Copyright Reform Needs Made in Canada Approach

Vancouver Sun- Copyright Reform Needs Made in Canada Approach
By Kashif Admed and Eric Miller – Canwest News Service – June 11, 2010

Industry Minister Tony Clement knows only one way to write copyright laws for the country: heavyhandedly.

Although the Conservative-backed Bill C-32 provides a much needed modernization to Canadian copyright legislation, the proposed law contains serious flaws and undue restrictions on consumer freedom.

In an effort to be perceived as balanced, the act purports to expand consumer rights, but instead provides more favourable treatment to intellectual property holders.

While Canadians would be allowed to record programs and music for personal use, and educators would have the ability to access and copy online material for teaching purposes, these exceptions to infringement are rendered virtually ineffective by other provisions in the bill.