Copyright laws could be updated by Christmas

Heritage Minister James Moore says a new bill enforcing tougher copyright laws deals with the Conservative beliefs in getting tough on crime and property rights. He says the law is about protecting people who invest money in creating the products being stolen.

Power Play: Carmen Levy, technology expert

A technology analyst in London, Ont., says new copyright laws will give police forces the tools to go after people who are breaking copyright laws by burning content and making it available online for thousands or maybe even millions of people.

CTV Southwestern Ontario: Shaheed Devji reports

A copyright reform bill tabled in Ottawa on Thursday could change what is legal, and what isn't, when it comes to digital copying.

CTV News Channel: Copyright reform bill

CTV's Mercedes Stephenson says the reintroduced copyright reform bill will mainly allow consumers to have new rights so they will not have to worry about the 'fair use' of material, such as songs.

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Websites such as this one offer the latest pirated movies and music for free download Wednesday, September 15, 2010 in Montreal. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remior)

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CTVNews.ca Staff

Date: Thu. Sep. 29 2011 9:02 PM ET

The federal government has reintroduced a copyright reform bill that it says will give owners more control over their intellectual property and ease penalties for individuals who make copies of digitally encrypted material.

The government says that Canada's existing copyright laws are outdated, having last been overhauled in 1997. But consumers today are using tablets, electronic readers and other devices that have changed the way they create and use media.

"Canadians will soon have modern copyright laws that protect and help create jobs, promote innovation, and attract new investment to Canada," Industry Minister Christian Paradis said in a statement.

"We are confident that this bill will make Canada's copyright laws forward-looking and responsive in this fast-paced digital world."

Many of the proposed changes relate to how intellectual property is handled when using electronic devices or online distribution systems. They aim to give content creators more tools to control the distribution of their work and a greater variety of legal options to exercise when their works are infringed upon.

Owners of intellectual property will be able to use "technological protection measures," or digital locks, in an attempt to prevent consumers from accessing their material without authorization.

But consumers will also benefit from the new bill, according to the government.

The Copyright Modernization Act spells out specific ways in which Canadians can make legal use of electronic material they obtain. It also drops the legal damages that individuals can sustain -- from $20,000 down to $5,000 -- for infringing on a copyright-protected work.

The Act died in the last session of Parliament and was introduced as Bill C-11 in the House of Commons on Thursday morning "without changes" from its prior version, according to the government.

Opposition reaction

New Democrat MP Charlie Angus told reporters that his party will not support the bill because there are problems relating to royalties for artists and materials for distance education, among other things.

"The previous bill was a dog's breakfast, it was completely unworkable," Angus said Thursday. "The government is looking to try to find a balance but they haven't found it yet."

Meanwhile Liberal industry critic Geoff Regan said in a statement that reintroducing the bill without any changes "makes a mockery" of earlier consultations regarding the reforms.

In the previous Parliament, Regan said, "we heard from hundreds of witnesses who presented reasonable suggestions to improve the Conservative bill. Those recommendations have been completely ignored."

Heritage Minister James Moore billed the reforms as a way for Canada to attract investment and jobs by better protecting intellectual property.

"We want to make piracy illegal in Canada, which is what this legislation does," he said Thursday on CTV's Power Play.

Under the new legislation, Moore said the onus will be on owners to defend their copyrighted material. Internet service providers will also have a responsibility to approach customers about infractions if they get a complaint about copyright infringement, he said.

Enforcement question

Technology analyst Carmi Levy said the copyright legislation would bring Canada "up to the global standard" if it becomes law.

But the new measures will also require greater police enforcement, he said.

"We can have the most stringent legislation in force on the planet, but if police forces across the country don't in fact go ahead and enforce it more than they have been, it really isn't going to mean a whole lot."

On Twitter, Moore posted quotes from organizations that support the forthcoming changes in the legislation.

The Entertainment Software Alliance of Canada said "we strongly support the principles underlying the Copyright Act," according to one tweet Moore sent out on Thursday morning.

Both Music Canada and Access Copyright said the copyright changes were long awaited, while the Canadian Anti-Counterfeiting Network congratulated the government for "taking strong action to protect copyright holders."

