Information archivée dans le Web

Information identifiée comme étant archivée dans le Web à des fins de consultation, de recherche ou de tenue de documents. Elle n’a pas été modifiée ni mise à jour depuis la date de son archivage. Les pages Web qui sont archivées dans le Web ne sont pas assujetties aux normes applicables au Web du gouvernement du Canada. Conformément à la Politique de communication du gouvernement du Canada, vous pouvez la demander sous d’autres formes. Ses coordonnées figurent à la page « Contactez-nous »

1. How do Canada's copyright laws affect you? How should existing laws be modernized?

Negatively with respect to my work in the public school system. It is an excessive burden to staff and the school district to investigate legitimate use, proper licensing and then communicate with organizations such as ACF/VEC who are distant and unresponsive. There are escalating costs related to staffing and licenses to simply view videorecordings/digital content in classrooms for educational purposes. There should be exceptions to educational institutions similar to US rules as the current laws and perspectives are detriment to using media by their questionable legality and onerous public performance rights (in classrooms). On a personal basis, I have completely stopped adhering to copyright rules as the legalese attached to eula documents ignore basic consumer rights becoming irrational, excess protections that deter positive experience and often contradict themselves.

2. Based on Canadian values and interests, how should copyright changes be made in order to withstand the test of time

Personal, nonprofit use of copyright material should be allowed. Copyright should have a defined time limit of 25 years; changes totalling 50% to make it different would not be a violation. Fines should related to the cost of purchasing the material as an individual — eg. stealing a song can be prosecuted at 10 times the cost of buying the song in a store.

A 'made in Canada' report unlike the Conference Board of Canada plagiarizing American RIAA funded reports.

3. What sorts of copyright changes do you believe would best foster innovation and creativity in Canada?

• Definite limits on the copyright penalties.
• Use of copyrighted materials for education, art, documentaries to be allowed.
• Use of copyrighted materials for an innovation without the copyright holder's approval be allowed, leading to a licensing fee assessed by a judge or panel for a fair cost for the use that is not punitive.

4. What sorts of copyright changes do you believe would best foster competition and investment in Canada?

• A percentage of copyright licensing fees be dedicated to funding Canadian IT research.
• Annual fees to maintain copyright protection; fee would increase dramatically with the length of time.
• Allow reverse engineering for research purposes.

5. What kinds of changes would best position Canada as a leader in the global, digital economy?

• Reducing copyright/patent protection without products being produced within a reasonable time.
• Not allowing companies to profit from suing for percieved violating copyright/patent.
• Increasing bandwidth infrastructure at lower costs to institutions/business/individuals.
• Consulting with Canadian Universities and Libraries instead of soley with multinational corporations.

Additional comments:

1. Do not increase cost of technology for copyright — eg. fees on hard drives or CDs; these are multifunction mediums that are neutral of the use and increasing cost means increasing dependence on old, unreliable tech/procedures

2. Simplify the copyright rules for both consumers and vendors — greater understanding and adherence

3. Don't forget the greater good — to work to the benefit of the consumer/student/citizen — not just the short term profit motive of corporations

Ronald Deo
Library & Information Technologist
Learning Resources Services
School District #36 (Surrey)