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COPYRIGHT REFORM PROCESS
REPY COMMENTS
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Reply comment from British Columbia Civil Liberties (BCCLA) received on October 02, 2001 via e-mail
Subject: Reply Comments to Submission of EFC and PIAC
October 2, 2001
Comments - Government of Canada Copyright Reform
c/o Intellectual Property Policy Directorate
Industry Canada
235 Queen Street
5th Floor West
Ottawa Ontario
K1A 0H5
RE: BCCLA's Reply Comments on the Submissions by the Electronic Frontier of
Canada and the Public Interest Advocacy Centre
The British Columbia Civil Liberties ("BCCLA") would like to provide comments on the submissions made by the Electronic Frontier Canada (‘EFC') and the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (‘PIAC') concerning the Consultation Paper on Digital Copyright Issues issued by Industry Canada.
The BCCLA is a non-partisan, autonomous, charitable society and is the oldest and most active civil liberties association in Canada. The Association serves to defend and promote human rights and civil liberties in British Columbians and across Canada. The Association has considered the submissions by both the EFC and PIAC and the Association shares their concerns regarding the proposed changes to the Copyright Act. Changes to the Copyright Act could have chilling consequences in terms of civil liberties. The current Copyright Act positively reflects the historical balance of interests between those of the public and copyright owners. There exists a danger in light of the new digital era that this historical balance will be upset, if not lost. The Association encourages Industry Canada to maintain this historical balance if and when legislative amendments to reflect the new digital era are proposed.
The Internet provides both a revolutionary tool for the free exchange of ideas and also poses its own unique challenges to owners of intellectual property. The values of free expression and scientific inquiry are invaluable to a free and democratic society. The BCCLA agrees that Industry Canada must be guided by those fundamental values it its review of this legislation.
The Association is pleased that Industry Canada has chosen to consult with those concerned about digital copyright. We encourage you to proceed with caution and give serious attention to the issues of pubic interest and freedom of expression raised in the submission of the EFC and PIAC.
Yours truly,
John Dixon,
President
N:\clw\bd\policy\"ea5"\"garth".sept28
Garth Barriere
Policy Director
B.C. Civil Liberties Association
(Address, phone and fax numbers, e-mail address removed)
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