Moore told reporters that he hopes the bill will clear the House of Commons by Christmas.

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Prof. Pye Chartt
said

People who think that, with this legislation (Bill), the government will be hiding in their attic at home, after imbedding a monitoring chip or program within their computer, or some other personal electronic device, are absurdly paranoid. Do you really think, folks, that the government desires and intends to have you arrested for, charged with, and convicted of, burning a CD and loading into your car? Does that seem both probable and likely to you? Seriously? Grow up, and get real. Copyright holders themselves aren't genuinely interested in pursuing that angle, let alone the government. (Have all the people who downloaded free music files been carted off to jail? Ah, no. Quite the opposite.) I have never come across a piece of legislation in my life that was drafted so perfectly that it withstood the natural force of amendment, tweaking, and clarificational massage between its enactment and its enforcement. Never. Don't be so uptight, folks. Thanks.

CatLover
said

I agree with Blowhole & others that "artists and companies need to be protected against piracy," and that "if I buy something for personal use, my licence to use it ought to be format-free - i.e. I should be able to take that item in its original format and make a copy in a different format for my own personal use. That's not piracy; FORCING ME TO BUY COPIES IN EACH FORMAT IS PIRACY! And that's the DRL issue: the lock holds the consumer hostage to either continue using the format you bought or buy it again." Why could there not be a simple system designed where you could input into iTunes, for example, the "Proof of Purchase" code (Store Receipt code?) from the (CD) you PURCHASED - to download a copy? This would also work if your CD got broken / scratched. (Maybe I'm unusual, but I definitely would NOT be buying a CD to replace it anyway!) I have always heard that it is NOT illegal to rip 1 copy of a CD onto my computer, then burn to a CD or iPod & use THAT, saving the original CD from wear-and-tear damage.If the new legislation prevents even that, then all it's gearing up to do is make it harder for consumers to listen to music...

Easy
said

Big software company provide specified amount of time the software can be install on a PC when we buy their software (Anti Virus products) by example. Why something like that is not added to the bill?

Hilton Shand
said

Digital locks can be broken quite readily; therefore, aspects of this are not enforceable. Unenforceable laws tend to have highly negative effect. Internet providers and websites could easily pay royalties based on the number of downloads; and package the cost in their fees to users and advertisers. (Analogous to the system of payment presently used by Radio and TV broadcasters.)

Adrian from Hamilton
said

About time. People have been time shifting since the VCR came out in the '80s. And the studios kinda said they won't sue if you have a legitimate CD copy of the music on your Walkman cassette looooong ago. 30 years later the law finally catches up! Maybe. If it passes. I wish there is a clearer explanation of what a digital lock is so people do not unknowingly break the law.

JP from Montreal
said

there is nothing wrong with copyright protection but there should also be fair use. digital locks should not trump consumer's fair use of music/movies that they purchased.

in canada, we also pay a tax on dvds/cds which goes to the recording/entertainment industry regardless of the use of the cd/dvd. for example, i purchase cds/dvds to back up the photos that i took with my digital camera and i have to pay this tax/royalty to the recording/entertainment industry.

as long as a consumer purchased the product and doesn't sell or give it away for free, he/she should be allowed under fair use to back it up or transfer it to another media (like from dvd to iphone) regardless of whether the media has a digital lock... or even back a back up copy in case the purchased copy gets scratched/damaged.

Wayne (Waterloo)
said

Here's another aspect of this bill for those in favour of it. When the copyright runs out on the content (copyright isn't forever) and it becomes public domain, it will still be illegal to copy it because the presence of a digital lock. Society loses out for some perceived corporate benefit today.

Mary
said

Don't buy ipods, MP3's or like for Christmas! Why are company's like Apple not speaking up on this. If I couldn't put my CDs on my ipod I wouldn't buy one. Cable (Shaw/ MTS, etc) company's will not be able to rent/ sell PVR's as this will also be illegal to copy a TV show and watch it later. Items of this nature "format shift" would be illegal. They're had better be lots of prisons and welfare for all of the bankrupt families. As I assume parents will be responsible for under age kids making copies for their ipods, etc.. When I put family pictures on a blank CD I am NOT doing anything illegal but I am treated as one when I will be paying the extra tax.

