The last time Canadians were consulted on copyright related issues was clear back in July of 2001. Back then, by todays standards, file-sharing was still establishing itself, iTunes was two years away from opening, the iPod was three months away from being released for the first time and DRM was practically unheard of in the public sphere. It’s not hard to conclude that this copyright consultation, both online and offline, will be different in many ways this time around.
Ever since C-60 was tabled under the Liberal government in 2007, there have been countless calls for a consultation on copyright related issues. Such a thing would not be realized even while the later Conservative C-61 copyright bill was tabled. Now, it seems that things have finally changed and Canadians will be consulted on the matters.
“Over the coming weeks,” the governments online consultation says, “the Government of Canada will be hosting a nationwide consultation on copyright modernization.”
Michael Geist notes that there will be two town hall meetings for Canadians to let their voices be heard, on in Montreal, the other in Toronto. According to the calender, there will also be 4 invitation only round tables, one of which has already happened.
Canadians who are unable to make their voices heard at the two town hall meetings have an opportunity to submit their comments online.
While average Canadians are going to finally get their voices heard, the copyright industry has been lobbying, often making copyright the most lobbied topic in the government, continually for years. Culture Minister critic Charlie Angus in 2007 commented, “during one of the first meetings I had on copyright a lobbyist informed me that the Internet was little more than a “highway of stolen goods and child pornography that goes into the bedroom of every kid in this country.” ”
He added the following:
The industry message to Parliament was that Canada had become a bandit’s bazaar where hapless artists were regularly mugged for their wares. Politicians were being called upon to act as rush in with restrictive laws to help starving artists by implementing an agenda being put forth by large corporate interests.
This spin of urgency and fear was very successful in laying down the initial political discussion about copyright. Former Heritage Minister Héléne Chalifour Scherrer provided this perspective on digital culture: “There is no doubt we must modernize the copyright act as soon as possible. The emergence of the Internet and digital technology has shaken entire sectors of our society. I am thinking in particular of the protection of the intellectual property of our creative people.”
Listening to her you’d think that the digital revolution was like a carload of gangbangers that had taken over our quaint Canadian cultural neighbourhood.
The consultation also posted a huge, seemingly exhaustive list of issues facing Canada related to copyright with select sources on each topic.
The consultation runs until September 13th and asks Canadians the following critical questions:
1.How do Canada’s copyright laws affect you? How should existing laws be modernized?
2.Based on Canadian values and interests, how should copyright changes be made in order to withstand the test of time
3.What sorts of copyright changes do you believe would best foster innovation and creativity in Canada?
4.What sorts of copyright changes do you believe would best foster competition and investment in Canada?
5. What kinds of changes would best position Canada as a leader in the global, digital economy?
Many who are involved in Canadian copyright are hailing this as an opportunity that shouldn’t be missed.
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Questions
1. How do Canada’s copyright laws affect you? How should existing laws be modernized?
Canada’s copyright laws are currently acceptable and largely unobtrusive, and they should stay that way. I don’t believe they need to be modernized any further whatsoever and are already among the best in the world. Canada needs to ensure that consumers own their personally purchased media and are able to dictate it’s use as they see fit. This means “no” to DRM, “no” to vague fair-use exceptions, and “no” to catering to greedy corporate entities that mask their obsession with money by passing it off as caring for artists. They don’t care about anyone except their accountants, and least of all – the Canadian public.
2. Based on Canadian values and interests, how should copyright changes be made in order to withstand the test of time
Keep media free of DRM. Continue to charge a levy on blank media to offset the cost of pirating (which is suspect to actually costing anything – if anything promoting profit). Pay more attention to what Canadians want, and less to corporations that refuse to innovate. Stop being swayed by US pressure – contrary to their opinion and our actions, we are not yet the 51st state. Realize that middlemen do not have a valid place in the digital future we’re already in. No business model is perpetually relevant, and the days of the record executive are quickly fading into obscurity – so don’t pander to their dying gasps at the expense of Canadians. Has anyone lamented the death of the blacksmith? The tanner? The lamplighter? When a business industry dies, it means that something better has replaced it.
3. What sorts of copyright changes do you believe would best foster innovation and creativity in Canada?
Maintaining consumer friendly laws are key to promoting and sustaining growth in the industries served by copyright. Prosecution and restrictive protection only further alienate the customer from the product that lobbyists are attempting (pathetically) to protect. Keep away from the prohibitionist mindset and reject the totalitarian pressure to conform to our greedy neighbours to the south. Know that copyright was never created as a “make something of questionable quality once and live on royalties the rest of your days”. Understand that quality art is best created when it stems from a love of sense, not cents. Money and art are ignoble bedfellows.
4. What sorts of copyright changes do you believe would best foster competition and investment in Canada?
Focus on digital development and legal online offerings. Encourage artists to produce and distribute their own material. Offer grants and bursaries and money that would otherwise line executive pockets from the spoils of artist exploitation. Promote festivals and live showcases across the country to expose talent and spread the word. Favor independent labels and artists over entities attempting to monopolize the market with their infinite capital and bottom-line obsessions. Abandon the oppressive Bill C-61 – it’s nothing but a leash the US has placed on us, clearly showing Canadians that our government thinks we’re but dogs.
5. What kinds of changes would best position Canada as a leader in the global, digital economy?
Let go of dying business models and embrace the majority consensus of the population, not the corporate minority. We want our media to be easily accessible, without restriction upon legitimate ownership, and free from oppressive oversight. Don’t be afraid of differing from other countries and being consumer friendly. Encourage media to be offered at a market price more in line with the quality offered and the value the public places on it. If millions of otherwise law-abiding people are engaging in an illegal activity, realize there is a reason and don’t allow or pursue the prosecution of those that are forging the way to a new future of free information – with or without you. And as since the government’s whole existence is purported to be for the people, it would be better if you were with us. Otherwise it undermines everything you do, and the people distrust government enough already.
1.How do Canada’s copyright laws affect you? How should existing laws be modernized?
All good.Keep it as it is.Don’t get pressured from USA.
2.Based on Canadian values and interests, how should copyright changes be made in order to withstand the test of time
We have levy fee on cd’s /dvds is that is not good enought.Then make a monthly fee -download as much as you want.
3.What sorts of copyright changes do you believe would best foster innovation and creativity in Canada?
None.No DRM.For personal use is good.
4.What sorts of copyright changes do you believe would best foster competition and investment in Canada?
Dunno.Low prices.Can copy for own use own stuff.
5. What kinds of changes would best position Canada as a leader in the global, digital economy?
Not changes as USA does for sure.
Make it cheap products -advertising and marketing of them.Buy one get 2nd free.
Discounts.Make all products with tax iclued so you see the final price with taxes.