Copyright Consultations
copyrightconsultation.gc.ca
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Archived - Cereal
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Questions
- How do Canada's copyright laws affect you? How should existing laws be modernized?
As a 30 year old Canadian (born and raised) as well as a writer and musician, copyright laws have only ever impacted my pocketbook and peace of mind. The term copyright has been used as a tool by government and lobbyists to levy unjust fines on blank media from VHS and Cassette tapes to blank CDs and DVDs. These fines are built in to the cost of those products whether I commit copyright violations with the media or not. It is obvious to me that the term 'copyright' is a legal tool for lobbyists to claim money from the Canadian citizen as a tax that is paid, at least in part, to a private industry. The Canadian citizen, who is an order of magnitude less litigious than the copyright lobbyist, is by default a victim of out-dated copyright laws that have long been perverted and exploited by the copyright industry.
Modernizing the Canadian Copyright laws should include explicit provisions to protect private Canadian citizens who commit so-called copyright violations without monetary gain.
- Based on Canadian values and interests, how should copyright changes be made in order to withstand the test of time
The rights of the private citizen should be protected and defended against litigious corporations.
- What sorts of copyright changes do you believe would best foster innovation and creativity in Canada?
A free and open sharing of ideas is the surest way to encourage creativity and innovation. A person's intellectual property should remain the property of the creator. Corporate contract law should not supplant the right of the true intellectual property owner – namely the intellect that created the property. This is a key method current copyright laws are exploited for corporate interests at the detriment of the artist and public alike.
- What sorts of copyright changes do you believe would best foster competition and investment in Canada?
Free and open sharing of ideas would create superior products. Superior products would compete with each other for investment dollars.
- What kinds of changes would best position Canada as a leader in the global, digital economy?
Allow the free and open sharing of ideas. Protect the rights of the poor with the same amount of thought and energy the rights of the rich are protected.
"Industrial progress, mechanical improvement, all of the great wonders of the modern era have meant relatively little to the wealthy. The rich in Ancient Greece would have benefitted hardly at all from modern plumbing : running servants replaced running water. Television and radio? The Patricians of Rome could enjoy the leading musicians and actors in their home, could have the leading actors as domestic retainers. Ready-to-wear clothing, supermarkets – all these and many other modern developments would have added little to their life. The great achievements of Western Capitalism have redounded primarily to the benefit of the ordinary person. These achievements have made available to the masses conveniences and amenities that were previously the exclusive prerogative of the rich and powerful."
– Milton Friedman, "Free To Choose"
