I just published, through the MacDonald Laurier Institute, a new paper on issues facing Heritage Canada in the upcoming (2017) Copyright Act review, and otherwise. It can be found here.
More TPP
The Trans-Pacific Partnership: IP and Electronic Commerce
I have recently taken up sparring in the arena of public opinion on the merits of the intellectual property chapter (18) and the electronic commerce chapter (14) of the newly negotiated Trans-Pacific Partnership. I am greatly convinced of those merits in spite of nay-sayers like Jim Balsillie and Michael Geist. I rebutted their comments about the IP chapter first in an op-ed in the National Post. This led to writing and publishing, through the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, a more comprehensive paper on the IP provisions. That led in turn to a second op-ed in the National Post, this time focusing on the electronic commerce provisions of the TPP, and to an interview on BNN. There seems to be a lot of misconceptions out there about the TPP and I hope I have helped to dispel them. Based on a review only of these two chapters, the TPP is a very good deal for Canada indeed and important step in freer trade in the region.
Noises Heard: Canada’s Recent Online Copyright Consultation Process
Noises Heard: Canada’s Recent Online Copyright Consultation Process
Teachings and Cautions
By Richard C. Owens[1]
Abstract
This short comment analyses the results of the Government of Canada’s recent on-line public consultation on its planned reform of copyright laws, held from July 20th, 2009 to September 15th, 2009. Defects in the Consultation process are striking. While the results of our study revealed a sharp gender, age and Anglophone bias in the submissions, of particular concern is the apparent lack of verification of identity, uniqueness, age (voting or otherwise) or citizenship of those making the submissions. For instance, 70% of the total submissions were “form letters” originating from a single little-known group of modchip sellers and distributors – the Canadian Coalition for Electronic Rights (CCER) – that had its form letter extensively circulated internationally on BitTorrent-related sites. As a result, it appears that many of the submissions were not even made by Canadians. Our study raises serious issues regarding the design and results of the public consultations, and of the need to ensure that future online consultations are better designed to properly represent the views and interests of the Canadian body politic. The government of Canada is urged to make available its own analysis of the submissions, as well as the nature and results of its verification process, if any. Continue reading “Noises Heard: Canada’s Recent Online Copyright Consultation Process”