DrPirate
Posts: 2205
Joined: Apr.-24th-2007
From: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Status: online
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Read this off the penny-arcade website, I thought it was interesting and wanted to make the many Canadian members here aware of an issue going on in our government.
http://forums.penny-arcade.com/showthread.php?t=60951
via http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9967118-7.html
The good times are about to end my fellow Canadians, as the Tory government prepares to initiate some fairly serious copyright legislation governing the downloading of copyright material. It looks as though the main gist of the legislation is targeting uploaders rather than downloaders (See penalties) which I suppose is good news.
Key Points:
Legislation prohibits hacking digital locks placed on materials designed to prevent illegal distribution
Format Shifting:
Bill will let you copy "legally aquired" music, books newspapers or phtos onto computers hand held devices or cell phones. But you'd be limited to one copy per device, you couldn't give away copies nor make copies of materials you've borrowed or rented. The changes make it illegal to copy a compact disc or DVD to a personal digital device such as an ipod -- even if the consumer already paid for the CD or DVD -- if it involves breaking a so-called digital lock to make the copy.
Your Ipod:
You wouldn't be able to sell, rent or give away an ipod or similar device without deleting ALL music originally copied by you on it for private purposes
Posting Online:
It would be illegal to post a copyright work -- song film vidoe photo or software on the internet without the copyright owner's permission. This includes posting to Facebook or Youtube.
Distortion:
It would be illegal to distort or manipulate a copyright performance -- theatre, live music or dance, -- or to associate a product with it without the performer's authorization.
ISP's:
Internet service providers would be compelled to notify subscribers accused of infringing copyright laws by uploading copyright works to the Internet.
Penalites:
Copyright holders could seek through the courts only a $500 penalty for private use infringement by others,. The penalty could rise to $20 000 if a consumer hacked a digital lock to make an illegal copy.
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Why is this a big deal?
Just by using our computers, in certain contexts they may find reasons to prove that Canadians infringe on copyrights for using media and data that they have paid for.
This opens up the doors for big business in the United States to start suing Canadian residents. It is a BIG deal.
Someone on the forum made a template, I will be e-mailing both of my MP's in Quebec, and the two in Ontario
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Dear {Insert MP Name Here},
I am writing to you in relation to the recently tabled copyright legislation brought before parliament by Jim Prentice and Joseé Vernier. I am interested to know your position on this piece of legislation.
To clarify my position: I do not believe that this bill is in the best interest of Canadians. The restrictions (particularly those involving the ability to remove digital encryption) will hamper my rights to legally enjoy content that I have purchased. Many portions of this bill are unenforceable in relation to current privacy standards and I fear that the attempted enforcement of this law will erode the right to privacy of many Canadians across the country.
This bill makes unreasonable demands on internet service providers, it restricts the rights of Canadians who wish to enjoy their media the way that they see fit and it does not have the support of the very artists that it proposes to protect (please see musiccreators.ca).
This legislation violates the campaign promise of the Harper government to establish hearings into any issues related to the ratification of international treaties. It is a hastily constructed piece of legislation and it, in my opinion, should not be supported.
To be completely clear: if you vote for this legislation, you have lost my vote and my confidence in you as my MP.
Please do the right thing and vote no to bill C-61.
Thank you,
{Your Name Here}
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I think the industry requires our support.
Thank you to Penny-Arcade for making me aware of the issue. I take no credit for this finding, the template or anything.
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© Copyright 2008 
Canadians here - Bill C-61 - 
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