Internationally, Canadas enforcement of copyright laws when it comes to the illegal downloading of songs and content from the Internet is a fiasco.
First one judge rules that its not illegal to download copyrighted content through peer-to-peer networks, but it is illegal for peers to make copyrighted materials available for others. Then another judge rules that theres nothing illegal about trading copyrighted materials online, comparing the peer-to-peer networks to that old photocopier that you used to have in your local library.
Both judges seemed dangerously out of touch with the times and the technology, and more than a little naïve about the intentions of downloaders nobody downloads a copy of Hey Ya by Outkast for a school paper.
The ability to copy pages out of books onto low-grade paper, one agonizing sheet at a time which was never free by the way is nothing compared to the technology that allows you to download whole songs in a fraction of the time it takes to listen to them. With a good high-speed service you can download an entire album in under 20 minutes, and an entire bootlegged movie in under an hour.
Both court rulings left the Canadian Recording Industry Association foaming at the mouth for justice and some public acknowledgement of their huge revenue losses in recent years. They want the same ability to sue individual downloaders as the Recording Industry Association of America enjoys south of the border, which has been extremely effective in curbing the illegal practice.
The CRIA may get some relief after all not from laws but from our nations lawmakers.
Last week a group of Members of Parliament studying Canadas copyright laws suggested that its in Canadas best interest to ratify international treaties that strengthen copyright laws for online content, especially the World Intellectual Property Organization treaty already signed by 44 countries including the U.S.
Furthermore the Commons Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage is lobbying for a few alterations to the Copyright Act that make ISPs (Internet Service Providers) liable for copyright infringements.
Currently ISPs protect the identities of their clients, and arent liable for their online activities. If the committees proposed changes go through then ISPs will be forced to reveal the identities of their clients, or could themselves be held monetarily liable.
The announcement was a dream come true for the CRIA, which estimates that is has lost more than half a billion dollars in sales over the past five years due to illegal downloading.
Last week they recorded more than 500,000 illegal attempts to download Vaccination Scar by the Tragically Hip in a five-week period. During the same period fewer than 1,000 people purchased the song legally through online services.
April 23, 2018, 4:00 AM
The 'EPIC' global heli tour aims to promote entrepreneurship and healthy living More...
April 19, 2018, 11:00 AM
River Forecast Centre prepares for spring melt More...
April 19, 2018, 1:02 AM
Organizers happy with newest edition of season-ending festival More...