Copyright Renewal in Canada

I cannot figure out how to remain active in my government when no one talks to or listens to you, if you are not cheering them on of course.

I sent this letter to Christian Paradis, the Minister of Industry and Charlie Angus the opposition critic.

I've redacted my personal information in the spirit of government openness

Hi,

My name is XXXXX XXXXXX.

I am a web developer and work in the academic library for the University XXXXXX.

It is in working for a library that I have come to see the issues that face libraries and archives in this day and age.

I am very concerned about the TPM provisions in the proposed bill C-11 and what effect this will have on the academic institutions abilities to provide useful resources to our faculty and students.

If the TPM takes precedence over all other rights, then my belief is that there will be fewer of these resources available to provide to the student/faculty/researcher body as a whole. Unless the federal government is planning to increase funding to all universities to offset the increased costs of purchasing more copies of any resources that contain a TPM.

My (perhaps cynical) belief is that there will not be fewer companies adding TPMs to their products. As using tools to break or circumvent any TPM is now against the law, much knowledge could be lost for future generations.

While the wealthy can certainly afford to re-purchase their games/movies/etc over and over again. This provision ensures that the poorer and those with disabilities will be put at a greater disadvantage.

In reviewing the Legislative Summary for this bill I see that much more intelligent and literate persons have spoken to possible solutions to the lawful circumvention of TPMs.

My only assumption is that the total disregard for this voice is due to intense lobbying from much richer constituents then the average Canadian.

I leave you with this.

I can buy a car, disassemble it, change/modify/replaces the mechanical, electrical, electronics, exterior body and sell that car.

I can buy a DVD, download a DVD-Decoder, burn it to my computer, convert it to an alternate format and put it on my iPod to watch.

I one of these cases I will have broken the law multiple times.

I hope you will consider adding an exemption to the circumvention of TPMs for lawful use.

thank you,

I received one response. ONE! It came from the office of Christian Paradis. I say that because it was only missing the "FORM LETTER" stamp at the top.

Thank you for your email regarding the Copyright Modernization Act.

Recognizing the critical role a modern copyright regime plays in Canada’s digital economy, the Government of Canada is delivering on its commitment to introduce and seek swift passage of copyright legislation that balances the needs of creators and users.

On September 29, 2011, the government introduced Bill C-11, the Copyright Modernization Act. This legislation reproduces the provisions of Bill C-32, which appeared in the last session of Parliament. It will promote Canada’s innovation and creativity, and ensure that our copyright laws are modern, flexible and in line with current international standards. It proposes a fair, balanced and common sense approach that respects both the rights of creators and the interests of consumers in today’s market. Through this bill, the federal government seeks to promote Canada’s participation in the digital economy, a major element in ensuring the continued prosperity and competitiveness of our country.

Detailed information about the Copyright Modernization Act is available online at www.balancedcopyright.gc.ca.

Once again, thank you for sharing your views on this important matter.

Yours sincerely,

The Honourable Christian Paradis, P.C., M.P.

Apparently the minister thinks I haven't heard about the bill. Perhaps actual discussion with Canadians is too beneath him. I would say he is too busy, but I can't think of why this would be too hard to actually give me a real response.

They (meaning his assistant or whomever actually responded) didn't even bother to copy and paste the party's talking points in to a response.

It is a new dictatorship. I wonder if the US is concerned about the rapid un-democratization of their neighbours to the north?

pod pod pod... word has lost all meaning

Podcasting is akin to RSS, in that you have to make the effort to look/listen to them. I often open my RSS reader to see 322 new unread items, it is a daunting task to click on the first "section" and start to peruse.

Podcasting's big benefit (to me) is that I only listen to the radio in the car (and only when not listening to Elmo). So if a show is not on during commuting hours I don't hear it. Subscribing to the podcast allows me to catch-up.

The second benefit (in general) is programs that would die under a normal revenue stream can survive.

I have been listening to CBC's Search Engine for a year and a bit, recently the CBC decided to cancel this program. Too bad?

Not quite, it was picked up by TVO (Television Ontario) and you can now get the new Search Engine podcasts on their website. So they can continue their interest in technology related news and I get to continue to benefit from their interest.

The last benefit (again a general one) is that programs I would not have access to are now available. Radio from other countries, music from small independent musicians, etc.

My favorite podcast is The Bugle, affiliated with Britain's Times it is a self-proclaimed "audio newspaper for a visual world". Hosted by Andy Zaltzman and John Oliver, they do a weekly recap of current world events with a satirical spin (think The Daily Show or The Colbert Report).

This is a podcast that operates on a small budget and (I am guessing) derives it's revenue stream from sales of shows, books, etc. of Messrs Zaltzman and Oliver. Which is ingenious as I had never heard of Mr. Zaltzman before, but am anxiously awaiting the availability of his first book.

Social networks and Libraries

I have had a Facebook account for ....man Facebook needs an easy way to figure out when you signed up.

It looks like May 2007, but I am not sure. If it was then my first status was "Jared is thinking and consuming Java".

I have seen the University of Alberta's Facebook application, and various library "Fan pages".

I don't think many will use them as an ongoing method of communication with the libraries, but I also think we should still be there. New patrons will look where they normally look, and if that is Facebook or Twitter or MySpace or whatever, then so be it.

I don't think many students writing a paper will login to Facebook to add a catalogue search app to search the catalogue.

But they will download an app for their iPhone or Android phone, especially if it makes it easier. So we should make sure they find these tools, and that means having them in Facebook and MySpace, etc.

Catching up

I didn't think it would be so hard to remember to check the Library 2.0 course once a week. But time does fly and I am behind.

For week 7, I am blogging about LibraryThing. Which is a very cool and interesting way to maintain a collection of books.

The interface is nice and easy and they make use of whatever other services allow for data integration capture.

I like the addition of covers, but as the LibraryThing site makes use of Amazon covers it sometimes appears they have more covers than they really do.

Also, I have forgotten my password twice. The first time I had to e-mail them as I had not entered an e-mail address. I confirmed my identity and had them update my account with an e-mail address.

The second is right now, I can't get in and no e-mail address of mine is associated with any account. Thanks LibraryThing.

Hello World

What a beautiful Wednesday, if only the sun would come out to greet us.

100 days for Obama and I'm still losing money in the market.