This is a follow up from a previous thread but I have decided to start a new one as it may cover different aspects. Here's the link to the archived thread.
http://clug.ca/pipermail/clug-talk_clug.ca/2007-December/011890.html This is from Industry Canada's website: -----start----- Government of Canada to Table Bill to Amend the Copyright Act OTTAWA, June 11, 2008 -- The Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of Industry, and the Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official Languages, and Minister for La Francophonie, will deliver brief statements and answer media inquiries shortly after the tabling of a bill to amend the Copyright Act. Members of the media will also be able to attend a technical briefing and lock-up prior to the tabling of the bill to amend the Copyright Act. Date: Thursday, June 12, 2008 -----end----- http://www.ic.gc.ca/cmb/welcomeic.nsf/0365f77a8a847e1e8525655d006e1f91/85256a5d006b9720852574650065cf5b!OpenDocument Here's a link to CBC's website about the announcement. "Government ready to drop copyright bomb" http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2008/06/11/tech-copyright.html This new legislation can easily affect every Canadian for the good or the bad. This is a chance to ensure that what is being done is in Canada's best interest and not that of foreign powers or businesses. Keep watch on what's coming and let your MP know how you feel about this new legislation one way or the other. There are links below to show how to contact your Member of Parliament as well as a list of sites, with their brief descriptions, of information for you to try and make an informed decision. Cheers! Neil B. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Digital Copyright Canada | All Canadian Citizens are "Rights Holders"! http://www.digital-copyright.ca/ The Digital Copyright Canada forum was started in Aug 2001 to allow for a public response to that phase of the Canadian copyright revision process. While the forum focuses on digital copyright, related issues of patents, copyright, trademarks (PCT) and other sui generis protections are discussed. Many of the participants are proponents of more recent "commons-based peer production" methodologies which include Free/Libre and Open Source Software (FLOSS) and the Creative Commons. Our members come from all parts of society including creative Canadians and audiences, and recognize the importance of both creators' rights and users' rights. Most of our creator members feel the greatest threat to their rights is not copyright infringement, but excessive control by past creators who stifle creativity that builds upon the past. ----- Their website has information on contacting your MP, petitions that can be printed off to have people sign and in their words: "They are on paper rather than electronic so that they can be tabled in Parliament.", and other information. This URL has a wide variety of related links. http://www.digital-copyright.ca/links ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Canadian Music Creators Coalition http://www.musiccreators.ca We are a growing coalition of Canadian music creators who share the common goal of having our voices heard when it comes to making the laws and policies that affect our livelihoods. We are the people who actually create Canadian music. Without us, there would be no music for copyright laws to protect. ----- Their words: The CMCC is united under three key principles: * Suing Our Fans is Destructive and Hypocritical Artists do not want to sue music fans. The labels have been suing our fans against artists’ will, and laws enabling these suits cannot be justified in artists’ names *Digital Locks are Risky and Counterproductive Artists do not support using digital locks to increase the labels’ control over the distribution, use and enjoyment of music or laws that prohibit circumvention of such technological measures. Consumers should be able to transfer the music they buy to other formats under a right of fair use, without having to pay twice. *Cultural Policy Should Support Actual Canadian Artists The vast majority of new Canadian music is not promoted by major labels, which focus mostly on foreign artists. The government should use other policy tools to support actual Canadian artists and a thriving musical and cultural scene. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic (CIPPIC) http://www.cippic.ca/en/ The Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic (CIPPIC) was established in fall of 2003 at the University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law, Common Law Section. CIPPIC seeks to ensure balance in policy and law-making processes on issues that arise as a result of new technologies. Law students work with clinic counsel on projects and cases involving the intersection of law, technology and the public interest. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Creators' Copyright Coalition http://www.creatorscopyright.ca/ The Creators' Copyright Coalition is an alliance of the national associations, unions and collectives representing individual artists working primarily in the English language media in Canada. The coalition came into being in 2002 as an ad hoc working group to address issues related to the reform of the Copyright Act and the rights of creators working as freelancers in the media marketplace. Our objective is mutual support and collective representation to government, and the public. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Online Rights Canada http://onlinerights.ca/ Online Rights Canada (ORC) is a grassroots organization that promotes the public's interest in technology and information policy. We believe that Canadians should have a voice in copyright law, access to information, freedom from censorship, and other issues that we face in the digital world. Join us by using the form on your right to sign up for email updates. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- IntellectualPrivacy.ca http://www.intellectualprivacy.ca/ We are a group of Canada’s leading public-interest oriented organizations and academic privacy experts – all members of Canada’s privacy community – concerned about how technology and copyright laws are increasingly threatening to erode Canadians’ privacy rights. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- SAC - Songwriters Association of Canada http://www.songwriters.ca/ Vision: To have a universal recognition that songs play a spiritual and intellectual role in society which is of profound and lasting benefit to humanity. Mission: To protect and develop the creative and business environments for songwriters in Canada and around the world. Objectives: Advocacy - Education - Community An association led by active professional and amateur songwriters, the S.A.C. is committed to the development and recognition of Canadian composers, lyricists and songwriters by pursuing: * their right to benefit from and receive fair compensation for, the use of their work; * the advancement of the craft and enterprise of songwriting through educational programs, networking opportunities, dissemination of business knowledge and other services; * a more favorable environment through the provision of a united national voice when dealing with government, the music industry and the general public; and * the development of activities which allow members to reach out and enjoy the sense of community shared by songwriters. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- _______________________________________________ clug-talk mailing list [email protected] http://clug.ca/mailman/listinfo/clug-talk_clug.ca Mailing List Guidelines (http://clug.ca/ml_guidelines.php) **Please remove these lines when replying