Andrew Stevens
said

LOL @ all the guvment haters. I think the ones squealing the loudest are the ones who think nothing of grabbing a movie or 15 off PirateBay and then squealing even louder when their ISP throttles their bandwidth and starts nailing them with extra charges. The party might not be over but someone did just turn on the lights. Believe it or not kiddies, IP owners have the right tomake money off THEIR hard work. BTW, the actor who "played" Darth Vader was a gentleman named David Prowse. He was paid union extra rates for wearing a costume that completely covered his body from head to toe. He wasn't paid any RESIDUALS from the movie because he is listed as an extra and extras generally don't get residuals. He also let the cat out of the bag for ROTJ, forcing Lucas to re-film it with a third actor. If wearing a costume and pretending to fight with an imaginary light sword is acting, I guess I'm an actor because I dressed up as Darth Vader for Halloween 1980.

blowhole
said

@Pye Chartt: I agree that artists and companies need to be protected against piracy. However, if I buy something for personal use, my licence to use it ought to be format-free - i.e. I should be able to take that item in its original format and make a copy in a different format for my own personal use. That's not piracy; forcing me to buy copies in each format is piracy! And that's the DRL issue: the lock holds the consumer hostage to either continue using the format you bought or buy it again. There are good things in this legislation - but there are also some real bone-headed ones. And reintroducing the same Bill, unchanged, after consulting with the public, is a slap in the face to those with legitimate concerns about aspects on the law as proposed.

John
said

Bit of editorializing here, dontcha think ?
"The country's existing copyright laws are outdated and have long been in need of an overhaul, in particular at a time when Canadians are using tablets, electronic readers and other devices that have changed the way they create and use media. "

The fact is that US and Canadian copyright laws are too restrictive and this law will only make it more so.

Now, if you want to go after people using but torrent than go ahead, but that does not need this particular type of legal change

Paul Jackson
said

How about the entertainment making restitution to all of us with their crappy music "product" that is stuck in our heads that they cannot remove and we did'nt want there in the first place . . . karma karma chameleon!

Jake S
said

Go ahead. Implement your "law". You haven't a hope in hell in making in work against the people in the know.

Jebus Widowmaker
said

So when this law passes the consumer gets screwed yet again from the music/movie industry. If I buy a cd or dvd I feel I should have the right to rip it to my computer to use on my computer and my iphone. Does this mean I'd have to buy a cd? A digital copy for my computer? Or a digital copy for my iphone???? That's not gonna happen. If that's the case I'd support piracy. This is Canada Mr. Harper in case you forgot. We pay extra for blank cassettes and dvds for a reason. So those taxes better come off as soon as this bill passes. The consumer get screwed again.

Free Download
said

aiming to give owners more control? We're already paying the highest amount of CD and DVD fees to the poverty stricken down trodden likes of Ann Murray and Brian Adams. Do you realize how those fees are split? To poor artists with the most sales goes the first percentage and so forth. New artist get nothing, but have to pay to the likes of the established. So a new artist can't even record a blank demo disk without paying Ann Murray & Co. If you want to burn family photos onto a disk, you are paying the same fee to buy them. Who do the fees go to? Check it out with SOCAN. What a farce.

ian
said

Yes Ryan it really is a sad country what we've become. Imagine a country that has laws against illegally pirating movies and music. Also isn't it terrible and sad that a government would have the nerve to actually send a child molester or wife beater or drug smuggler to jail instead lf letting him sit at home order pizza, watch movies (that he likely stole) drink beer have sex with his girlfriend, smoke dope with his buddies and so on. Terrible, sad. Bring back Jean Chretien why don't we..

VS
said

@James:Your analagy is seriously flawed re: purchasing vs. copying a CD. People obtain CDs for the purposes of listening to the music. They may own the physical media disk, but not the music on it. Therefore it is never their right to copy a disk, or make an illegitimate copy available. Buying CDs and other media is merely a licensing mechanism to allow customers to enjoy the music. Copying w/o purchasing is wrong. However, that being said, the law should clarify more "fair use" provisions...such as, if I bought the CD, I should be able to enjoy it on as many different players, computers as I wish without having to buy multiple copies.

