Canadians Can Swap Music Files

TORONTO – Canadian legal experts say those who swap music files online should be cautious but not overly worried about authorities here replicating the U.S. recording industry’s recent lawsuits against individuals.



Differences between American and Canadian legislation, along with other practical issues including the amount of resources available, will likely dissuade the Canadian recording industry from taking music sharers to court.



Figuring out who should be sued is one of the biggest barriers, according to University of Ottawa Internet law professor Michael Geist.



A provision in the U.S. Digital Millennium Copyright Act makes it possible for copyright holders to subpoena subscriber information from Internet service providers without a judge’s approval. This is how the Recording Industry Association of America was able to access info about thousands of subscribers from companies like Verizon Communications.



Canada has much stronger privacy laws and no similar legislation, Geist said.



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