When Piracy isn't: ACTA and new Copyright Legislation

Submitted by Bob Rae on Thu, 06/05/2008 - 10:36.

We're in the middle of a fascinating clash of interests, values, and generations. Corporate and private interests are desperate to assert their power in the digital age. And so the old chestnuts in the corporate cupboard are thrown into the mix - intellectual property, rights of the creator, patent protection - and applied willy nilly to the world of downloading, free access to the internet and the universe of instant sharing of information, talent, and ideas that is now the air we breathe.

Two separate Harper initiatives are trying to circle the wagons around the old world. The first is a promised, and fortunately much delayed, revision of the Copyright Act. The second is an American pushed treaty titled ACTA (Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement) that will go even further in making certain kinds of internet access and use illegal, and make it possible for customs officials to seize iPods that contain "illegally" downloaded material. It augurs a ridiculously intrusive national and international apparatus to police practices that are as common as eating and breathing.

What's the answer? Producers and creators are entitled to compensation for the use of their product. And users of the internet need to know that it will continue to be free at the point of use.

Can these colliding worlds be reconciled? Yes, they can, but only if political leaders understand that we're living in a different time and a different world. And there's no sign that they really do - hence the clash of generations, values, and interests. Someone has to speak for the public and the public interest, and that should be the government. Let's open up the debate and get this out into the public domain.

Thank you Bob!

Submitted by DaveTO on Tue, 06/10/2008 - 12:31.

Just found your blog from Michael Geist's link. I'm a voter in your riding, and right now it feels really good to have supported you in the bi-election.

Thanks for posting this, and I hope you'll work to ensure that this view is well represented in the official Liberal position on copyright reform.

Documenting views of other MPs

Submitted by russellmcormond on Sat, 06/07/2008 - 12:38.

I am curious which riding that "needschange" is in. On the Digital-copyright.ca site I have groupings of articles for each riding. This way we can document for each member of parliament what they have said (or not said) on this issue which is useful during elections. We have a postal code lookup and a electoral district list for those wanting to find out about their own riding.

The section for Toronto Centre didn't have much (beyond lists of names for past elections) until the pointer to this article was added.

Even more controversial at the moment than Calgary Centre-North (Mr. Prentice) is likely Pickering - Scarborough East (Hon. Dan Mcteague).

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FLORA.ca for more information

Needs Change

Submitted by needschange on Fri, 06/06/2008 - 14:21.

Thank you for taking a stance for Canadians on this very important issue. It amazes me how quickly this government moves to strip away Canadian identity and our rights and freedoms. I guess complete control over the digital realm was the next logical step.

The DMCA approach is clearly flawed (as evidenced by the many problems it has caused in the States) yet Prentice is so stubborn and weak that he chooses to completely ignore the facts. Consumers deserve better than a subservient industry leader. Why should American lobbyists determine the future of Canadian copyright law?

This is totally unacceptable. We need a fair and balanced approach to this issue. One that is developed with the input of Canadian consumer groups and 100% independent of the flawed U.S. draconian policies. There is nothing honorable about the sneaky way Prentice is going about this proposal.

Sadly, my local MP has chosen to ignore my letter of concern regarding this legislation. I'm very glad to see you are taking a more pro-active stance.

Bob Rae on the side of the angels

Submitted by kaymac on Thu, 06/05/2008 - 19:53.

Glad to see you on the side of the angels on this issue, Bob. Creators need compensation. Corporations need (reasonable) profits. And Canadian copyright law needs to reflect the reality of facts on the ground in the digital age. It's not artists (creators) who are demanding the kinds of changes that the Conservatives are apparently going to propose.

Industry protests to the contrary, this isn't an attempt to reinforce the status quo against the intrusion of new technologies. It's a power grab in which the recording industry is attempting to fence off the digital creative commons.

www.keithjmacdonald.ca
www.opensourceteacher.blogspot.ca
haddockailment.wordpress.com

Refreshing Take

Submitted by Mr. Flibble on Thu, 06/05/2008 - 12:56.

It is refreshing to see that some people in parliament are paying attention to this. We need more debates on both of these issues, and in particular, Jim Prentice needs to be more open with his soon to be proposed legislation.

While you are not in my riding, I applaud you for wanting to encourage debate on these issues. I believe it is in the best interests of Canadians to avoid a DMCA type law.

Welcome to the debate!

Submitted by russellmcormond on Thu, 06/05/2008 - 12:52.

I live in Ottawa South (MP is David McGuinty), so am not a constituent, but I am a volunteer policy coordinator in this area of policy. Among other volunteer positions I am policy coordinator for CLUE: Canada's Association for Open Source, host for Digital Copyright Canada , co-coordinator for GOSLING , and a self-employed Internet consultant and software author

I have met with many members of parliament over the years to discuss these areas of policy. I would be very interested to meet with you, to help you understand the perspective of the communities I have been asked to represent, as well as allowing me to report your views back to these communities.

My key perspective comes from a desire to ensure that the technology that forms the means of production and distribution in the new (post-industrial) economy are kept under the control of private citizens. I also work to ensure that new methods production, distribution and funding are adequately protected, rather than disadvantaged or outlawed, by government policy.

I live and work in Ottawa, and can meet with you in your parliamentary office at your convenience.