The Harper government introduced
Bill C-32 in parliament this week which is supposed to modernize, and clarify, the copyright laws regarding digital media. Geared toward games, television, music and other digital content, it will encompass eBooks.
After a failed attempt of a similar bill, derailed by the prorogation of Parliament in 2008, it appears they have caved to pressure from US and international lobbyists demanding adherence to international copyright treaties it has signed. This bill still has to go through the amendment process in parliament and is subject to change and as yet "not chiselled in stone."
There are numerous interpretations and highlights of the bill in the news links below, but simplified, as I read them, it seams that copying and format shifting digital media for personal use will become legal, but not if you have to circumvent DRM to do it. Publishing/distributing any method to circumvent DRM will also be subject to fines. Not sure if I interpreted it right or not!
Here are a few of the many news items:
"Canadian DMCA" defends DRM, legalizes DVRs (By Nate Anderson ~ ars technica)
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But the big new enforcement piece is the DMCA-style DRM provisions. Bypassing DRM won't be allowed except in a few narrow cases. Just as in the US, the bill makes no exception for legal uses; DRM trumps fair dealing. Circumvention software and devices would also become illegal to sell or distribute
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Copyright bill takes a good shot at a moving target (Globe and Mail)
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The bill implements many long-needed fixes. Copying for personal and non-commercial use will be explicitly legal. Using copyrighted works for parody, satire and educational purposes is essential in a free, progressing and democratic society, and these activities will also be protected.
It also creates new protections for creators, who can decide to use digital locks to restrict access to their work. The right to use the locks is unconditional, trumping the rights it grants to consumers.
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Clement defends new copyright bill, provisions for those who break digital locks (by Ciara Byrne ~ The Canadian Press)
Quote:
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"If the industry has decided that their business model is such that they need to have the digital lock, they have the right to protect that digital lock from hacking."
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Canadian copyright bill is out - Still too close to US DMCA (by Spencer Dalziel ~ the INQUIRER)
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The bill does stick with US style DRM legislation. There will be no mitigating circumstances like fair use for getting around DRM enforcement.
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DRM concerns are highlighted in the following video created at the Vancouver Film School, which recently won the school's award for public enlightenment.
terms&conditions (by mediamold)