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  • Help us build a shared culture: CC’s annual fundraising campaign launched Creative Commons has now officially launched its 2008 fundraising effort – our Build the Commons Campaign. Many skeptics think this is a precarious time to launch our major fundraising initiative; we disagree. This is an opportunity. An opportunity to call our community members to action – to help us make sure that the Commons continues [...]
  • Geograph British Isles Releases 1 Millionth Image The Geograph British Isles project, which aims to collect geographically representative photographs and information for every square kilometer of Great Britain and Ireland, announced today that they have recieved their 1 millionth image submission. All images are licensed under a CC BY-SA license, meaning the images can be shared and reused as long as the [...]
  • Nordic Cultural Commons Conference In the wave of free culture gatherings this October, don’t miss out on the Nordic Cultural Commons Conference 2008, in Stockholm on October 22-23, organized by the Creative Commons Nordic network. How is business created around open licensing? What benefits does the Creative Commons model provide for public broadcasting and archiving? How open licensing changes the production [...]
  • IBM’s “Mastering the Creative Commons” IBM, outside of their endeavors in personal computing and technology, is an active participant in the world of open source technology. It should come as no surprise then that IBM has an article on their website titled Mastering the Creative Commons. Filed in their “Web Development | Open Source” series, Uche Ogbuji does a nice [...]
  • Netwaves Bytes: Electro 1 Netwaves Records, a netlabel that focuses on genre-oriented compilations, just released their first album, Electro 1. Focusing on music that ranges from “electro-pop” to “electro-clash”, Electro 1 has been released under a CC BY-NC-SA license. this means it can be freely shared and remixed as long as proper attribution is given, the resulting and original [...]
  • flickrleech flickrleech is a great tool for those looking to search a large number of flickr photos at once - by utilizing Flickr’s API, flickrleech is able to display 200 images per page rather than the standard 10. As pointed out by Alvin Trusty, it simply “makes scanning for a picture much quicker.”  While flickrleech has been [...]
  • Two MIT OCW Courses Reach Million Visit Milestone A long-standing provider of open courseware, MITOpenCourseWare reached a million visit milestone yesterday for two of their online courses: 8.01 Physics I: Classical Mechanics and 18.06 Linear Algebra. The courses are two of MIT’s most popular to date, taught by renowned professors Walter Lewin and Gilbert Strang. From MIT’s media coverage on Lewin: “Professor Lewin is an [...]
  • RecombinaSOM: Brazillian Remix Contest RecombinaSOM is a remix contest taking place as part of the São Carlos’s Federal University’s multimedia festival, “Contato“. The festival’s theme is recombination and will feature a number of discussions on new forms of licensing and exchanging content among audiovisual/music producers. RecombinaSOM itself will is being hosted by both ccMixter and overmundo, their collective [...]
  • Ubuntu FreeCulture Showcase Winners Announced The Ubuntu FreeCulture Showcase, which was announced back in August, has now come to an end and the winners revealed. Congratulations to both Andrés Vidau and Andrew Higginson! Their winning submissions will be on over a million Ubuntu users’ desktops! Andrés won the audio division with the song “Patas de Trapo” which you can download here. From [...]
  • Colin Mutchler Colin Mutchler is one of the original CC success stories. Back in 2003, he posted his song, My Life, to Opsound under a CC BY-SA license. A month later a violinist name Nora Beth added a violin track, calling the new work My Life Changed. It was one of the first instances of CC facilitating [...]
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    Michael Geist Blog
    Michael Geist - Canada Research Chair of Internet and E-commerce Law at the University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law

  • The New Copyright MPs While copyright reform is unlikely to emerge as a top legislative priority in the current economic environment, there is little doubt that the Conservative minority government will return to the issue (whether Jim Prentice leads that charge as Industry Minister or shifts to Foreign Affairs is a separate matter).  With that in mind, having Members of Parliament who will speak out on the need for a balanced approach to copyright that preserves user rights is essential.  Coming out of last night's election, 34 candidates who supported the copyright pledge during the campaign were elected - 11 Liberals and 23 New Democrats, covering 8 of 10 provinces (only NB and Saskatchewan do not have a copyright MP).  In some ridings - particularly Edmonton-Strathcona where Conservative Rahim Jaffer lost to the NDP's Linda Duncan - it is certainly possible that copyright swung enough votes to help make the difference. 

