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National Post Reports "Heavy Handed" Copyright Law Coming Next Week

By Michael Geist

The National Post's Don Martin reports that the copyright bill could be introduced next week with confirmation of the broad outlines of the bill I reported on earlier this month.  Martin, who  describes the forthcoming bill as heavy-handed, reports:

All signals suggest Heritage Minister James Moore has triumphed over the objections of Industry Minister Tony Clement, setting up Canada to march in excessively protected lockstep with a United States that boasts the toughest laws against pirated music or movies on the planet.

It may well be a legal constraint that's impossible to enforce, but the rumble out of the PMO suggests the new law will ignore the extensive public consultations that advocated a go-easy take on copying of CDs and DVDs in favour of robust anti-consumer limits on transferring or sharing content. If this comes to pass, the federal government will be headed for a very bad week when the House of Commons reconvenes on Tuesday.

While that is not how I would describe the outcome of the consultation - fair copyright is not the same as "go-easy" - Martin's report is wholly consistent with my earlier reporting that the PMO has sided with Moore, who has emerged as a staunch advocate for a Canadian DMCA.  While the bill will undoubtedly include some elements designed to garner support from consumer and education groups, the U.S.-style approach to digital locks will effectively undermine the current fair dealing provision and any additional user-oriented reforms that find their way into the bill.

Full post as published by Michael Geist on May 19, 2010 (boomark / email).