Ian
said

I love the logic that you anti conservatives are using. It's all because of the US. In case you didn't know, Canada has a music and film industry too. Also if we want to be taken seriously as a major trading partner yes we have to get in line with the laws of that country. this issue is a big problem in both countires. If record companies spend money and then have everyone steal their product then where's the incentive to make more products. I suspect that the reason why our music industry has become so watered down with a new artist coming out every week is because there is no longer any incentive to promote a small number of good acts because there's so much piracy. "Lets pay these nobody bands peanuts to produce their song because they'll be forgotten in a few months anyway and we'll make whatever profit we can and move on to the next group"

Forest
said

"But consumers will also benefit from the new bill, according to the government. "

The only reform I want to see is to stop having digital services that offer 2% of available content, thereby forcing me to sign up for every service out there to get everything I want. Imagine if you needed to go to three grocery stores to get bread, milk, and eggs. This is the state of digital distribution today and so far as I can tell, it is because the people who control the content want to fight digital distribution tooth and nail. Seeing as the US has had stricter copyright laws for a couple years now and the services available to them are still abysmal, I'm not holding my breath that anything will happen in Canada.

ian
said

@ Sarah. It's amazing how every issue can be turned into an anti conservative rant. So you think it's OK for people to steal intellectual property (music, art, literature, movies) and get away with it because it all boils down to corporate greed. Do you think that artists (music and otherwise) want to spend money to produce something like a song or movie) just so that some cheapskate who feels the world owes them everything for free can illegally download it? How about you. lets say you spent your life saving to produce a record for a new up and coming artist. Then you find out that this song is so great that everyone starts to download it for free. There you and the up and coming artist are left high and dry while the public get a free CD. Ah don't be so greedy.

Damon
said

I personally own 1500 DVDs and 200 Blu Rays, I buy or rent my video games, never pirate them. I buy all my business software. To tell me that I can't take my purchased DVDs, break the DRM and back them up digitally so my kids don't destroy them is unacceptable. If only every DVD /Blu-Ray had digital copy but they don't. I agree with clamping down on pirates, especially ones that profit from it, but this goes beyond that. It was never passed before because it needed fixing and still does. Fair Use is important to Canadians.

Concerned
said

This bill will decrease the amount of middle class we have. It will make richer people richer and poorer people poorer. The less amount of middle class a country has, the closer it is to a developing country. Do you want to be a developing country, Canada? Say no to this bill. Say no and save what we have left. Save what Harper is trying to take away from us!

Blarg
said

The day will yet come when we own nothing except licenses to use property. Your jeans will cost you $8/month to wear them twice a week.

Conservative not onboard
said

Yes I am Conservative.. and yes I think this is a dumb law. Mr Harper, check fire on this one, it will haunt the conservative party on the next election. The entertainment industry has to grow with the technology, for the people, not against the people!

Rich
said

For all of you who figure that intellectual property, such as music, movies, software, games etc., should be free for the downloading, I ask you how would you like it if your boss all of sudden came up to you and said "you will not be paid this month because we decided to take your work instead of paying you for it." If there is a difference please explain it to me? I know I like to get paid for my work but then that's just me.

Wayne (Waterloo)
said

@Will. Where am I wrong? The bill makes it illegal to break a digital lock. DVDs are encoded with CSS which is a DRM (ie a digital lock). So, copying DVDs becomes illegal even for personal use that would normally fall under fair-use. Digital locks are easy to make putting full control of electronic media in the hands of the publisher.

NS
said

This was the weakest part of the Conservative campaign, and if they follow up on this entertainment corporation ass kissing, they will lose every vote under the age of 40! Protect the artist, and the consumer, before the corporations! In our modern cyber world the internet should be treated as a public library, once films finish in the theater, then maybe a 3 month online rental period, then they should be posted.

Pete
said

@Sara So I am whats wrong with Canada? lol Do you check underneath your bed each night to make sure Harper isnt hiding under there?