    Looking ahead, the tens of thousands of Canadians who support fair copyright will look to build on this solid base of support so that fair copyright receives wide support in Parliament.  The New Copyright MPs:
    • Carolyn Bennett, Liberal MP, St. Paul’s, ON
    • Ujjal Dosanjh, Liberal MP, Vancouver South, BC
    • Glen Pearson, Liberal MP, London North Centre, ON
    • Joyce Murray, Liberal MP, Vancouver Quadra, BC
    • Marlene Jennings, Liberal MP, NDG-Lachine, QC
    • Paul Szabo. Liberal MP, Mississauga South, ON
    • Gerard Kennedy, Liberal MP, Parkdale-High Park, ON
    • Frank Valeriote, Liberal MP, Guelph, ON
    • Shawn Murphy, Liberal MP, Charlottetown, PE
    • Mike Savage, Liberal MP, Dartmouth-Cole Harbour, NS
    • Bonnie Crombie, Liberal MP, Mississauga Streetsville, ON
    • Charlie Angus, New Democrat MP, Timmins-James Bay, ON
    • Olivia Chow, New Democrat MP, Trinity-Spadina, ON
    • Libby Davies, New Democrat MP, Vancouver East, BC
    • Bill Siksay, New Democrat MP, Burnaby-Douglas, BC
    • Dawn Black, New Democract MP, New Westminster–Coquitlam, BC
    • Irene Mathyssen, New Democrat MP, London-Fanshawe, ON
    • Wayne Marston, New Democrat MP, Hamilton East - Stoney Creek, ON
    • Jean Crowder, New Democrat MP, Nanaimo–Cowichan, BC
    • Denise Savoie, New Democrat MP, Victoria, BC
    • Judy Wasylycia-Leis, New Democrat MP, Winnipeg North, MB
    • Pat Martin, New Democrat MP, Winnipeg Centre, MB
    • Alex Atamanenko, New Democrat MP, BC Southern Interior, BC
    • Paul Dewar, New Democrat MP, Ottawa Centre, ON
    • Chris Charlton, New Democrat MP, Hamilton Mountain, ON
    • John Rafferty, New Democrat MP, Thunder Bay Rainy River, ON
    • Niki Ashton, New Democrat MP, Churchill, MB
    • Don Davies, New Democrat MP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC
    • Jack Harris, New Democrat MP, St. John's East, NF
    • Megan Leslie, New Democrat MP, Halifax, NS
    • Bruce Hyer, New Democrat MP, Thunder Bay Superior North, ON
    • Carol Hughes, New Democrat MP, Algoma Manitoulin Kapuskasing, ON
    • Linda Duncan, New Democrat MP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB
    • Malcolm Allen, New Democrat MP, Welland, ON

  • Open Access Day Today - October 14th - is international Open Access Day. Some of my previous columns and posts on open access can be found here.
  • Election 2008 - A Digital Policy Scorecard As the national election campaign launched five weeks ago, I wrote that "the election presents an exceptional opportunity to raise the profile of digital issues."  While the economy unsurprisingly dominated much of the political discourse, each of the national parties unveiled platforms and positions that included some discussion of digital policy.  With Canadians headed to the polls today, my weekly technology law column (Toronto Star version, Ottawa Citizen version, homepage version) offers a scorecard on each party's digital policy positions.

    Conservatives.  The Conservatives were the last party to release their platform, but it included considerable discussion of digital policy issues, including telecommunications, spam, and copyright.  On the telecommunications front, the party committed to preventing companies from charging fees for unsolicited text messages.  It also promised to strengthen the powers of the new Commissioner of Complaints for Telecommunications with an emphasis on establishing a code of conduct for Canadian wireless carriers.

    Several years after the National Task Force on Spam recommended introducing anti-spam legislation (I was a member of the task force), the Conservatives promised to follow-through with the long-delayed bill.  The party also pledged to wade back into contentious copyright reform, promising to reintroduce the legislation that sparked considerable concern from Canadians across the country, and to introduce tougher anti-counterfeiting measures, which may indicate continued support for the still-secret Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement.

    Liberals.  The Liberal party used its platform to emphasize its commitment to universal access to high-speed Internet.  As part of its infrastructure investments, the party promised that it would "complete the job of making broadband Internet service available to rural communities." The platform also announces plans to develop a Canadian Digital Media Strategy.

    The Liberal position on copyright remains somewhat unclear with much of the focus on the need for broader consultations before introducing a future bill.  Several candidates committed to protecting both creator and consumer rights, with the party's Bill C-60, which died on the order paper in 2005, serving as a likely starting point for new legislation.

    New Democrats.  Consistent with their position before the election, the New Democrats were the most outspoken on digital rights issues.  Led by Charlie Angus, a Member of Parliament for Timmins-James Bay, the party promoted telecom and copyright as key concerns.  On the telecom front, it focused on net neutrality, arguing that the issue deserved greater prominence in the electoral debate.

    On copyright, the party was highly critical of the Conservatives' copyright bill, arguing that it would "criminalize fans, leave artists on the sidelines and offer a windfall to corporate lawyers."  Dozens of party candidates committed to copyright consultations and protecting user rights, while suggesting that the legislative focus should be on commercial piracy rather targeting private users.

    Greens.  While the Green party is associated primarily with environmental issues, the party presented a fairly robust digital policy position.  It rejected copyright legislation based on providing legal protection for digital locks, called for an end to crown copyright, and provided the most explicit support for net neutrality, noting in its platform that it would prohibit "Internet Service Providers from discriminating due to content while freeing them from liability for content transmitted through their systems."

    The party was also the only one to focus on the emergence of open source software.  Its platform says that the party will "ensure that all new software developed for or by government is based on open standards" and that it would encourage and support transitions to open source software in government and education.

    With all parties offering much food for thought, it is clear that digital issues will have a role to play regardless of who emerges victorious on Tuesday.
  • Search Engine on Copyright in the Election CBC's Search Engine's latest podcast includes an interview with me and discussion about copyright in the election.
  • The Copyright Candidates

    Just over two weeks ago, I posted a 2008 election copyright pledge that sought commitments to respect both creator and consumer rights, to guard against weakening user rights, and to fully consult on future reforms.  The reaction has been absolutely terrific.  The Green Party joined as a party, noting that its copyright position was entirely consistent with the pledge. Candidates from the Liberals and New Democrats quickly followed suit. As of Sunday evening, 132 candidates from those two parties have expressed their support for the pledge.  This includes 42 Liberals (nine of whom are sitting MPs) and 90 New Democrats (16 sitting MPs which is over half the current caucus).  No Conservative candidate has supported the pledge.  The full list is posted below along with a Google Map tracking the copyright candidates.  On Tuesday, I encourage everyone to vote and to consider this issue - and the positions of local candidates - when they do.

