny thing about Canada is our fascist assclown of a fraudulently-elected leader likes to think of us as a beta 51st state. Whatever works here will serve as a case study for the U.S. administration, so your fascist assclowns can go live with the new and improved version of NeoConOS 2.0. Just as we carefully observe U.S. politics, you should be monitoring Canadian politics because they are very closely related on an ideological level.

    --
    -Billco, Fnarg.com
  18. Re:Eh by Archenoth · · Score: 1

    Actually, first they came for the Americans with SOPA... And I spoke up for them, but I am not American. Why don't you help us like we helped you?

    --
    The arch foe.
  19. 2.0 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    It will be fun when our Amerifag P.M. says "hey BushBamaRomney our prisons are generating record profits thanks to SOPA", and this whole mess gets re-shoved down American citizens' throats, only this time without a last-minute reversal.

    See, the funny thing about Canada is our fascist assclown of a fraudulently-elected leader likes to think of us as a beta 51st state. Whatever works here will serve as a case study for the U.S. administration, so your fascist assclowns can go live with the new and improved version of NeoConOS 2.0. Just as we carefully observe U.S. politics, you should be monitoring Canadian politics because they are very closely related on an ideological level.

    +100 from a fellow former Canadian, like you, currently a political prisoner in Harperstan and who is quite seriously contemplating getting the fuck off the continent of his birth because it is turning into pure evil.

    Harper and his gang of brain-dead fat fuck fascist wooden puppets are mindless neocon robots and enemies of all that is Canada. They are directed by multinational corporate (mostly u.s.) interests and are operating in Canada in order to liberate Canada of all its resources and wealth and destroy all that was good about Canada. They are the GW Bush Hunta 2.0 and the harper invasion is the new version of the Iraq war. Only this time, their invasion has been covert (however, less so every day), not overt.

    The harper government is one big evil crime syndicate. They must all be wiped out of existence as soon as possible and then the damage undone, which will take decades.

    1. Re:2.0 by Ltap · · Score: 1

      Where would you go?

      --
      Yet Another Tech Blog
      (but so much more, including game and movie reviews)
      http://yanteb.peasantoid.org
  20. Re:Who are "they"? by Em+Adespoton · · Score: 1

    the "they" - at least in my riding, represent a voting majority that would be more than happy to see these laws passed, because the issues are completely off their radar. At least when I wrote to my MP, message was passed on to the aides of the people responsible for this bill, who sent me back a propaganda message... which I rebutted point by point. Not that it'll do any good. The only way this won't pass is if it becomes politically unpopular -- and for that to happen, someone doing something really naughty has to be caught and associated with the bill.

  21. So many things wrong with this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Before I get modded down, I just want to know that Truth is the first casualty in this war. Here are some facts:

    - This is NOT the last chance to get Bill C-10 from getting to Canada, it has to go through the Senate (You screwed this up once Senate, don't screw it again). If they change even a word, it must go back to the House of Commons and start over.
    - Online surveillance is NOT in Bill C-10, it's in Bill C-30 (I don't that bill either)
    - This ISN'T SOPA, it's DMCA (annoying...)
    - No, Anonymous wouldn't help this situation, since they tried to pressure Vic Toews on Bill C-30, and now they have an excuse to ram it through. Don't do it for Bill C - 11.

    1. Re:So many things wrong with this by Cyko_01 · · Score: 1

      speaking of facts... it's bill C-11 not C-10

  22. Re:Eh by Cyko_01 · · Score: 2

    you laugh now, but wait until the RIAA takes another stab at it and says "every other country in the world already has laws like these"

  23. Re:Eh by dgatwood · · Score: 1

    Because our leaders didn't care about your complaints any more than your leaders will care about ours. Our leaders only cared that Google said YouTube might have to shut down if the law was passed, and that their constituents would burn down Washington D.C. if they couldn't get their videos of cats playing ping-pong.

    --

    Check out my sci-fi/humor trilogy at PatriotsBooks.