Canadian DMCA in the Parlament

[van-s4-01]

In short: Downloading the file - $500 Uploading the file - $20000 Unlocking the cell phone - $20000 Playing DVD from another zone - $20000 PVRs are OK, but only if the broadcaster doesn't mind you recording the content .. which they always do unless it's _their_ PVR. etc etc This is so wrong on so many levels, especially considering that it is allegedly done to protect the interests of Canadian public. The bestest part however is that they consulted the US lobbyists, RIAA and MPAA, but refused to talk to the Canadian public, artists and industry representatives. Ain't that grand, eh ? http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2...copyright.html

[1.8TQ99.5]

I didn't see it mentioned in the article or in C-61 (not that I read it all entirely)...

[van-s4-01]

His site appears to be under load right now so you may need to try few times before getting in.

• http://www.michaelgeist.ca

[Egil A64.2s - S6]

the inclusion of a media tax on all storage media, like CDs, DVDs, HD, etc

I guess we will now get rid of the tax which goes to Canadian artists? Don't hold your breath.

I can not say I agree with any law which will make most Canadians criminals.

[nanotech]

Since many of their uses will become illegal after passage of this bill.

Copy a CD to your ipod? Illegal in most cases these days (most CDs are now "copy protected").

Play a CD on your Mac? Probably illegal, most of the copy protected CDs will not play out of the box without violating this law.

Unlock your phone from Rogers to use overseas on vacation? Wow, that's a $20K fine.

[April]

[Egil A64.2s - S6]

I tried to read through the Bill but am more confused than ever.

[Jet Jockey/A4 Pilot]

Your own private use (not mass bootlegging) you are not going to get in trouble.

As for unlocking a Rogers cell phone for use overseas, that to me is illegal. Get a phone that's legit overseas with the proper service and you won't get into trouble.

[April]

Many of the conventional providers of entertainment are seeing revenues falling - not only as a result of pirated products, but also poor management and poor quality. To add insult to injury, most artists see very very little of the overall cash that does come in. Instead of addressing those problems along with an intelligent solution for people who want to be legal (but for one reason or another, are not), they are closing the barn door after the horse has left.

For example, Apple has used the 7 copy burn model for CDs, unlimited sharing between iPods, along with an unlimited burn model for certain products. But Jobs has had a terrible time trying to get the content providers to go along with this - and some labels or networks have even stopped working with Apple.

The problem is those labels and networks want more control so they can bring in more money. But trying to do it directly would cause too much outcry. So the industry lobbyists sneak around to other countries, working their magic. They know that once they trap the majority of the primary consumers in the wealthy west, they can push through even more extreme "reforms" in the States by way of example, thus ratcheting up their control further and further. Canada is on the frontlines simply because of the proximity.

The problem is that these folks are so hopelessly out of touch with content, technology, and how people use it, that it will always be easy to circumvent them. They refuse to evolve - much like US carmakers. The problem is if you get caught. However, if it becomes as pointless, cumbersome and expensive as the gun registration scheme, then it will be a hapless few who get nabbed.

Maybe Canadians should have a piracy day. Everybody stand up and play a pirated song or show at a predetermined hour;-)

Or artists could sign directly with iTunes or other distribution providers, removing a vast middle layer that leaches off them. Of course the over-produced managed acts will vanish. And TV shows still need a larger production body.

In the end I think there are solutions, but I don't think they involve traditional labels as we know them now. By enacting these bills, the labels and production companies are actually hastening their demise.

[Egil A64.2s - S6]

I have a slightly different take on it.

If you will recall there was an uproar in the motion picture industry recently, last year as I recall, when they discovered that most of the pirated movies originated in Canada. Prosecution proved impossible due to our very lax copyright rules.

To remedy the problem the movie industry threatened to second rate Canada as a receiver of new releases. In other words; we would receive the new movies months later.

To appease the industry the Government promised to tighten up the copy right laws; that is where we are today.

I agree with you that we need a made in Canada solution which actually benefits all Canadians, artists and consumers.