Klein, John

1. How do Canada’s copyright laws affect you? How should existing laws be modernized?

Copyright affects me and every Canadian every day. From recording TV, to reading and writing on the Internet, almost everything we do for recreation, education, and entertainment is affected.

New copyright laws should protect copyright holders for 18 years, and then their work should enter the public domain, no exceptions. People should only be charged criminally with copyright act violations if the demonstrable harm done to a copyright holder exceeds $100,000 (gross) in lost sales, in the span of a year.

If you don't listen to Michael Geist on copyright reform, then you're not listening to what Canadians want http://www.michaelgeist.ca/content/view/4173/125/ We don't want Bill C-61's changes.

2. Based on Canadian values and interests, how should copyright changes be made in order to withstand the test of time

Adhere to the intent of the current Act, which is to preserve Canadian culture while ensuring creativity and production of cultural works like literature, music, and video are reasonably profitable for the creators of copyrighted works. Make the law very short, and leave specifics out, so that the court can interpret gray areas. Make it clear to the court that only flagrant abuses of a creator's work should be punished, and plenty of leeway is given to those using copyrighted works. Copyright holders could pursue smaller losses in small claims court.

3. What sorts of copyright changes do you believe would best foster innovation and creativity in Canada?

The Act must be short, and easy for 12 year old children to understand or we'll be stifling innovation and creativity in Canada. Obviously it's challenging to get more with less, but it's the best way. Cut out the special interests, and make a law for the masses, not the masters.

4. What sorts of copyright changes do you believe would best foster competition and investment in Canada?

Tell other countries to go copyright themselves if they don't like the law we choose. We are not going to preserve and grow Canadian culture if we ensure that it's easy for the American and global market to flood our media with their idea of culture. The competition we need in Canadian culture is amongst ourselves primarily. The investment in Canada will happen regardless of the strictness, or laxness of our Copyright Act. When countries choose not to deal with us, it will open greater opportunities for Canadian artists, musicians, actors, and writers to market themselves across the nation.

5. What kinds of changes would best position Canada as a leader in the global, digital economy?

Use the Internet better to market our country. We have decades of NFB films only barely online, and not on YouTube which is the global standard for video culture. Every NFB film should be on iTunes. If the new Act doesn't allow for this kind of thing to happen, then Canada will never be a leader in the digital economy.

Sincerely,

John Klein

Regina, Saskatchewan