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: Michael Geist

Conservative Policy Convention To Include Copyright Proposals

By Michael Geist

The Conservative party holds a policy convention next week and documents posted by National Newswatch reveals that there are a several minor proposed changes to the party's position on copyright.  First, there is a proposal to extend support for private copying of sound recordings to video as well.  The new provision would read that "the Conservative Party believes that the objectives of copyright legislation should be (i)(d) to continue to allow an individual to make copies of recordings of musical works and video for that person’s personal and individual use." Second, another reform reaffirms support for the elimination of the private copying levy with "the Conservative Party supports the elimination of the levy on blank recording materials."  Third, "the Conservative Party believes that government should give consideration to educational public policy goals within the copyright  framework and work with industry to increase awareness and develop a public education campaign to better inform users and creators on the copyright laws in Canada." The key changes would be the two private copying proposals since together they foreshadow a policy position that broadens fair dealing for private copying of audio and video (ie. time shifting and format shifting) without further compensation through a private copying levy.

Full post as published by Michael Geist on November 07, 2008 (boomark / email).