Dr. James Bradford
said

The digital lock provisions within these proposals constitute a glaring problem that undermines the attempt to strike a balance in our copyright laws. The government needs to have another look before ramming this through. The people should be consulted again.

mark
said

So under this new law, we have the right to use copyrighted material for fair use, but it's illegal to break the DRM that is on every blu-ray in order to use the content.Basically this allows Harper to appease the US while screwing Canadians out of more rights.

chris
said

Artists get less then 1$ per CD. The other $10-20 bucks goes to the record companies, distributors and retailers. If the artists were smart, they'd sue the record companies for their fair share of THAT type of piracy.

Will
said

Wayne, your rant is completely off the mark. READ the legislation. What you are claiming is false.

James
said

@VS: If I steal a CD then the artist (or more likely the major label that goes out of its way to siphon off as much as possible from the people who actually produce something) is deprived of the money from the sale. If I copy a CD that I was not going to purchase then the artist has lost nothing. Copyright infringement is wrong for a very different set of reasons. Parroting the RIAA shills when they pretend that the two are equal makes it seem that you have a very tenuous grasp of the English language.

Kevin
said

Welcome to the conservative agenda.

You voted them in now you have to live with it.

Gate Manager
said

Ahh no one really cares about this bill because the States are so busy building a fence around there country that no one will be able to leave soon to have any teeth and show up in court when they try and sue average Canadians.

Tree
said

This is not a law being pushed forward for the artists, the ones creating the music, television, movies, or art. This is a law for the corporations that take in a majority of the revenue. The artist isn't going to sue their fans but the record label will, potentially against the artists will, because the big corps. are the ones benefiting from it all. It seems to me that the creators, the artists, are losing rights not gaining in this stupid bill reintroduction. There should be copyright laws but they should protect everybody.

Jacob
said

So much astroturfing going on here; it hurts my eyes. This bill does nothing to protect creators. Instead, it is an attempt to entrench and shore up outmoded and inefficient distribution mechanisms used by conglomerates that employ governments and legislation to protect and perpetuate an obsolete business model that hurts creators. The target here is not Bit-Torrent but indie producers of content who can beat the majors to the punch by offering the same product for less. Without exception, technology has driven prices DOWN in nearly every sector. The majors are trying to artificially maintain pricing and distribution models based on the scarcity of physical media that drove prices in the past. Every other industry has adapted or died. It's time the entertainment industry did the same.

BuzzerKiller
said

My only issue is that with this law, it's like if you download a movie that's, say, 5 years old, completely passed it's dues, it's not making any more money. It's long on in the theater's, it's in the back row of the movie store so far back you can barely get it (if at all), this bill will allow those American companies to cross the border and sue you for more than what Mexico makes in its yearly GDP. They sue people for 50,000 dollars per song, yet a song is only worth 80 cents logistically. Allowing this to occur is a step in the wrong direction. I DO AGREE ON THOSE WHO DOWNLOAD MOVIES THAT ARE IN THEATER; THAT THEY SHOULD BE THE ONES TO PAY DEARLY. But I am talking the movies and programs that no longer exist in the movie stores or on TV.

SaraH
said

indy & pete, you are what's wrong with Canada. We may have a majority government but it isn't going to help us much. This government will make rich people richer and poor people poorer. These aren't laws for the people, they are laws for corporations wanting to control people and the little bit of disposable income they have. This isn't fear mongering, this is reality, and if you don't see how this will hurt the majority of Canadians then you are too far gone.

Dan from Calgary
said

This minister's pic clearly shows he is almost ready to cry..is there something we should know?

Ryan
said

Can they now remove the tax that is currently on blank media that goes towards these "artists"? Looks like Harper is putting everything in that has failed in the USA. What a sad country this has become.

What Real
said

All this crying about creators not getting paid by right arm think pads would want you to believe that before the internet everything was great for creators. Well, those who know know that's not true. The actor who played Darth Vader in Return of the Jedi, stil has not been paid as Lucas's fancy accounting shows the movies has yet to make any money. Many recording artist of yesteryears are also still waiting for their cheques to come in, but they never will.

