Comments on: Canadian Artists Unite Against the RIAA

By: MrGonzo

MrGonzo — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 +0000

Fuckin A bubba!!! This is wicked news!

By: meyou123

meyou123 — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 +0000

I just wish the artists in the US would show some backbone and do the same thing!

By: .:sp00ky:.

.:sp00ky:. — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 +0000

yey for canada!!

fuck america yey!!!

By: mountain_rage

mountain_rage — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 +0000

It must be are cold weather keeps are artists cool headed.

By: Signa

Signa — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 +0000

years from now when the RIAA cant sue anyone any more they can always download “blame canada” to make themselves feel better….

By: origin

origin — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 +0000

this is really a nice thought it truly is but how efective is it going to be? unfortunetly not much!

By: Unsueable Davey Brown

Unsueable Davey Brown — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 +0000

In this particular case I think you’re wrong Origin. I think this will matter. Reason – In Canada things are different.

Non-profit file-sharing is legal in Canada at this time. Canadians get taxed on stuff like blank CDs. The taxes are supposed to pay for any possible losses to copyright holders by filesharing. In order to change the way the law works now the average Canadian has to be convinced it’s a good thing. I don’t think the music and movie industry controls the news media in Canada the way it seems to in America. They can’t just say we are protecting the artist and expect people to swallow it. This line of BS becomes doubly difficult for organizations to sell if the artists themselves are against what they’re proposing.

Also we have a new government in Canada. No doubt it is pro-industry – in fact think kind of a baby Bush or a Bush wannabe. Here’s the thing though. It’s a minority government. He wants to be re-elected. Stuff that makes him look like a music industry puppet won’t help him. The last thing he wants is Avril Lavigne and Sarah Maclachlin on Canadian news talking about how they don’t want the multi-national entertainment industry conglomerates suing Canadians.

Also they can’t talk about these gigantic money losses from filesharing in Canada. Filesharing has been done openly and without restraint in Canada from day 1. If financial losses existed the Canadian musicians would know about them and they’d want to see something done about it…but they don’t.

By: mountain_rage

mountain_rage — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 +0000

Davey Brown you are currently right about the fact that Harper may not have the power to change a thing but it was on the agenda for the liberal party so they would probably have support from them. Sadly just like in the united states we do have a politicians being lobied by the cria (cant remember the names of who they are I sujest you just look it up) . So this would be one legislation that would be easy for the conservatives to pass. The other side of your argument that he is trying to win as many votes as possible is kind of mute as well since most canadians wouldnt even know of the law or think it affects them sadly most people that I speak to currently think its illegal to fileshare here in canada. As for Harper not controlling the media he is trying hard to be able to and I think he will eventually get a strong hold. With the new accountability act he is putting in provisions allowing the govenment to withhold more information then it currently can it doesnt make sense to have it in a act that supposed to make government transparent but its the perfect platform as most people wont even read the thing and support him no matter what it says. Its bassically the equivalent of bush with his patriot act use public support to pass something that would have never passed otherwise.

By: Unsueable Davey Brown

Unsueable Davey Brown — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 +0000

Here’s something I was wondering about. Previous to this Conservative goverments minority government the Liberals were in power – also with a minority government. As you said the Liberals also wanted to pander to CRIA lobbyists and change the law as concerns filesharing. They didn’t though. If they had the support of the Conservatives why didn’t they? I was always curious about that.

By: mountain_rage

mountain_rage — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 +0000

Im not quite sure why they didnt pass the bill yet I think the original came under fire for some restrictions and they were going to rewrite a few lines. But last I heard the bill was supported by all parties as something that was needed to protect copyright. Not only that but the united states government was putting pressure on our politicians to do something about our lax laws because it was a threat to the americain economy or some kind of drivel. Last I remember there was some kind of threat of action if steps wernt taken.