[d at DCC] [Fwd: CopyNight Reminder: Most Chapters Meet this Week!]

[Russell McOrmond]

   I thought the discussion starting question for CopyNight was an 
interesting one.

   Read it in the opposite direction in Canada:  Do you think we should 
be looking to limit the "right of integrity" such that the subjective 
and moving political and other interests of the artist do not (and can 
not) matter to the question of copyright?

   Do you think that there would be a legal avenue to complain in 
Canada: can anyone really claim that a politician playing their work is 
"to the prejudice of the honour or reputation of the author"?  Is this 
the case of someone assuming that the law says something that is very 
different than a judge would interpret it?

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: CopyNight Reminder: Most Chapters Meet this Week!
Date: Sun, 21 Sep 2008 13:03:34 -0400
From: CopyNight <info at copynight.org>

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Dear CopyNighters,

School is back in session, the U.S. presidential debates are about
to start, and it's time for another CopyNight! Most chapters meet
this Tuesday, September 23d, in cities around the world.  Be sure
to check the website for details on your local chapter, and shoot
us an email if you'd like to start something in your city!
   http://copynight.org/

Here's a copyright-related news item to get the conversation started:

* Musicians Don't [Heart] McCain
A slew of popular musicians are up in arms over the McCain
campaign's use of their songs. To date, liberal performers Van
Halen, Heart, and John Mellencamp have complained about their
music being associated with the Republican candidate. Does that
sound fair?

As a matter of copyright law, it turns out that those uses are
licensed. The musicians' performance rights are handled by
organizations like ASCAP and BMI, and the McCain campaign obtained
licenses from both groups. But it raises the interesting question
of moral rights, which the U.S. has declined to recognize.  Should
artists have an inalienable (or waivable?) right to protect the
integrity of their work, as they do in Canada and many European
countries?  Would you feel different if the Obama camp was the one
being asked to cease and desist?  To what extent do our political
biases make it hard to analyze the broader copyright question?

For more info on this issue:
   http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0908/13477.html
   http://www.slate.com/id/2199492/

Lots of fun stuff to discuss at this month's CopyNight - hope you
can join us!

Cheers,

Ren Bucholz
CopyNight Toronto

-- 
  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!"