.jpg)
Photo By: Pershing
The Conservatives are at their usual shenanigans again. They are trying to make Canada look like America junior. Harper and his cronies are launching another offensive to make Canadian copyright law look and smell a lot like the U.S copyright legislation.
Canadian Heritage Minister James Moore and Industry Minister Tony Clement were unable to reach consensus on the broad framework of a new bill. Moore has argued for a virtual repeat of Bill C-61, with strong digital locks provisions similar to those found in the U.S. Digital Millennium Copyright Act and a rejection of a flexible fair dealing approach. The Prime Minister is on the verge of introducing a bill that would essentially be the most anti-consumer copyright bill in Canadian history.
Such laws impose draconian penalties on people who try to break anti-circumvention technology on digital content. These barriers are in place largely to keep everyday people from copying content -- this is a major point of criticism because consumers have been able to copy content they've purchased for years. Think VHS, CDs and analog cassettes to name a few.
This bill will be introduced in the next six weeks. This isn't the first time the Conservative government has tried to enact such law. Bill C-61, proposed in 2008, fueled outrage for what critics described as anti-consumer, pro-copyright-holder measures, such as forcing users to abide by content locks. The bill rightfully died in Ottawa
More than almost any technology-related issue copyright law generates outrage. Social media groups dedicated to repealing bill C-61 drew massive numbers of supporters on Facebook and Myspace. It goes without saying that the movie and music industries are pushing to get this bill passed into law. They have always had the opinion that users downloading Iron Man 2 off the Internet instead of going to the theatre or buying the DVD is destroying their pocketbooks.
As the six weeks wind down expect the hysteria to peak as we get one step closer to becoming the 51st state.
Comments
A note about the digital locks: They aren't just on content, but on our devices.
The lock on content doesn't make it so it can't be copied, but makes it so that the content can only be accessed on devices that the copyright holder likes.
The lock on devices is one where the key is held by other than the owner, with the intent that the owner be locked out of what they own.
It is best to say non-owner locks and anti-interoperability locks when discussing this radical change to the shape of provincial property and e-commerce law. While the changes will be made to the federal copyright law, they have little to do with what a reasonable person would consider to be copyright.
More at flora dot ca slash own
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!