[Eug]

WTF?

Canadians watching the Olympic coverage from Beijing can hardly have missed the Bell commercial touting a new digital video recorder that features an external hard drive permitting users to "record forever."

The functionality may sound enticing, but last week several media reports noted that Industry Minister Jim Prentice's Bill C-61 would forbid Canadians from recording television programs for archival purposes.

Indeed, the new time-shifting" provision in the Prentice bill contains at least a dozen restrictions that could leave consumers facing significant liability. Innovative businesses do not fare much better as they will also be forced to shelve potential new services if the bill becomes law. For example, Bill C-61 explicitly prohibits a network-based PVR that Telus has considered introducing into the Canadian market.

The bill prohibits transferring a copy of most commercial DVDs to a portable video player. It blocks parents from creating backup copies of their toddler's DVDs.

It precludes audiophiles from making copies of their store-bought CDs into multiple digital formats. It renders it an act of infringement to transfer music from a copy-protected CD to an iPod. It provides that students violate the law when they by-pass digital locks on electronic books in order to copy and paste a paragraph of text for a class assignment. It stops cellphone users from unlocking their phones in order to move to a different carrier. It even places backup programs and devices under a cloud of illegality.

Bell is certainly free to market the record forever PVR, but surely it should also advise customers that archiving television programs may lead to legal liability if the bill becomes law.

Similarly, as Apple touts the benefits of its Time Machine backup hard-drive, it should also warn purchasers that multiple backup copies of songs and videos would violate Bill C-61.

---

As usual, the politicians are morons, assuming this article is in the least bit accurate. (Michael Geist holds the Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-commerce Law at the University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law.)

All I can say is even if a watered down version of this is passed, it'd be a huge blow for fair use advocates in Canada. Actually, it'd be huge blow for just about everyone who uses an iPod. In the meantime, I will continue to use Handbrake and iTunes archive my movies and songs to iTunes... and back up my iTunes database.

[shabbasuraj]

will never happen cuz if it did... there would be a riot to end all riots.

Harper will be gone by fall..........

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by Rand

"Did you really think we want those laws observed?" said Dr. Ferris. "we want them to be broken. You'd better get it straight that it's not a bunch of boy scouts you're up against... We're after power and we mean it... There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. Who wants a nation of law-abiding citizens? What's there in that for anyone? But just pass the kind of laws that can neither be observed nor enforced or objectively interpreted – and you create a nation of law-breakers – and then you cash in on guilt. Now that's the system, Mr. Reardon, that's the game, and once you understand it, you'll be much easier to deal with."

I guess I have to type something here so the software doesn't decapitalise everything in that quote.

[moep]

That is indeed utterly ridiculous, but OTOH what are they going to do?
Is Canada going to prosecute 90% of all computer and 100% of all iPod owners?
I think not.

[Eug]

Originally Posted by moep 

That is indeed utterly ridiculous, but OTOH what are they going to do?
Is Canada going to prosecute 90% of all computer and 100% of all iPod owners?
I think not.

Of course not. However, those proposals are utterly stupid. They should never be proposed in the first place. It SHOULD be legal to backup CDs. It SHOULD be legal to put those songs on your own iPods. It SHOULD be legal to record TV forever for your own use. And of course it SHOULD be legal to back up your own iTunes library of purchased apps and music.

ie. This all should be explicitly legal. It's the unauthorized distribution and sales of copyrighted material to others that can justifiably be made illegal.

Originally Posted by shabbasuraj 

will never happen cuz if it did... there would be a riot to end all riots.

I never say never. Dumber things have happened when legal specifics are involved.

For example:

Some ass got hold of a woman's property by forging her signature and to get the title registered. They put a $300000 mortgage on that property... and then fled with the cash. The duped mortgage company then sued the real owner for the mortgage, and won, despite the fact that she had absolutely nothing to do with it.

Eventually it was overturned, but nonetheless the courts initially ruled against that poor woman because of the way the laws were worded. Now, in her case, the intent of the law was not to screw over the individual. It just worked out that way. However, with Bill C-61, the intent of the proposal is to screw over the individual in as many ways as possible. That's why I say even a watered down version has the potential to be a real disaster for the consumer.

[moep]

Originally Posted by Doofy 

Very powerful and fitting quote. I just read the book along with 1984 about one month ago.

[Wiskedjak]

Originally Posted by shabbasuraj 

will never happen cuz if it did... there would be a riot to end all riots.

Harper will be gone by fall..........

I'm not so certain. Right now, outside of the editorials, alot of people seem to think this is just about pirates not wanting to loose their free ride.

[::maroma::]

Don't make Steve come up there and open up a can or two. Cuz he'll do it!

[voodoo]

Originally Posted by Doofy 

I guess I have to type something here so the software doesn't decapitalise everything in that quote.

Ayn Rand has a point, but I think she's insinuating there's actually a coherent plan or even a complete thought behind the legislation proposed by your average politician.

Ha ha ha ha

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by voodoo 

Ayn Rand has a point, but I think she's insinuating there's actually a coherent plan or even a complete thought behind the legislation proposed by your average politician.

Hmmm... Good point.

[MacPino]

Originally Posted by moep 

Very powerful and fitting quote. I just read the book along with 1984 about one month ago.

What book would that be? love the quote, want to read the book.

[moep]

Originally Posted by MacPino 

What book would that be? love the quote, want to read the book.