VS
said

The main issue is: Piracy and copyright violation is ethically, morally wrong...irrespective of it's legal status, which is what the legislation is trying to resolve (make it illegal). It is also a popular activity with the masses...therefore, they will never embrace any legislative change that would reinforce what they already know...that they are essentially STEALING.

legion
said

I have no problem with enforcing copyright.
I do have a problem with the digital locks that prevent me from copying the content I bought among my own devices.
This has to be addressed!

James, Ontario
said

I'm trying to figure out the real motivation of anyone that would oppose this legislation. As usual it comes back to downloading free stuff through torrents or other P2P networks. Does anyone really think we should have a right to crack DRM? If anything end users of pirated material are more protected under this legislation. They've been very clear on this, the bill shifts more responsibility onto the individual cracking the copy protection.

Indy 500
said

To Sara: The reason the laws are being re-tabled is because the past-numerous years of a minority goverment has prevented anything and everything from being passed into law because the LIBERALS and NDP would reject every-single proposal no-matter what the topic. Finally we have a majority government....now its time to get some work-done ...and not let the Liberals waist anymore taxpayer dollars by constant delays and rewrites !!!!

John
said

This is an area where Canada has fallen behind. This seems like good policy to update the laws to reflect the explosion of technology from the past 10 years.

Wayne (Waterloo)
said

Before supporting the government on this bill, please understand the consequences of it first. This bill includes measures that make it illegal to break a "digital lock". Even if you are legally entitled to make a personal copy under the fair use provisions, if there is a digital lock on it, that you bypass, you are breaking the law. Copying a CD or DVD that you own for use on a MP3 player or iPod would most likely become illegal.The "digital lock" provisions of this bill go too far and effectively remove your rights and shift control over to the music labels, Hollywood, etc.So before spouting off garbage about, "only anti-Conservative lefties " having an issue with this bill, do some research first. Here's a hit: start with a Google search for "Michael Geist's Blog". From there you can learn what is wrong about this bill and ways that it could be fixed.

IT Guy
said

Thanks Steve for not allowing me to modify something I own.Michael Giest has a great breakdown of why this bill is bad.

Steve T
said

Uh oh, looks like some guys are going to be required to extract themselves from their dark cave in Mom's basement and actually get a job so they can purchase music or watch movies, rather than stealing it over bit-torrent like they currently do. God forbid!

True Canadian
said

They do everything that helps their friends make more money. They have to start construction of many jails around the country. It will creat lots of jobs and be called Harper's Action Plan II.

consumer
said

maybe the Government is trying to protect consumers from the pirates who manufacture counterfeit pharmaceuticals? Medicine is protected by copyright and trademark! For those of you who shop on line, beware.

Ted Preston
said

Obviously none of you "create" anything. It takes years of work, study and failure to create somethng. It takes passion. It you want to see a crime, read the tax laws - 20 years of work and you finally get something to work and you get paid! Good, CRA thinks you made all this happen last week so they want their 55%, forget the 20 years or the deprecaiton of creative time. You are all children - you know the price of everythng and the value of nothing

Pete
said

Lets just hope they dont make fear mongering against the law, otherwise many of the commenters here are going to find themselves in trouble. I love commets like Sara's suggesting that we are loosing our feedoms and and Harper is going to throw us all in prison, all the while thinking she is speaking on behalf of Canadians. Its time to take off the tinfoil hat!

Terry Cutler
said

Stop wasting our tax dollars on stupidity like this, and use it to stop the massive increase of drug dealers, gang related crimes, and fraud... Copying music should really not be the top news! Stupid government!

SaraH
said

I am with mike and James. How many law changes are being made that go unreported? Everyone saying "typical conservative bashing" are going to be hit so hard with a reality check the day they realize they have lost their freedom. Copyright laws, drug laws, traffic laws, it's all going to change. In 5 years we will see a different Canada and it will take 50 years to fix the current destruction. Just you watch, in the next two years crime rates are going to soar because of these changes and Mr Harper will use that at leverage to build more prisons take take away more personal freedom. Stephen Harper's view for Canada is not the view of the common Canadian.