    View Larger Map

    Update (10/13): Further additions now include Liberal candidate Gerard Kennedy (Parkdale-High Park) and NDP candidate Ellen Parker (Crowfoot, AB).

    Update (10/14): Add Liberal MP Mike Savage (Dartmouth-Cole Harbour, NS) to the list.

    • Carolyn Bennett, Liberal MP, St. Paul’s, ON
    • Ujjal Dosanjh, Liberal MP, Vancouver South, BC
    • Glen Pearson, Liberal MP, London North Centre, ON
    • Joyce Murray, Liberal MP, Vancouver Quadra, BC
    • Marlene Jennings, Liberal MP, NDG-Lachine, QC
    • Bonnie Brown, Liberal MP, Oakville, ON
    • Sue Barnes, Liberal MP, London West, ON
    • Ken Boshcoff, Liberal MP, Thunder Bay-Rainy River, ON
    • Paul Szabo. Liberal MP, Mississauga South, ON
    • Gerard Kennedy, Liberal candidate, Parkdale-High Park, ON
    • Gord Zeilstra, Liberal candidate, Cambridge, ON
    • Calvin Johnston, Liberal candidate, Palliser, SK
    • Arlene MacFarlane-VanderBeek, Liberal candidate, Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale, ON
    • Heather Carter, Liberal candidate, Niagara West – Glanbrook, ON
    • Suzanne van Bommel, Liberal candidate, Elgin-Middlesex-London, ON
    • Jamie McGarvey, Liberal candidate, Parry Sound-Muskoka, ON
    • Carolyn Scott, Liberal candidate, Sackville Eastern Shore
    • Sharon L. Howe, Liberal candidate, Crowfoot, AB
    • Marcelle Marion, Liberal candidate, Winnipeg North, MB
    • David Orchard, Liberal candidate, Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River, SK
    • Frank Valeriote, Liberal candidate, Guelph, ON
    • Greg McClinchey, Liberal candidate, Huron-Bruce, ON
    • Ted Klassen, Liberal candidate, Portage-Lisgar, MB
    • Dana L. Miller, Liberal candidate, Delta-Richmond East, BC
    • Richard Pesik, Liberal candidate, Nanaimo-Alberni, BC
    • Patricia Zipchen, Liberal candidate, Saskatoon-Wanuskewin, SK
    • Tim Jones, Liberal candidate, Newmarket-Aurora, ON
    • Denis Sabourin, Liberal candidate, Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry, ON
    • Bonnie Crombie, Liberal candidate, Mississauga Streetsville, ON
    • Greg Nyholt, Liberal candidate, Battlefords-Lloydminster, SK
    • Drew Adamick, Liberal candidate, Cariboo--Prince George, BC
    • Dan Olson, Liberal candidate, Pitt Meadows, Maple Ridge, Mission, BC
    • Nathalie Goguen, Liberal candidate, Sherbrooke, QC
    • Alexandra Mendes, Liberal candidate, Brossard – La Prarie, QC
    • David Remington, Liberal candidate, Lanark-Frontenac-Lennox, ON
    • Robert Friesen, Liberal candidate, Charleswood - St. James – Assiniboia, MB
    • Rebecca Finch, Liberal candidate, Dufferin-Caledon, ON
    • Sandra Gardiner, Liberal candidate, Perth-Wellington, ON
    • Sean Godfrey, Liberal candidate, Oshawa, ON
    • Shawn Murphy, Liberal candidate, Charlottetown, PE
    • Rick Jones, Liberal candidate, Barrie, ON
    • Deb Ehmann, Liberal Candidate, Blackstrap, SK
    • Charlie Angus, New Democrat MP, Timmins-James Bay, ON
    • Olivia Chow, New Democrat MP, Trinity-Spadina, ON
    • Libby Davies, New Democrat MP, Vancouver East, BC
    • Bill Siksay, New Democrat MP ,Burnaby-Douglas, BC
    • Dawn Black, New Democract MP, New Westminster–Coquitlam, BC
    • Irene Mathyssen, New Democrat MP, London-Fanshawe, ON
    • Peggy Nash, New Democrat MP, Parkdale High Park, ON
    • Wayne Marston, New Democrat MP, Hamilton East - Stoney Creek, ON
    • Jean Crowder, New Democrat MP, Nanaimo–Cowichan, BC
    • Denise Savoie, New Democrat MP, Victoria, BC
    • Judy Wasylycia-Leis, New Democrat MP, Winnipeg North, MB
    • Catherine Bell, New Democrat MP, Vancouver North, BC
    • Pat Martin, New Democrat MP, Winnipeg Centre, MB
    • Alex Atamanenko, New Democrat MP, BC Southern Interior, BC
    • Paul Dewar, New Democrat MP, Ottawa Centre, ON
    • Chris Charlton, New Democrat MP, Hamilton Mountain, ON
    • Michael Byers, New Democrat candidate, Vancouver Centre, BC
    • Anne Lagacé Dowson, New Democrat candidate, Westmount, QC
    • Phil Brown, New Democrat candidate, Nepean-Carleton, ON
    • John Chan, New Democrat candidate, Calgary Centre-North, AB
    • Tyler Kinch, New Democrat candidate, Calgary Centre, AB
    • David Caplan, New Democrat candidate, Vancouver Quadra, BC
    • Vinay Dey, New Democrat candidate, Calgary East, AB
    • Dave Burkhart, New Democrat candidate, Edmonton-St. Albert, AB
