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Hello,
Here is my feedback based on the questions provided:
1. How do Canada's copyright laws affect you? How should existing laws be modernized?
Canada's copyright laws affect me because I am a user of many types of digital media (from digital music to HD cable TV). How industry is able to dictate how I use these types of media affects my enjoyment and use of them. Laws should be modernized to protect intellectual property (IP) but not allow industry too much power to decide how the user ultimately uses the media. People who watch ultimately use media should have flexibility in how they use it. The law should be modernized to take into account new and emerging technologies.
2. Based on Canadian values and interests, how should copyright changes be made in order to withstand the test of time
Canadian values revolve around fairness. Fairness should take into account the interests of the user as well as the interest of industry to protect their property. Other copyright laws (such as the US DMCA) seem to favored towards industry and restrict people's use of media in a way which is too heavy-handed. Protection should be not specific to one technology or technologies and should offer protection to new and future types of media and distributions (ie. there shouldn't be references to VHS tapes, etc).
3. What sorts of copyright changes do you believe would best foster innovation and creativity in Canada?
Certainly something which protects media and intellectual property. It seems that there are very lax laws right now that are far outdated. The current laws do not go far enough to protect IP and stop or limit illegal distribution. This seems to have hindered new services and methods of distribution from coming to Canada. For example, Xbox 360 owners in the US enjoy access to on-demand video (NetFlix) where as Canadians are denied access to this service. Furthermore, Microsoft offers a subscription music service which is also limited to the US. These sorts of services are of great interest to me but are seemingly (at least partially) hindered by lax copyright laws in Canada which would protect this media from illegal distribution. In addition to offering sufficient protection to the distribution of media, new copyright laws should not allow industry to limit user choice — for example Apple's use of DRM in order to limit the playability of purchased music to iPods and iTunes only. Media should be protected but allowed to be fairly used on multiple devices and through multiple players (flexibility) to allow users to choose how they want to use the media that they purchase.
4. What sorts of copyright changes do you believe would best foster competition and investment in Canada?
Please see above.
5. What kinds of changes would best position Canada as a leader in the global, digital economy?
All the changes suggested above.
