Dear Bill C-61 - Copyright Act: suck it
by jason
2008-06-18 13:32:03 PDT
I dunno if everybody has noticed Bill C-61, but it sucks - long, and hard. I'd encourage everyone who likes iPods, music on a computer, streaming video on your XBox, etc., to write their MP and a few other people and kick some shit up about this.
Here's some quick info:
Bill C-61 official table of contents (in case you want to actually read any of it)
Talking Points to Defeat Bill C-61 (anti-bill stance, but the best explanation I could find)
Parliament of Canada (find your MP)
I wrote (and copied/pasted) a letter, and sent it my MP as well as to all these people:
| Right Hon. Stephen Harper | Prime Minister | Harper.S@parl.gc.ca |
| Hon. Jim Prentice | Minister of Industry | Prentice.J@parl.gc.ca |
| Hon. Josée Verner | Minister of Canadian Heritage | Verner.J@parl.gc.ca |
| Hon. Jack Layton | Leader, NDP | Layton.J@parl.gc.ca |
| Hon. Stephane Dion | Leader, Liberals | DionS@parl.gc.ca |
| L'Hon. Gilles Duceppe | Leader, Bloc | Duceppe.G@parl.gc.ca |
(And yeah, calling Harper "Right Honourable" sucks, I know.)
Here's the letter I sent them:
I am writing you to express my absolute displeasure with the content of Bill C-61 - An Act to amend the Copyright Act.
This bill proposes to take away Canadians’ rights to fair use with copyrighted media and digital devices. If it passes, it will set back consumer freedom in this country.
Up until now it has been legal for a person to buy a movie or musical work and make copies of it for their own personal use, especially for the purpose of transferring said media to a medium not supporting the format they purchased the media in, as well as for backup purposes. For example, a common practise is for a person to purchase an album on audio CD, and then make a digital copy on their computer for backup or to put it on an iPod. This bill, by outlawing such practises, is a blatant cash grab on the part of the motion picture association and record labels, and a blow to basic consumer rights.
Further to that, Bill C-61 has provisions which outlaw defeating certain digital controls. This bill is so poorly written that Rogers or Bell could argue that I have circumvented their copyright control by altering the software on a phone that I have purchased and currently own. For example, if I were to want to put ringtones on my phone myself, I could unlock its software to allow this. Bill C-61 would forbid this!
Imagine another scenario where I wanted to watch a movie (or TV show) on DVD that is only available in Britain. Modifying my DVD player to play DVDs from any region besides North America is forbidden by this bill. Again, this is a piece of hardware that I have paid for and own - I can legally fill the DVD player's innards with mustard and throw it off of my balcony, but I can't change a setting on the player to watch a DVD?
This bill appears to have been written by industry with no regard for the balance between the protection of intellectual property and consumer rights. It is a terrible piece of legislation.
I strongly urge all of you to oppose Bill C-61 for the above reasons, and I will be observing this bill's progress and your voting records accordingly.
Thank you,
Jason
If you want to copy/paste any and all of this, go for it.
Kurt
Nice, man. Well written. Naturally, I like the piece about the mustard in the DVD player and the balcony. Of course, my experience was ketchup and a VCR, but it's all the same.
My biggest gripe is not being able to copy music that I purchased from my computer to my iPod. That makes no sense. It would be like if I bought a can of gas for my lawnmower, but I couldn't also use that fuel for my chainsaw. You know? It's my gasoline now - I should be able to put it where I want.
19 June 2008 - 11:13:56 (PST)