Infringement Nation

John Tehranian, Professor of Law, University of Utah has just published a paper entitled Infringement Nation: Copyright Reform and the Law / Norm Gap.

The paper details the massive void between copyright norms (what people do) and copyright law in the United States. Fueled by some of the most unbalanced copyright laws in the world Teranian presents a shocking scenario. “To illustrate the unwitting infringement that has become quotidian for the average American, take a day in the life of a hypothetical law professor named John.

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By the end of the day John has committed eighty three acts of infringement and faces liability in the amount of $12.45 million (to say nothing of criminal charges). There is nothing particularly extraordinary about John’s activities. Yet if copyright holders were inclined to enforce their rights to the maximum extent allowed by law, barring last minute salvation through the notoriously ambiguous fair use defense, he would be liable for a mind boggling $4.544 billion in potential damages each year. And, surprisingly, he has not even committed a single act of infringement through P2P filesharing. Such an outcome flies in the face of our basic sense of justice.

With new Canadian legislation rumoured to be even more draconian than US legislation, including even fewer exceptions than American legislation the average Canadian can most likely look forward to a similar or even worse exposure to litigation.

Obedience Training for Dogs

Canadian Government Swayed by Rhetoric and False Statistics

Obedience training doesn’t solve all behavior problems, but it is the foundation for solving just about any problem. Training opens up a line of communication between you and your dog. Effective communication is necessary to instruct your dog about what you want her to do. Dogs are social animals and without proper training, they will behave like animals. They will destroy your belongings, dig holes in your yard, and even bite you. Obedience training is an easy way to establish social hierarchy. You CAN teach your dog her subordinate role by teaching her to show submission to you. Most dogs love performing these tricks (obedience commands) for you which also pleasantly acknowledge that you are in charge.” (from ‘Obedience Training for Dogs’)

How do you teach Canadians obedience? How do you make Canadian politicians sit up and beg? Remarkably easily it seems. A short video documenting the remarkably successful, efficient and erroneous manipulation of Canadian Laws by the U.S.

Bill-C-59 a lesson in obedience training for Canadians.

Video produced by Michael Geist and Daniel Albahary
http://www.michaelgeist.ca/video/NB_Final_Server.mov

Howard Knopf also comments
http://excesscopyright.blogspot.com

As does Russell McOrmond
http://www.digital-copyright.ca/node/3985

Copyright and the Threat to the Public Domain

Gordon Duggan has written an essay for the Arts News Canada, May issue; a monthly
series entitled “Canadian Arts Matter: Essays in support of cultural leadership”.
The essay is ‘Copyright and the threat to the public domain’. There is a discussion forum
attached.
http://www.artsnews.ca

Fuse Magazine: Cutting Out Collage…

Fuse Magazine: Cutting Out Collage: CARFAC and the License to do Business
Jonathan Culp

It is June 2006. Stephen Harper and “Canada’s New Government” are half a year into their mandate, and the Ministries of Heritage and Industry are receiving advice about reforms to Canada’s copyright law. America’s (not so new) government is on the phone of course, but so are myriad domestic lobby groups such as the Canadian Recording Industry Association, the Creators’ Rights Alliance and Canadian Artists Representation (CARFAC). The Liberals’ Bill C-60 may have died with their government, but these diverse voices continue to advance its agenda: new, more stringent controls on users’ rights, to benefit and underwrite the professional producers of art and culture.

Meanwhile, a new organization has set out to advance different argument: Appropriation Art, “’a coalition of arts professionals’,” presents a petition to parliament. In a mere three weeks, this modest initiative had secured over 600 endorsements, including many individual artists and curators as well as the Independent Media Arts Alliance, the Canadian Museums Association and regional media arts cooperatives such as CSIF and LIFT.

http://www.fusemagazine.org/

http://www.satanmacnuggit.com/Cutting_Out_Collage.html