bill-c61: the canadian dmca
Published at 7:08 pm on June 12th, 2008 in Uncategorizedthe day has finally arrived. i had hoped we might have been able to avoid it altogether, but bill-c61 is here. the initial analysis by the internet’s favourite canadian copyright lawyer michael geist indicate that the bill even worse than than our neighbours-to-the-south’s infamous dmca.
but it is not yet too late! this bill can still die on the table if canadians can convince their members of parliament that amendments such as these would throw us 10 years backwards and lock us there tighter than prentice’s beloved drm. i if you havn’t yet, i urge you to do so. if you have… feel free to do it again!
i’m all for rewarding canadian innovation and talent in every domain… but that is not the goal of locking up digital media. these tactics are for the sole purpose of keeping the power in the hands of industry majors still running on dinosaur business models that i can’t wait to see go extinct.
i demand public consultation before we do something we cannot take back. i demand a balanced system - or one in favour of our citizens (creators of art and art’s consumers are all canadian citizens, corporations - be they american or canadian - are not). if my demands are not met… well… maybe i’ll just move to new zealand. they probably have faster internet there anyway. next up: net neutrality.
(my first letter to prentice, verner, dewar and harper)
Yes I think its time to leave town (Canada). I don’t want to be ruled by a police state anymore.
Between this and B.C.’s Carbon Tax, Oh! And house prices, Might as well label me the third world young generation of Canada. Thank you Canada… for nothing.
Glad to see I’m not the only one who cares. I sent my letters last week, unfortunately I’ve only got one reply, which was the automated response everyone received.
i don’t think canada can be considered a police-state, our bill of rights has yet to be destroyed in the name of “security” (”anyone who trades liberty for security deserves neither” Franklin). you can still take pictures on a subway platform in toronto without being arrested for terrorism. if i was an american or british citizen you can bet that i’d already be far away from home. we still have access to the whole internet, unlike those who live behind the great firewall (granted this
privilegeright may change if we lose net neutrality and the internet goes the way of the radio and television… corporate-controlled content)we are still lucky to be canadians. i love this country and i’d rather fight for my rights than run away.
that being said, if we begin concede to american lobbyists on the matter of copyright, you can be sure our government will be bullied on other legislature. give an inch and they’ll take a mile. in the most dire case: the north american union. if canada, mexico, and the us became one country, whose laws do you think will win? where will our bill of rights be then? i dont know, but i sure as hell wont be around to find out.