Archived - MacKenzie, Alex

1. How do Canada's copyright laws affect you? How should existing laws be modernized?
   • They affect me greatly. I have a music library filled with music that has been obtained via P2P networks. By making the laws incredibly stringent, we are attempting to shut-down and prohibit technology. I often buy music and movies after I have obtained them otherwise, if they aren't junk. But a multi-billion dollar industry demanding I pay them extortionate fees for a movie/record that in the end is utter trash, it outrageous.
2. Based on Canadian values and interests, how should copyright changes be made in order to withstand the test of time
   • The point of the government is to represent the population. Not the biggest business. By lobby groups grabbing all of the tickets so that the general public cannot attend these public meetings is disgusting. These tactics are strongly against Canadian Values. What should be proposed is a new model for the MPAA and IRAA, to follow. They should instead embrace P2P networks. But by allowing these groups access to IP's download records, then suing these user is strictly against Canadian Values, Beliefs, and Laws.
3. What sorts of copyright changes do you believe would best foster innovation and creativity in Canada?
   • What these groups should do is, build their own torrent site. Charge a yearly reasonable fee, for access. Then users can download content via this site. The basic fee is for a given amount of data, then after that you can add on more data. This protects the creators and they get a piece of the pie. Build large seeding servers, allowing users to have extremely fast download speeds, and guaranteed no virus's. Many artists are putting their material online for free now anyways, the believe that Suing your fans, is not the way to grow your fan base. But instead are relying upon people to come to concerts, and buy merchandise. Which yet again makes much more sense.
4. What sorts of copyright changes do you believe would best foster competition and investment in Canada?
   • Similar to what I wrote above, do not clamp down on the average man. Do not make society adapt to the laws. Make the people producing, to adapt to the market. The Market has found a way to get their hands on media. Now the ball is in the owner of the Material to adapt. These groups that are Pro-heavy copyright legislation, are just outdated and getting beat by their own game. What you aren't going to do is make a stringent legislation, with strong penalties. You can go ahead and do it, but you won't accomplish anything. Well you will make the general public irate. No matter how strong the laws are, people will always find a way to beat security/laws/whatever the case may be. Whether it be through proxies, data encryption, tunnels, or some sort of technology that hasn't evolved yet.
5. What kinds of changes would best position Canada as a leader in the global, digital economy?
   • The old saying, "If you can't beat'em, join'em". No government can ever defeat torrent sites, or P2P networks. Artists need to adapt and embrace this technology.