    • Michael Charrois, New Democrat candidate, North Vancouver, BC
    • Stephen Moore, New Democrat candidate, Wascana, SK
    • Mike Avery, New Democrat candidate, Cardigan, PEI
    • Brian Morin, New Democrat candidate, Desnethé–Missinippi–Churchill River, SK
    • Mohamed Alli, New Democrat candidate , Portage–Lisgar, MB
    • Mike Seaward, New Democrat candidate, Newmarket-Aurora, ON
    • Mike Sullivan, New Democrat candidate, York South-Weston, ON
    • Pierre Ducasse, New Democrat candidate, Hull-Aylmer, QC
    • Eric Gillespie, New Democrat candidate, Niagara Falls, ON
    • Sue McSheffrey, New Democrat candidate, Renfrew Nipissing Pembroke
    • Gabriel Biron, New Democrat candidate, Lévis–Bellechasse, QC
    • Doug Ottenbreit, New Democrat candidate, Yorkton–Melville, SK
    • Jash Puniya, New Democrat candidate, Bramalea-Gore-Malton, ON
    • Nicolas Thibodeau, New Democrat candidate, Mont-Royal, QC
    • Justin Chatwin, New Democrat candidate, Eglinton-Lawrence, ON
    • George Addison, New Democrat candidate, St. Catharines, ON
    • Darlene Jalbert, New Democrat candidate, Stormont--Dundas--South Glengarry, ON
    • Carol Hughes, New Democrat candidate, Algoma Manitoulin Kapuskasing, ON
    • Jo-Anne Boulding, New Democrat candidate, Parry Sound Muskoka, ON
    • Max Lombardi, New Democrat candidate, Cambridge, ON
    • Wess Dowsett. New Democrat candidate, Richmond Hill, ON
    • Ross Eadie, New Democrat candidate, Kildonan-St. Paul, MB
    • John Rafferty, New Democrat candidate, Thunder Bay Rainy River, ON
    • Jill McIllwraith, New Democrat candidate, Bruce-Grey, ON
    • Andy Bruziewicz, New Democrat candidate, Sarnia-Lambton, ON
    • Matt Turner, New Democrat candidate, Mississauga South, ON
    • Hijal De Sarker, New Democrat candidate, Ottawa South, ON
    • Ryan Dolby, New Democrat candidate, Elgin/Middlesex/London, ON
    • Rachel Heinrichs, New Democrat candidate, Winnipeg South Centre, MB
    • Peter Deslauriers, New Democrat candidate, NDG-Lachine
    • Stuart Somerville, New Democrat candidate, Red Deer, AB
    • Chris Durrant, New Democrat candidate, Beausejour, QC
    • Alice Finnamore, New Democrat candidate, Tobique-Mactaquac
    • Ray Martin, New Democrat candidate, Edmonton East, AB
    • Paul Arbour, New Democrat candidate, Carleton- Mississippi Mills, ON
    • Zoe Royer, New Democrat candidate, Port Moody - Westwood - Port Coquitlam, BC
    • Rob Moir, New Democrat candidate, Fundy Royal, NB
    • Brian Van Tilborg, New Democrat candidate, Brant, ON
    • Malcolm Allen, New Democrat candidate, Welland
    • Jennifer Burgis. New Democrat candidate, Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca, BC
    • Ross Martin, New Democrat candidate, Provencher, MB
    • Daniel Breton, New Democrat candidate, Jeanne-Le Ber, QC
    • Ann Chambers, New Democrat candidate, Vancouver South, BC
    • Linda Duncan, New Democrat candidate, Edmonton Strathcona, AB
    • Fred Kress, New Democrat candidate, Regina-Lumsden-Lake Centre, SK
    • Sania Khan, New Democrat candidate, Scarborough–Guildwood, ON
    • David Laird, New Democrat candidate, Burlington, ON
    • Mike Bocking, New Democrat candidate, Pitt Meadows–Maple Ridge–Mission, BC
    • Don Davies, New Democrat candidate, Vancouver Kingsway, BC
    • Marlene Rivier, New Democrat candidate, Ottawa West-Nepean, ON
    • Megan Leslie, New Democrat candidate, Halifax, NS
    • John Bouché, New Democrat candidate, Brandon-Souris, MB
    • Mark Sandilands, New Democrat candidate, Lethbridge, AB
    • Patricia Cordner, New Democrat candidate, Selkirk-Interlake, MB
    • Matt Schaubroeck, New Democrat candidate, Saint Boniface, MB
    • Katy Austin, New Democrat candidate, Simcoe Grey, ON
    • Jack Harris, New Democrat candidate, St. John's East, NF
    • Betty Bekkering, New Democrat candidate, Prince George - Peace River, BC
    • Jesse Travis, New Democrat candidate, Fredericton, NB
    • Alice Brown, New Democrat candidate, Okanagan Shuswap, BC
    • David Purdy, New Democrat candidate, Whiby-Oshawa, ON
    • Bruce Hyer, New Democrat candidate, Thunder Bay Superior North, ON
    • Niki Ashton, New Democrat candidate, Churchill, MB
    • Teale Phelps Bondaroff, New Democrat candidate, Calgary West, AB
    • Ryan Cleary, New Democrat candidate, St. John’s South, NL
    • Cindy Jacobsen, New Democrat candidate, Kitchener-Waterloo, ON

