Second Reading for Bill C-32

Yesterday’s Globe and Mail assures us that,

Although all three opposition parties have criticized aspects of the bill, they are expected to pass it in principle so that it can move to the legislative committee that would discuss amendments.   At this stage, however, amendments could only address existing language; new issues could not be added.”

–Globe and Mail: Ottawa pushes ahead with copyright bill amid opposition

The most incredible thing is that NOBODY supports Bill C-32. Passing legislation “in principle” that is strongly opposed in all quarters seems foolish indeed.

Bill C-32 will NOT “update” Canada’s copyright law, it will actually work to regress it, by legislating control of the recording, movie and publishing industries back into total domination by corporations.

The “creative community” is not best served by any copyright collectives and unions that advocate legislation which returns artists to the indentured servitude of the last century.

“1¢ per download → Artist 68¢ per download → Record Company

…

“Is it any wonder musicians are choosing to go Independent? ”

—Artists and Record Companies

The Internet makes it possible for artists to distribute their own creative works without having to sign away their souls (and copyright) to distributors (aka record companies) who continue to exploit them unfairly.

The copying levy actually works against the truly Independent recording artists (who comprised 30% of the Canadian Recording Industry at last count) who do not in fact share in the proceeds, but rather have to pay the levy themselves on the CDs they sell containing their own original material.

Last year the Canadian Government hosted a Canadian Copyright Consultation which resulted in an unprecedented amount of response from Canadians. The overwhelming majority of this direct citizen input emphatically opposed any kind of “Canadian DMCA.” Yet Bill C-32 completely ignored what Canadians want, instead this so-called “Copyright Modernization Act,” enshrines “digital locks” against the best interests of both citizens and creators.

In a democracy, laws should be made to reflect society’s mores, not dictate them.

Additional articles I’ve written about Bill C-32:

• Creative Freedom

• C-32 Endangers My Rights

• Copyright Modernization Act: Bill C-32

• Must Read

• Astroturf: promoting Bill C-32

• digEcon backstory

• Professor Geist exposes Bill C-32

• “Writers Groups” presume too much

• copyrightconsultation.ca

• Just under the wire: My Copycon Submission

• Canada don’t need no stinkin’ DMCA (or DCMA)

Authoratative Resources:

• Howard Knopf and his Excess Copyright blog, most particularly:
  Excess Copyright: Exit Strategy for Digital Locks Dilemma of Canada’s Bill C-32

• Russell McOrmond and his Digital Copyright blog, most particularly:
  Digital Copyright Canada: Bill C-32 Frequently Asked Questions

• Wayne Borean’s Through the Looking Glass on copyright

• Cory Doctorow’s Submission to the CopyCon

• And of course Michael Geist