Michael Geist: My Fair Copyright for Canada Principles

Michael Geist: My Fair Copyright for Canada Principles

With the continued interest in Canadian copyright reform – the Fair Copyright for Canada Facebook group has grown to over 38,000 members and the local chapters across the country are gaining significant momentum – the most frequently asked question I receive is “what do you think fair copyright reform looks like?” In other words, we know that tens of thousands of Canadians oppose a Canadian DMCA, but what kind of reform would or should they support?

Many groups have already responded to this question – librarians, teachers, universities, musicians, artists [Appropriation Art], consumer interests, and some large businesses opposed to a Canadian DMCA among them. Although the optimal approach would be to launch a public consultation on the issue, there is reason to doubt that the government will do so. In that case, I would point to eight key principles that should be addressed to maintain a balanced, fair approach to Canadian copyright law.