     


  • Copyright Pledge Continues to Grow With 30 More Liberal and NDP Supporters With the election just a few days away, interest in the copyright pledge continues to grow with 30 more Liberal and NDP candidates on board.  This latest update includes prominent MPs such as the Liberal's Marlene Jennings and the NDP's Paul Dewer.  Earlier supporters can be found here, here, and here.  There are still no Conservative supporters.  The newest additions include:
    • Marlene Jennings, Liberal MP, NDG-Lachine, QC
    • Bonnie Brown, Liberal MP, Oakville, ON
    • Sue Barnes, Liberal MP, London West, ON
    • Bonnie Crombie, Liberal candidate, Mississauga Streetsville, ON
    • Greg Nyholt, Liberal candidate, Battlefords-Lloydminster, SK
    • Drew Adamick, Liberal candidate, Cariboo--Prince George, BC
    • Dan Olson, Liberal candidate, Pitt Meadows, Maple Ridge, Mission, BC
    • Nathalie Goguen, Liberal candidate, Sherbrooke, QC
    • Alexandra Mendes, Liberal candidate, Brossard – La Prarie, QC
    • David Remington, Liberal candidate, Lanark-Frontenac-Lennox, ON
    • Robert Friesen, Liberal candidate, Charleswood - St. James – Assiniboia, MB
    • Rebecca Finch, Liberal candidate, Dufferin-Caledon, ON
    • Alex Atamanenko, New Democrat MP, BC Southern Interior, BC
    • Paul Dewer, New Democrat MP, Ottawa Centre, ON
    • Chris Charlton, New Democrat MP, Hamilton Mountain, ON
    • Fred Kress, New Democrat candidate, Regina-Lumsden-Lake Centre, SK
    • Sania Khan, New Democrat candidate, Scarborough–Guildwood, ON
    • David Laird, New Democrat candidate, Burlington, ON
    • Mike Bocking, New Democrat candidate, Pitt Meadows–Maple Ridge–Mission, BC
    • Don Davies, New Democrat candidate, Vancouver Kingsway, BC
    • Marlene Rivier, New Democrat candidate, Ottawa West-Nepean, ON
    • Megan Leslie, New Democrat candidate, Halifax, NS
    • John Bouché, New Democrat candidate, Brandon-Souris, MB
    • Mark Sandilands, New Democrat candidate, Lethbridge, AB
    • Patricia Cordner, New Democrat candidate, Selkirk-Interlake, MB
    • Matt Schaubroeck, New Democrat candidate, Saint Boniface, MB
    • Katy Austin, New Democrat candidate, Simcoe Grey, ON
    • Jack Harris, New Democrat candidate, St. John's East, NF
    • Betty Bekkering, New Democrat candidate, Prince George - Peace River, BC
    • Jesse Travis, New Democrat candidate, Fredericton, NB
    A complete list will be posted on the weekend.
  • CPCC Political Survey on Private Copying The Canadian Private Copying Collective has released a survey of the major political parties on their views on the private copying levy.  The Conservatives did not respond.  The release does not appear on the CPCC site, but FYI Music reports on the results.
  • ZDNet on Canadian Copyright ZDNet covers the Conservative commitment to bring back C-61 and the popularity of the copyright pledge.
  • Canadian Cyber-Security Strategy on the Way The CBC reports that a Canadian cyber-security strategy may be unveiled this fall.
  • 30 More Candidates Add Their Support For The Copyright Pledge While the Conservative decision to include the re-introduction of C-61 in its platform makes it unlikely that many (or any) of its candidates will support the copyright pledge, interest from Liberal and New Democrat candidates continues to grow (the Green party already committed as a party).  In addition to the previously announced commitments (here and here), the following additional candidates have indicated their support:
    • Glen Pearson, Liberal MP, London North Centre, ON
    • Joyce Murray, Liberal MP, Vancouver Quadra, BC
    • Dana L. Miller, Liberal candidate, Delta-Richmond East, BC
    • Richard Pesik, Liberal candidate, Nanaimo-Alberni, BC
    • Patricia Zipchen, Liberal candidate, Saskatoon-Wanuskewin, SK
    • Tim Jones, Liberal candidate, Newmarket-Aurora, ON
    • Denis Sabourin, Liberal candidate, Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry, ON
    • Judy Wasylycia-Leis, New Democrat MP, Winnipeg North, MB
    • Catherine Bell, New Democrat MP, Vancouver North, BC
    • Pat Martin, New Democrat MP, Winnipeg Centre, MB
    • Andy Bruziewicz, New Democrat candidate, Sarnia-Lambton, ON
    • Matt Turner, New Democrat candidate, Mississauga South, ON
    • Hijal De Sarker, New Democrat candidate, Ottawa South, ON
    • Ryan Dolby, New Democrat candidate, Elgin/Middlesex/London, ON
    • Rachel Heinrichs, New Democrat candidate, Winnipeg South Centre, MB
    • Peter Deslauriers, New Democrat candidate, NDG-Lachine, QC
    • Stuart Somerville, New Democrat candidate, Red Deer, AB
    • Chris Durrant, New Democrat candidate, Beausejour, QC
    • Alice Finnamore, New Democrat candidate, Tobique-Mactaquac, NB
    • Ray Martin, New Democrat candidate, Edmonton East, AB
    • Paul Arbour, New Democrat candidate, Carleton- Mississippi Mills, ON
    • Zoe Royer, New Democrat candidate, Port Moody - Westwood - Port Coquitlam, BC
    • Rob Moir, New Democrat candidate, Fundy Royal, NB
    • Brian Van Tilborg, New Democrat candidate, Brant, ON
    • Malcolm Allen, New Democrat candidate, Welland
    • Jennifer Burgis. New Democrat candidate, Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca, BC
    • Ross Martin, New Democrat candidate, Provencher, MB
    • Daniel Breton, New Democrat candidate, Jeanne-Le Ber, QC
    • Ann Chambers, New Democrat candidate, Vancouver South, BC
    • Linda Duncan, New Democrat candidate, Edmonton Strathcona, AB
    I will continue to update and will publish a complete list closer to election day.
  • Conservatives Promise to Re-Introduce Canadian DMCA