“Atlas Shrugged” by Ayn Rand.

[Sijmen]

The thing about this hole copyright thing is that it's investment protection. In a free economy companies would work together in making illegal activities harder and harder to undertake. If companies had their hands free from the government(which is something we are moving towards since companies own more and more people in the government) downloading will be prohibited to such an extant, that only certain file types are allowed and a certain amount of traffic each month. ISP's will protect their business partners and not their clients. That would be far worse than what we have now.

Maybe this is just a doom scenario and will everything pen out better.

[lpkmckenna]

Originally Posted by moep 

“Atlas Shrugged” by Ayn Rand.

If ever a book needed an abridged edition, it would be that one.

I can't see this law getting passed. Too draconian.

[voodoo]

Originally Posted by lpkmckenna 

If ever a book needed an abridged edition, it would be that one.

I can't see this law getting passed. Too draconian.

"It sure is hard to find good men now-a-days. I wonder what the hell is going on," Dagny smirked to herself as she entered the towering monolith to capitalism that was the headquarters of Taggart Transcontinental. "There are so few men like Hank Rearden, the man who single handedly invented a new greenish tint metal that is far stronger than steel," she said bursting in on her brother. "There are too many like you, Jim," she mocked.

"Well, if that's the case, you so-not-a-woman-and-I-can't-believe-a-woman-wrote-this, why don't you go redeem yourself by sleeping with him. By being his servile little mistress you'll serve the cause of capitalism far better than you have," Jim mocked.

Dagny smirked in her mocking way. Yes, she thought, she had tried that with another man, and it seemed so right until he, gasp, went to the other side. He became a slacker. Hank. Hank, Hank, Hank. Don't you know you're all I dream about though I don't actually do anything about it until page five-hundred? "I know what I want Jim, but what do you want?"

"Who is John Galt?"

"Don't say that! It's people asking that question that leads me to believe something sinister is happening in society. I think he's the destroyer." She mocked herself silently inside. How could a grown woman think such a thing? Oh, who was she kidding? She knew that women weren't much better than children anyway. Everyone knew that. It was a fluke she had any position in the railroad at all.

"It is I, Francisco d'Anconia, of the oldest most wealthy copper fortune this side of the Atlantic, and don't I want you to know that I'm pissing it all away for a grand reason that I won't tell you!" His perfect physique burst through the door in a mocking manner few could achieve but which he achieved perfectly. He had seen someone do the act before and fail and, after a single try at six months old, he was better at mockingly bursting through doors than anyone on the planet.

"Slacker," Dagny screamed with indignation and a pointed finger.

"Yes Dagny, you silly silly woman, I may seem a slacker to you, but after ten pages of explanation you will know that it is you who slack and it is I who serve a higher cause which will not be explained for another seven hundred pages. Remember, I am a d'Anconia which goes without saying that I know what I am doing," he mocked. He was so perfect at mocking. No man mocked like Francisco. How she wanted to be back in his arms. Were it not for... no! He was a slacker! The very embodiment of slack yet... yet he slacked with purpose. Even that was perfect. No man slacked like Francisco.

"What in capitalism's name is going on here," Hank yelled with bursting anger from the bottom of his manly lungs as he lunged through the door. It wasn't as perfect as Francisco's mockery, no man could touch that, but it was with the kind of power only a capitalist could muster. Dagny fluttered with lust.

"What the hell are you all doing in my office," Jim demanded weekly, the only way a socialist could demand.

"Hank, we must talk," Francisco said in a softly mocking way. Hank's heart fluttered with love he suddenly felt for the man. Even if he was a slacker, could my heart be wrong, Hank asked himself. He reached for Francisco's hand, wanting to hold him close.

"No," Dagny screamed with indignation and a pointed finger. "Please, I want him to take me and show me what a weak little girl I really am! That's what all women want!" Hank looked torn.

"Hey everybody," said a quiet voice from behind Hank. Hank took up most of the doorway with his manly capitalistic bulk. The crowd parted like the sea and a well groomed handsome man with a shock of boyish blond hair stood at the foot of it.

"John, you're not supposed to show up for eight-hundred more pages," Francisco said mockingly.

"Well, I got bored with the wait and figured what the hell. So... who wants to know what this is all about?" John smiled and every man's heart in the room melted. Dagny felt the overwhelming urge to become his servant and to clean up after him. That's what all women wanted after all, she figured.

"I do," Rearden capitalisticly demanded.

"Well, I couldn't deal with any government intervention in business and think that any kind of socialist tendency is kind of a bad idea, so me and my buddies, who all just happen to be the rich, powerful, and industrial, went on strike to bring the world to its knees." John said as he tossed back his blond hair with a light twitch of his head.

"For what purpose," Jim nearly cried. Socialists are such babies, thought John mockingly.

"Well, I don't like having to pay taxes or think about anything other than business. And, because I'm such an inexplicably charismatic guy, I figured I'd just get my industrialist buddies to back me," John said with a hint of mockery.

"Look," Jim sobbed. "The world is crumbling without you guys!"

"Well, once it's toast, we'll get to work but until then, who's up for some skiing in Colorado?"

MAIL this to a friend. They'll thank you for it later.

(found on the internets)

Or if you like, allow Microsoft to assist in finding the most affordable copy!

http://shopping.msn.com/prices/shp/?itemId=2275313