Bill C-61 goes beyond downloading
A proposed change to copyright law could change the way Canadians share media. It could also have a negative impact on the education system, said English professor Laura Murray. Bill C-61, first read to the House of Commons by Federal Industry Minister Jim Prentice on June 12, outlines the provisions for copying media and fills in the grey areas not covered by existing copyright laws. Under current copyrighting laws, Canadians aren’t allowed to copy newspapers, books, periodicals, photographs, videocassettes and music. (back to story...)
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As a student of computer science I feel almost obligated to comment on this ludicrous and idiotic bill.
This would be extremely detrimental to my faculty and education as a whole – I feel that an entire branch of study in regards to digital security could be threatened. How are we supposed to develop new and improved security measures if we are not legally capable of attempting to break the old ones, and thus remove the flaws? This is how digital security has always worked, and should continue to work in the future.
Not everyone with the technological capability to break these encryptions is a bad guy. I and every single other capable programmer could just as easily whip up some malicious code and open a can of virus whoop-ass on unsuspecting internet users if we weren’t so busy being diligent and responsible citizens.
By removing our ability to attempt to crack possibly flawed security mechanisms, we risk stagnating electronic protection mediums, handing an unchallenged victory over to the hackers and script kiddies of tomorrow.
I feel sorry for all those people with open wireless networks.
In response to Sammy,
1. I think this would remain a gray area, however most likely this would cause a problem in that potentially you would need to prove that it was unlocked before you purchased it, also simply being in possession on it may be illegal.
2. Language is completely irrelevant, what matters is its copyright. If the CD is copyrighted and that copyright is recognized in Canada then I believe this would be a problem if the CD has copy protection on it. If not then it is fine under to format shift clause (I believe that is what it is).
3. Again depends on the video's copyright. Downloading a music video from a "professional" artist would be illegal. But downloading a 20 second home video uploaded by some random individual should be fine.
Hope this helps, good luck.
Just to add to what you're saying, Sammy.
As usual these laws are being written and asked to be judged by people that don't even understand the technology or use.
1.A lot of the files downloaded ARE media such as music and movies.. but a lot of it is ALSO not commerically available in the dl's home country (usually content from a foreign country -- I like to watch Japanese TV shows myself).
2.Is it "infringement" if you own a copy of something you've already purchased? If I paid for a beatles vinyl album and want to get an MP3 of the same album.. is that really stealing (truth is the company who owns the rights would love to have me pay every time I hear the song)? What about downloading TV shows I get with my paid satellite TV -- shown at a time when I can't conveniently watch them? Why should I pay for a way to copy them when I already have a way to get a copy (the internet)?
3.The "decoding" thing is one of the biggest misunderstandings of legislation like this. Just recently a computer software company used a hacker's group patch for a program they released because it was quicker and cheaper to release (they released it as their own but the hacker's group name was clearly written into the code) although the company had spent all manner of money in opposition to this manner of decoding.
4.What about photocopying (which is referred to in the article in regards to free use)? What's the difference between photocopying pages of a book and copying a movie or song? Anyone with a brain can see that the focusing on music and movies has less to do with copyright infringements then with the RIAA and MPAA attempting to use legal means to protect their profit margins (of which they exagerate if it even occurs at all.. who knows these days).
Here's hoping these guys actually learn about the technology and realize what a colossal mistake the legislation would be. The U.S. courts (and the american people) have been inundated with all manner of nonsense that canadians shouldn't have to be subjected to.
If this legislation passes the first thing I'm going to do is burn myself with hot coffee and file a lawsuit since that's what our country has become.
my concern is that we seem to be all be overlooking one important issue here.why this and why now and why the extreme punishment? to remove the ability for one to freely learn and express ideas we as a society cease to exist.i can see only one reason to block information on a scale this large.we as a society are being removed from the information highway.we have had the newspapers and the media ,that is ,television news and all alternate forms of information transferral censored and controlled by people who feel we have no need for it.to control information means to control the society that needs it.we have been bred to depend on info and are now learning what it would be like to not have it.if this is left to go its course we will be breaking the law to talk to one another about how things work in lets say OUR GOVERNMENT.this world is on the verge of a global change of power and design and we are being slowly rounded up and counted.we will see many good people fathers mothers brothers sisters and friends losing homes jobs family and friends to jails for the simple downloading of a song they havent heard in thirty years,or a copy of the constitution,or a copy of the canadian civil rights.if we search for info on a powerful leader we have questions about we will see our doors get forced open on information violations and again be off to jail.sure....crazy talk .....really?
How can us Canadian's help make this not pass ?
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Calgary
July 29, 2008 at 5:29 p.m.
I don’t know if it’s good or bad, or anything and have been hearing about this new law and old law and mix ups etc etc.
So I just have a few questions which probably somebody else would have too.
1. Right now I use an unlocked phone bought through eBay, is it problem.
2. Is the mp3 music copying from CDs and other sources apply only to English or are it for the 2oo something languages around the world, I hardly use English songs but do use my regional language from India.
3. Is downloading from YouTube legal.
Please help me in these concerns.
Thank you.