    The Conservative Party has released its platform and it devotes a half-page to copyright that leaves little doubt that it plans to bring back Bill C-61 and continue to support ACTA.  According to the platform:

    A re-elected Conservative Government led by Stephen Harper will reintroduce federal copyright legislation that strikes the appropriate balance among the rights of musicians, artists, programmers and other creators and brings Canada's intellectual property protection in line with that of other industrialized countries, but also protects consumers who want to access copyright works for their personal use.  We will also introduce tougher laws on counterfeiting and piracy and give our customs and law enforcement services the resources to enforce them.  This will protect consumers from phoney and sometimes dangerous products that are passed off as reliable brand-name goods.

    Of course, Bill C-61 did not strike the appropriate balance and tens of thousands of Canadians told Harper just that over the summer.  Unlike the Liberals, NDP, and Greens, no Conservative has supported the copyright pledge, which now makes sense given this platform commitment.

    Update: CBC covers the Conservative platform inclusion of reintroducing C-61. 


  • ISP Tax May Be The Next Big Culture Funding Fight My weekly technology law column (Toronto Star version, homepage version) places the spotlight on the next big cultural funding issue that promises to make the current dispute seem like a short preview as compared to the forthcoming main attraction. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission will hold hearings on new media regulation in early 2009 and barring a change of heart, the focal point will be the prospect of a mandated levy on Internet service providers to fund new media cultural production.  

    Opponents will deride the plan as a new tax, but that has not stopped cultural groups from lining up in support of such a scheme.  Earlier this year, several groups, including the Canadian Film and Television Production Association, the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA), the Directors Guild of Canada, and Writers Guild of Canada, proposed a mandatory ISP contribution of 2.5 percent of broadband revenue to help fund Canadian new media content creation.  In support, the groups released the results of a public opinion survey which they said found that "69 percent of Canadians believe that ISPs should be required to help fund the production of Canadian digital media content in the same way that cable and satellite TV providers are required to contribute a small percentage of their revenues to the production of Canadian television programs."

    More recently, the CRTC commissioned Eli Noam, a Columbia University finance professor, to conduct an independent study on the issue.  Noam's report, TV or Not TV, canvassed the regulatory options as the Commission grapples with a broadcast environment that has shifted from one of scarcity to seemingly unlimited abundance. Noam concluded that there should be regulatory harmonization between online and offline broadcast that could include public funding for the production of Canadian content. Noam's preferred funding model is "a combination of public funds; an excise tax on ISPs and carriers that would be harmonized with the existing levy on cable and satellite TV providers; and the use of spectrum sales revenues into a special trust fund."

    The current discussion on cultural funding may take on greater urgency once the ISP levy takes centre stage.   There is little doubt that such a levy - which Canadians would see each month on their ISP bill – would generate strong opposition from consumers.  The various political parties may be battling to demonstrate their support for the cultural community today, yet an unpopular ISP levy would surely put those positions to the test.

