[d at DCC] New Copyright Act soon?

[Russell McOrmond]

Some "thinking out loud".... pure speculation...

First a quote from Heritage Minister Oda:
   http://www.playbackmag.com/articles/magazine/20070402/oda.html

---cut---
Q: How far along is the new Copyright Act?

A: [Industry] Minister [Maxime] Bernier and I have been working on 
copyright. As you know, it's a very complex piece of legislation. Things 
are evolving and changing as we speak, so there is never going to be the 
perfect Copyright Act, particularly with the new technologies.

We're hoping to be able to introduce something quite soon... but again, 
it's a matter of not making it overcomplicated. We want to make sure 
we're gathering all the information we need, to be able to have a 
relevant piece of legislation.

---cut---



   Parliament is currently debating C-52 (An Act to implement certain 
provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 19, 2007).   I 
wonder if they will try to be ironic and table a copyright bill when 
they get to the number 60?

http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HouseBills/BillsGovernment.aspx?Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=39&Ses=1


   While the budget is going to be passed, it is possible that the 
highly amended C-30 (The "Clean Air" Act) may be made into a  confidence 
vote, with the Conservatives being opposed to any attempts to meet our 
legally binding Kyoto targets.  This may mean that we will still be in a 
spring election, but over the environment rather than the budget.


   Lets make sure we speak to as many MPs about this issue as possible 
now.  I believe the MPs will be in their ridings again next week, so 
please try to set up a meeting or otherwise let them know you have 
concerns about Copyright that weren't reflected in C-60.

   If we head into an election before a copyright bill is tabled, then 
we'll actually be at a disadvantage as the Conservatives will be able to 
claim they were planning on doing something more modern than the 
thinking in C-60.  If they table a bill that dies on the order paper 
when the election is called, we'll be able to publicly compare the 
Liberal and Conservative bills.


-- 
  Russell McOrmond, Internet Consultant: <http://www.flora.ca/>
  Please help us tell the Canadian Parliament to protect our property
  rights as owners of Information Technology. Sign the petition!
  http://www.digital-copyright.ca/petition/ict/

  "The government, lobbied by legacy copyright holders and hardware
   manufacturers, can pry my camcorder, computer, home theatre, or
   portable media player from my cold dead hands!"