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Archived - Wade, Alan
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As a Canadian citizen, songwriter and composer,
http://www.transformationmeditation.com/dattaa/
I am keenly interested in seeing that Canadian creative artists' copyrights are fully guaranteed, protected and preserved through any changes, modifications and/or updates enacted and applied to Canadian copyright law.
Conversely, I also think that the idea and spirit of 'fair use' should also be equally guaranteed, protected and preserved in any changes made to our copyright laws!
My own personal view on 'fair use' is that it is the inherent and inalienable right of all individuals to make copies of any copywritten material they purchase or already own and, further, that any copies made of said copywritten materials are only made for personal use and for sharing directly with family and friends in the form and spirit of a gift.
But — and this is a big 'but', highlighted as a major caveat, to be preserved, clarified and strengthened in any changes made to Canadian copywrite law — if someone makes copies of copywritten materials for unauthorised resale and redistribution, for personal profit and gain from such resale, with no intention of paying the creator of the copywritten material their normal copyright fees, then such activity should completely void any consumer protection extended to consumers under any new, revised definition of 'fair use'. And, of course, any unauthorised copying for resale and profit, as described above, should be made illegal and harshly-punishable by any new changes made to current copyright laws!
I strongly feel that the law makers of Canada must take as much time as necessary and make their very best possible efforts to clearly and succinctly define this fine line that must clearly delineate between 'fair use' and 'illegal resuse'! So that this fine line, clearly defined in any existing and/or new laws, can continue to protect honest and forthright consumers who just want to naturally share their enjoyment of creative works directly with family and friends AND also continue to arrest and prosecute those who would illegally copy and unethically 'reuse' creative works for illegal gain and non-payment of creative copyright fees!
Sincerely,
Alan Wade