    The ISP levy proposal will also force regulators to show their cards on whether they believe that new Internet regulation is needed.  The Commission concluded in 1999 that the Broadcasting Act gave it the power to regulate "new media undertakings," but that given the paucity of Internet video such regulation was unnecessary. Nearly ten years later, streaming and real-time video have become a staple of Internet use with millions of Canadians turning to their computers rather than their televisions for video news and entertainment.  While the differences between the two mediums will be obvious to a generation that lives online, some regulators may be tempted to equate television and the Internet, arguing that a harmonized regulatory approach necessitates the imposition of Canadian content requirements and cultural funding programs.
  • CBC on the Copyright Pledge The CBC and CBC's Search Engine both cover the growing interest in the copyright pledge.
  • 50 More Candidates Support Copyright Pledge as Liberals Show Support Since Thursday's posting highlighting copyright pledge support from the Green Party and eight prominent NDP MPs and candidates, interest in the pledge has continued to grow. An increasing number of Liberal MPs and candidates have indicated their support, joined by many more NDP MPs and candidates.  In addition to the names listed last week, as of Monday morning, copyright pledge supporters now include:
    • Ken Boshcoff, Liberal MP, Thunder Bay-Rainy River, ON
    • Paul Szabo. Liberal MP, Mississauga South, ON
    • Gord Zeilstra, Liberal candidate, Cambridge, ON
    • Calvin Johnston, Liberal candidate, Palliser, SK
    • Arlene MacFarlane-VanderBeek, Liberal candidate, Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale, ON
    • Heather Carter, Liberal candidate, Niagara West – Glanbrook, ON
    • Suzanne van Bommel, Liberal candidate, Elgin-Middlesex-London, ON
    • Jamie McGarvey, Liberal candidate, Parry Sound-Muskoka, ON
    • Carolyn Scott, Liberal candidate, Sackville Eastern Shore
    • Sharon L. Howe, Liberal candidate, Crowfoot, AB
    • Marcelle Marion, Liberal candidate, Winnipeg North, MB
    • David Orchard, Liberal candidate, Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River, SK
    • Frank Valeriote, Liberal candidate, Guelph, ON
    • Greg McClinchey, Liberal candidate, Huron-Bruce, ON
    • Ted Klassen, Liberal candidate, Portage-Lisgar, MB
    • Bill Siksay, New Democrat MP, Burnaby-Douglas, BC
    • Dawn Black, New Democract MP, New Westminster–Coquitlam, BC
    • Irene Mathyssen, New Democrat MP, London-Fanshawe, ON
    • Peggy Nash, New Democrat MP, Parkdale High Park, ON
    • Wayne Marston, New Democrat MP, Hamilton East - Stoney Creek, ON
    • Jean Crowder, New Democrat MP, Nanaimo–Cowichan, BC
    • Denise Savoie, New Democrat MP, Victoria, BC
    • David Caplan, New Democrat candidate, Vancouver Quadra, BC
    • Vinay Dey, New Democrat candidate, Calgary East, AB
    • Dave Burkhart, New Democrat candidate, Edmonton-St. Albert, AB
    • Michael Charrois, New Democrat candidate, North Vancouver, BC
    • Stephen Moore, New Democrat candidate, Wascana, SK
    • Mike Avery, New Democrat candidate, Cardigan, PEI
    • Brian Morin, New Democrat candidate, Desnethé–Missinippi–Churchill River, SK
    • Catherine Bell, New Democrat candidate,Vancouver Island North, BC
    • Mohamed Alli, New Democrat candidate , Portage–Lisgar, MB
    • Mike Seaward, New Democrat candidate, Newmarket-Aurora, ON
    • Mike Sullivan, New Democrat candidate, York South-Weston, ON
    • Pierre Ducasse, New Democrat candidate, Hull-Aylmer, QC
    • Eric Gillespie, New Democrat candidate, Niagara Falls, ON
    • Sue McSheffrey, New Democrat candidate, Renfrew Nipissing Pembroke
    • Gabriel Biron, New Democrat candidate, Lévis–Bellechasse, QC
    • Doug Ottenbreit, New Democrat candidate, Yorkton–Melville, SK
    • Jash Puniya, New Democrat candidate, Bramalea-Gore-Malton, ON
    • Nicolas Thibodeau, New Democrat candidate, Mont-Royal, QC
    • Justin Chatwin, New Democrat candidate, Eglinton-Lawrence, ON
    • George Addison, New Democrat candidate, St. Catharines, ON
    • Darlene Jalbert, New Democrat candidate, Stormont--Dundas--South Glengarry, ON
    • Carol Hughes, New Democrat candidate, Algoma Manitoulin Kapuskasing, ON
    • Jo-Anne Boulding, New Democrat candidate, Parry Sound Muskoka, ON
    • Max Lombardi, New Democrat candidate, Cambridge, ON
    • Wess Dowsett. New Democrat candidate, Richmond Hill, ON
    • Ross Eadie, New Democrat candidate, Kildonan-St. Paul, MB
    • John Rafferty, New Democrat candidate, Thunder Bay Rainy River, ON
    • Jill McIllwraith, New Democrat candidate, Bruce-Grey, ON
    I will continue to post updates throughout the week, with a complete list just prior to election day.  If your local candidates are not on this list, there is still time to ensure that they speak out on fair copyright.
  • Internet For Everyone Groups from across the country have launched InternetforEveryone.ca, dedicated to promoting open access to the Internet for all Canadians.

    • Digital Copyright Canada - All Canadian Citizens are "Rights Holders"!
    This forum was started in Aug 2001 to raise the level of debate about Digital Copyright revision in Canada. We work to ensure that the views of all citizens including creators and their audiences are considered. Thus far the federal government has allowed lobbiests for the increasingly outdated intermediaries to dominate discussions. Read about this forum for more details and site description.

  • The New Copyright MPs

    Michael Geist reports that, "coming out of last night's election, 34 candidates who supported the copyright pledge during the campaign were elected - 11 Liberals and 23 New Democrats".

