Mord_Sith
June 4th, 2008, 06:01 PM
I figured I'd post this bit here, I was reading the Winnipeg Sun today, now I'll type all this stuff out however I must note that I am re-writing the text from the paper, I am not taking credit for this stuff!
U.S.-Style copyright law expected
OTTAWA -- The federal government is poised to table copyright legislation before the House of Commons' summer break, with critics bracing for the bill they fear it will burn consumers who copy CDs or share Internet files.
"This approach is all about locks and lawsuits," predicted David Fewer, staff counsel at the Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic.
"What we're expecting is about laying the groundwork for a U.S.-style lawsuit approach (to copyright) in Canada," said Fewer, speculating on the bill's contents. "That's just the wrong way to be looking at these issues."
Critics' concerns focus on "digital locks" that distributors attach to DVDs and software to prevent copying.
The bill could make it illegal to circumvent these locks, which would mean, for instance, that a person who makes a backup copy for their iPod of music they've already purchased would be breaking the law if they did so in the future.
The pending bill might follow the example of tough copyright legislation in the U.S., which made it an offense to circumvent digital locks.
The crackdown was favoured by many distributors of DVDs and games and has led to lawsuits against consumers.
But it worries opposition politicians in Canada. A newspaper report yesterday suggested the new law will include fines of up to $500 for individuals illegally transferring files online.
Industry Minister Jim Prentice said he would not comment on that issue until the bill is tabled.
"We have to ensure that there's a mechanism that the creators get paid fairly but at the same time, we do not want to end up prosecuting youth swapping music that they've paid for," said Liberal Industry critic Scott Briston.
Prentice said the bill's focus is on how, in a digital age, to balance the rights of artists and other creative people with the rights of consumers
-Christina Spencer
In other news:
Biz told to mind your privacy
OTTAWA -- Canada's privacy commissioner wants to force companies to report leaks or breaches of personal information.
Jennifer Stoddart said around the world "there's a call for mandatory data-breach reporting so that people can be aware of when their personal information is compromised and can take steps to protect it."
Her office has seen a 30% increase this year in companies reporting information leaks.
"I can't help but think this is only part of the picture," she said.
Industry Canada recently prepared draft rules to make reporting of serious data breaches mandatory. Reporting is voluntary, and 34 cases were relayed to Stoddart's office in 2007, up from 20 the year before.
In her annual report the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, the privacy commissioner wrote: "It is clear crooks have recognized that personal data is a gold mine. Identity theft is rampant and lucrative."
Yet a survey by her office showed only one-third of Canadian businesses had properly trained their staff to safeguard people's personal information.
" 'I'll just download all this onto my laptop and take it home,' and it's stolen out of the back seat of my car in the parking lot," Stoddart said. "Employee training is a key part of preventing data breaches."
Stoddart said consumers must also be cautious.
"You should know that your personal information now has a great street value ... I think you could have privacy commissioners and police investigating, but what it really takes is citizen vigilance."
-Christina Spencer
U.S.-Style copyright law expected
OTTAWA -- The federal government is poised to table copyright legislation before the House of Commons' summer break, with critics bracing for the bill they fear it will burn consumers who copy CDs or share Internet files.
"This approach is all about locks and lawsuits," predicted David Fewer, staff counsel at the Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic.
"What we're expecting is about laying the groundwork for a U.S.-style lawsuit approach (to copyright) in Canada," said Fewer, speculating on the bill's contents. "That's just the wrong way to be looking at these issues."
Critics' concerns focus on "digital locks" that distributors attach to DVDs and software to prevent copying.
The bill could make it illegal to circumvent these locks, which would mean, for instance, that a person who makes a backup copy for their iPod of music they've already purchased would be breaking the law if they did so in the future.
The pending bill might follow the example of tough copyright legislation in the U.S., which made it an offense to circumvent digital locks.
The crackdown was favoured by many distributors of DVDs and games and has led to lawsuits against consumers.
But it worries opposition politicians in Canada. A newspaper report yesterday suggested the new law will include fines of up to $500 for individuals illegally transferring files online.
Industry Minister Jim Prentice said he would not comment on that issue until the bill is tabled.
"We have to ensure that there's a mechanism that the creators get paid fairly but at the same time, we do not want to end up prosecuting youth swapping music that they've paid for," said Liberal Industry critic Scott Briston.
Prentice said the bill's focus is on how, in a digital age, to balance the rights of artists and other creative people with the rights of consumers
-Christina Spencer
In other news:
Biz told to mind your privacy
OTTAWA -- Canada's privacy commissioner wants to force companies to report leaks or breaches of personal information.
Jennifer Stoddart said around the world "there's a call for mandatory data-breach reporting so that people can be aware of when their personal information is compromised and can take steps to protect it."
Her office has seen a 30% increase this year in companies reporting information leaks.
"I can't help but think this is only part of the picture," she said.
Industry Canada recently prepared draft rules to make reporting of serious data breaches mandatory. Reporting is voluntary, and 34 cases were relayed to Stoddart's office in 2007, up from 20 the year before.
In her annual report the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, the privacy commissioner wrote: "It is clear crooks have recognized that personal data is a gold mine. Identity theft is rampant and lucrative."
Yet a survey by her office showed only one-third of Canadian businesses had properly trained their staff to safeguard people's personal information.
" 'I'll just download all this onto my laptop and take it home,' and it's stolen out of the back seat of my car in the parking lot," Stoddart said. "Employee training is a key part of preventing data breaches."
Stoddart said consumers must also be cautious.
"You should know that your personal information now has a great street value ... I think you could have privacy commissioners and police investigating, but what it really takes is citizen vigilance."
-Christina Spencer