Prof. Pye Chartt
said

The only anti-Conservative lefties that have an issue with laws that justly protect commercial works (copyrighted material) are the sniveling, snot-nosed siphoners and freeloading stealers of it who, with boneheaded entitlement, rip off skilled and talented artists and producers of assorted content without batting one of their squinty, bloodshot eyes. If they had any mature and intelligent sense of commerce and business viability themselves, they'd actually get it. The icing on their political bundt cake is the paranoidal rambling about a police state. "Oh; too many laws! We're all gonna end up in jail!" Yeah; go and download a juvenile video game that turns you into a tough and hypocritical "war hero" and recreate. Thanks.

steve, ottawa
said

every inventor in the world should be protected from others stealing their invention and profiting from them. I see no problem with someone recording their LP's onto their hard drive then copying it onto their ipod to listen to, I have a really big problem with someone visiting bittorrent, downloading a movie that has been in theaters for two days, and burning dvd's to sell, undercutting legitimate businesses, not paying the actors, writers, investors etc for their time and effort... this whole society needs to take a good look in the mirror.

people are really lucky they live here with these laws, and not somewhere you get your hand cut off for stealing - quit whining

My Rights Violated
said

I have a BIG ISSUE with the governments presumption of guilt whenever I purchase blank media discs. We are being taxed on the ASSUMPTION we will use the media for illegal purposes. Surely that contravenes our charter rights to the presumption of innocence. I use CD and DVD's for data storage and I very much resent being charged extra because my government has judged me in advance of being guilty of illegal activity. We need changes to copyrights as well as human rights to stop these encroaches on our freedoms and rights to be presumed innocent unless proven otherwise.

Really Now?
said

The Conservatives have lost touch with Canadians, and thier own ideologies.This hurts as I am a conservative person.

Murray
said

What the didn't tell you is that this is actually destroying consumer rights. I'm going to laugh when people are getting arrested for making a copy of their DVD THEY BOUGHT for their iPod. I guess they need SOMEONE to be in those big expensive jails.

Cheapskate Whiner
said

Now how will i get my booklegged music and videos? No fair!

Joel
said

Not a big fan of copyright legislation The reality is that this won't stop piracy. It will make it tougher, but technology always wins and governments are slower to embrace technology than the general public. As well, people are going to use their storage devices and media how they want to.

Rick in AB
said

This is nothing more than Gov't sanctioned highway robbery, much like the insurance industry in this country. The last thing we need in this country is more legislated guilty verdicts and more and more gov't interference with laws upon laws, Enough already!! Quit trying to prop up an antiquated system that will not work. The medium is changing for a reason and Hollywood and the music industry must change with it or die from a lack of imagination.

James
said

It's obvious no how the cons are going to fill those new prison, they're making a bunch of new laws, that are impossible to keep up with. One day you'll click on something you've clicked on for years & the police will show up at your door & take you away. Welcome to police state Harperland, the right wing nuts need to be told what to do like good little sheep, they don't have the brain power to think for themselves.

Brian
said

Mike you are clueless. Its about time we get these laws in to protect us especially our busness community. For example, the Winnipeg Jets did not even get their new jerseys into the stores little lone onto display before fake ones were arriving from China. All these knock offs, pirated music. movies are costing people alot of money. Good on our gov. to get these laws passed. Get the legislation passed, get canada border services trained to spot this merchandise and start laying charges.

Bob NS
said

Typical anti Conservatives, no matter what comments. We don't need the argument for the sake of it.Bob NS

Reality Check
said

Hey Mouth Piece Mike ... It is good to see your supporting statements as to what is being changed under copyright law. Did you ever think how Canadian talent is not protected and other countries benefit from Canadian works? Harper's Gov't may have guns, but the saddest Police State is the one you seem to profess... social liberalism where EVERYTHING is controlled by the government and YOU don't even know you are a pawn within it. People like you are pitiful and socialism counts on the ignorant to survive.

Mark in Wpg
said

Piatek, Kohno, Krishnamurthy (2008) was able to get the big content industries to threaten a number of printers with copyright infringement charges. This is the system that the Cons are pushing to introduce here: you're guilty because they say you are, you had better pay what they demand or they'll take you to court and sue for everything you've got. It's government sanctioned extortion and no one but Harper and the rest of his American lapdogs should support it.

Mike
said

Conservatives are turning this country into a police state. God help us all !!

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