[d at DCC] Response from Charlie Angus, NDP Copyright Spokesperson.

[Joe McGuire]

I dropped Mr. Angus an email shortly after the video of he and Mr.
Prentice going toe-to-toe hit Youtube. His response is as follows:


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Angus, Charlie - M.P. <Angus.C at parl.gc.ca>
Date: Mon, Jun 23, 2008 at 10:31 AM
Subject: RE: THANK YOU!
To: theguy at tinfoil.net



 Greetings Joe,

Thank you for voicing your concerns about bill C-61.  For two years we
have awaited the Conservatives' copyright bill, that they claimed would
be a reasonable balance between the interests of rights-holders and
consumers.  Despite an outpouring of public opposition to U.S.-style
legislation, a Canadian version of the failed DMCA is exactly what we
now face.

By all accounts, this bill is even worse than expected.  There is no
evidence of the government's attempt to strike any reasonable balance
between artists and consumers. In fact, the full sanction of locking
down legally purchased content with digital locks, reinforced by massive
financial penalties if broken, represents a serious attack on
individual, property and privacy rights.

I believe that it is time for the MPs representing Canadians to come
clean with their constituents, and let them know if they side with the
rights of everyday Canadians, or with the U.S. trade lobby.  From my
seat here in Ottawa, I can tell you that the other parties do not seem
to have a handle on the major issues that are wrapped up in this
legislation, and are even less able to articulate clear opposition to
it.  In fact, Liberal MP Denis Coderre is on record saying that the
fines faced by Canadian consumers for perfectly reasonable behaviour
(like format shifting) might not be high enough in the Conservative's
bill.

As the spokesman on copyright for the NDP, I can say that we will fight
this bill as a united caucus.  We will continue to push for legislation
that protects both artists and consumers. This bill puts U.S. corporate
interests ahead of both Canadian artists and everyday consumers.

I would strongly encourage you to stay active in this fight by putting
the heat on your elected Member of Parliament, the Ministers of Industry
and Heritage, and the Prime Minister. They have to understand the
political consequences of rolling over for such an egregious attempt by
the U.S. entertainment industry to rewrite Canada's copyright laws.  It
is only with an overwhelming chorus of public opposition to this
one-sided bill that we will be able to prevent its successful passage
through the House of Commons.  Thank you again for getting involved.

All the best,

Charlie Angus, MP
Timmins - James Bay
NDP Spokesman for Digital Issues

-----Original Message-----
From: Joe McGuire [mailto:tinfoil at gmail.com]
Sent: June 20, 2008 1:03 PM
To: Angus, Charlie - M.P.
Subject: THANK YOU!

Mr. Angus,

I write you after having just watched you stand up to the Mr.
Prentice. It seems Mr. Prentice has forgotten the content of his own
legislation!

Format & Time shifting will indeed be permitted under the new
legislation, I will grant Mr. Prentice that. Bypassing Digital
Restrictions Management will, on the other hand, be illegal and this
trumps shifting rules. As a result, it promotes the use of Digital
Restrictions Management measures.

This will stifle innovation in Consumer electronics. It will reduce
spending on new artists as people are forced to replace their existing
content for each new device. It will reduce the money being spent on new
devices.

The only people that win are the media companies donating to Mr.
Prentice.

Perhaps Mr. Prentice hasn't heard about the mess Sony got into with
their DRM within the last year or so on select audio CDs? The same
software that was classed as a root-kit by the likes of Symantec and
McAffee?

I'll give him one thing, the NDPBS line was clever. <snip>


-- 
Joe McGuire aka Tinfoil
Tinfoil Music - Digital Media and Music News
http://tinfoilmusic.net
------
I've got a fever and the only prescription is more cowbell.