Copyright Consultations
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Archived - Barker, Boyd
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Questions
How do Canada's copyright laws affect you? How should existing laws be modernized?
The existing laws currently serve to limit choice in the marketplace. There are a number of ways in which media is produced and monetized, and very few of them are currently available to Canadian consumers. I would like more choice, and more open and accessible competition between producers both large and small, MPAA/RIAA represented or not.
Based on Canadian values and interests, how should copyright changes be made in order to withstand the test of time?
Canadian specific values and interests don't concern me in this sense. I believe in a general sense that information flow should be unrestricted by government and allowed to proceed without monitoring or restriction, except in the case where a clear public benefit can be obtained by restricting it (hate speech laws, public safety speech restrictions, etc). Current free speech laws are adequate for this purpose, given public-centric judicial oversight.
What sorts of copyright changes do you believe would best foster innovation and creativity in Canada?
Innovation and creativity will not come by copyright changes. The current big-media focus on DRM and restricting access to media only serves to control the money flow from consumers to distributors. The actual innovators and creative artists are not served adequately by the traditional restricted media conglomerates.
What sorts of copyright changes do you believe would best foster competition and investment in Canada?
Competition and investment are two different concepts, and sometimes counter-productive. Companies will often invest only when they can be assured there is little competition, thus the current ongoing attempt to restrict media access. I believe that the competitive playing field should be feature-centric where value added and UI, marketing etc should be the factors allowing for companies to compete and invest in related fields, and not government-endorsed digital media monopolies such as we might allow if we give the large media companies too much power. The very idea of "selling" ownership over IP to someone other than a collaborator or creator of said IP is anathema. Only limited use licensing should be allowed, assuming allowances are made for fair use such as backups, copies for alternate players, etc. Overly restrictive copyright allows companies to lock down media use where you would (and currently do, in some cases) need to buy a movie or piece of music several times.
What kinds of changes would best position Canada as a leader in the global, digital economy?
Our banking system has been good for that, we've shown strength there. Our exports are strong, but need to be more diverse (not sell so much just to the US). Language and multicultural education and a continued focus on international relationships is key here. To have a stronger position in the global digital economy we will need our populace to have access to the tools needed, and easy open methods for small producers to distribute content, and education.
Signed,
Boyd Barker
Victoria, BC