  • McCain Campaign Feels DMCA Sting

    While EFF reports that the McCain Campaign Feels DMCA Sting, their solution is typically brain-dead. His proposal is for sites like YouTube to prioritized election videos for a full internal legal review. The same type of selfish stupidity has been suggested in Canada, with there being suggestions that Parliamentarians should be exempt from Copyright as a parliamentary privilege, just as they are exempt from defamation law.

    I believe that parliamentarians should be under more strict copyright and defamation laws than any other Canadians. The people who are in charge of manipulating laws should never be carved out of those laws. We need parliamentarians to understand the real effects of copyright and defamation law, even as they have staff and other people to help them when average Canadians do not!

    read more

  • Election 2008: Past members of Industry committee


    • James Rajotte (Edmonton—Leduc, Conservative, chair) re-elected
    • Paule Brunelle (Trois-Rivières, Bloc, co-chair) re-elected
    • Dan McTeague (Pickering—Scarborough East, Liberal, co-chair) re-elected
    • André Arthur (Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, Independent) re-elected
    • Scott Brison (Kings—Hants, Liberal) re-elected
    • Colin Carrie (Oshawa, Conservative) re-elected
    • Mark Eyking (Sydney—Victoria, Liberal) re-elected
    • Peggy Nash (Parkdale—High Park, NDP) lost to Liberal Gerard Kennedy
    • Raymond Simard (Saint Boniface, Liberal) lost to Conservative James Bezan
    • Bruce Stanton (Simcoe North, Conservative) re-elected
    • Dave Van Kesteren (Chatham-Kent—Essex, Conservative) re-elected
    • Robert Vincent (Shefford, Bloc) re-elected

    read more

  • Election 2008: Past members of Heritage committee


    • Gary Schellenberger (Perth—Wellington, Conservative, Chair) re-elected
    • Maria Mourani (Ahuntsic, Bloc, co-chair) re-elected
    • Andy Scott (Liberal, co-chair) did not run
    • Jim Abbott (Kootenay—Columbia, Conservative) re-elected
    • Michael D. Chong (Wellington—Halton Hills, Conservative) re-elected
    • Dean Del Mastro (Peterborough, Conservative) re-elected
    • Denis Coderre (Bourassa, Liberal) re-elected
    • Ed Fast (Abbotsford, Consrvative) re-elected
    • Hedy Fry (Vancouver Centre, Liberal) re-elected
    • Luc Malo (Verchères—Les Patriotes, Bloc) re-elected
    • Bill Siksay (Burnaby—Douglas, NDP) re-elected
    • Francis Scarpaleggia (Lac-Saint-Louis, Liberal) re-elected

    read more

  • Why Fair Copyright advocates need to join Fair Vote Canada

    The 2008 election results (as of tuesday @ 03:29) shows why Fair Copyright advocates need to join Fair Vote Canada to change the electoral system:

    Party that took a progressive stance on copyright as a party:

    • The Green Party: 6,8% of the votes, 0% of the seats

    Party that has an MP representing the party on copyright reform with a progressive stance:

    • NDP: 18,2% of the votes, 12% of the seats

    read more

  • Top 10 Ridings I will be watching election night

    Here is a list of the top ridings I'll be watching this election night, and why. Click on the ridings to get more details, articles, etc.

    Timmins--James Bay
    Obvious place to start the list, with incumbent Charlie Angus of the New Democrats expected to keep his seat. He is the incumbent MP who best understands technology law issues, whether it be Copyright or Net Neutrality. He has also been very successful in educating and working within his caucus to enable the NDP to have some of the strongest candidates in this election.

    read more

  • Updated Election2008 candidates list shows Copyright Pledge

    I have updated the Election 2008 Candidates list page to show which candidates took Michael Geist's Copyright Pledge.

  • HiSciFi.com @ CJSF 90.1 FM

    I was on CJSF radio this evening on the show HiSciFi (Audio archive available this week online). The host Irma Arkus called me for the latter half of the show to discuss C-61, its origins, and what the various parties are thinking about Copyright during this election.

    Major oops on my part not to mention the Green Party who is more of a factor in BC, and who also have a very modern view of technology law and copyright. I spoke about how I am excited to see what happens in Vancouver Center, with my rooting for Michael Byers who has a modern view of tech/copyright and against incumbent Hedy Fry who has been a bit of an old-economy wild-card. I also spoke about the CRIA candidate Dan McTeague in Pickering - Scarborough East (Ontario), and my hope that he won't be in the committee that studies copyright (either not elected, or not put in by Liberals).

    Irma was already very well aware of the statements that the Conservatives have made, actually dedicating part of their platform to reintroducing the "made worse in Canada" C-61. Threat made, threat kept!

    read more

  • Political parties and the Private Copying regime

    The Canadian Private Copying collective has sent out a press release (PDF from CPCC, covered by FYI music) where they asked the Bloc, Liberal, Conservative, Green and NDP their position on the Private Copying Regime. While the Conservatives did not respond to the survey, I believe it is fair to accept Bill C-61 as their response given they have promised to re-introduce it if elected.

    Before the responses from the parties, I would like to offer what I consider to be a fair and historically consistent reform of the private copying regime.

    Read the rest of this entry »

    read more

  • Green Party candidate briefing on Copyright

    I have obtained permission to publish the full version of the Green Party of Canada candidate briefing on Copyright (PDF, OpenDocument). It is not intended to convey official party policy or a component of the platform, but inform candidates on an election issue.

    read more