Canadian Politicians Demand DMCA

An anonymous reader writes "Michael Geist is reporting that a Canadian parliamentary committee has demanded that the government establish a Canadian DMCA. The demand, which comes in a study on counterfeiting and piracy (PDF) released on Wednesday night, recommends ratification of the WIPO Internet treaties, increasing damage awards for copyright infringement, creating new offenses for selling modification devices, and encouraging prosecutors to seek jail time for piracy violations."

Are they just stupid or plain dumb?

[Mr.Fork]

Ok, I'm a canuck but our current conservative idiots are forgetting one very important piece of legislation that helps protects the privacy of their citizens. PIPEDA protects the privacy of its citizens ~ ISP's can not divulge personally identifying information, especially to the government. so I decide to download 30 movies, there is little they can do about it. What irritates me is that this kind of 1960's thinking is what got RIAA and the Movie Industry into its current mess. Fight the technology, not embrace it. I hope the law gets thrown out like the last one did.

Re:Write your MP

[Anonymous Coward]

"My MP is on that list ... considering writing him a letter that strongly suggests he stop sucking American cock if he wants my vote again next election."

I agree. These parliamentarians need to be told by the people what we think. Why are we blindly following US policy?

Off the topic but can

[JohnnyGTO]

non-resident Canadians vote? If so how?

Re:Canadian Politicians Demand DMCA

[TubeSteak]

A Canadian version of the DMCA, simply put, will do absolutely NOTHING.
...
Creating a duplicate law in Canada to mirror the already proven ineffective DMCA in the US is just one step closer to having a more American nation.

Allow me to be the first to point out the contradiction between those two statements.

It seems to me that its just more pressure from American corporations to get their laws pushed onto Canadians as well.

Ahh, now you're getting it. The, as you call it, "more American nation", will bring with it more American business to Canada. That is why countries join these various trade organizations and ratify treaties.

I'm not saying I think it's good (because I don't) but there are valid reasons for bringing such laws to Canada... unfortunately those reasons have very little to do with benefiting the consumer.

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Re:Canadian Politicians Demand DMCA

[Anonymous Coward]

I thought we had a CD/DVD media levy [neil.eton.ca] in Canada to pay for any loss due to "copying". As such, copying does NOT constitute piracy in Canada.

Of course, we don't have any such thing as a "fair use policy" enshrined in law. Is that a good thing or bad thing?

So... what do we need a DMCA for exactly?

Few problems with that

[sabernet]

#1: Parliament voted and dissolved for the summer.

#2: Bare Naked Ladies(the band, take your mind outta the gutter). They and the Nettwerk music label oppose these kinds of actions. They also have money and the public ear. As far as a music label goes, Nettwerk is the one without the goaty. Combined with Michael Geist and we have the Canadian version of the Justice League.

#3: We still, thankfully, have a privacy commissioner. So enforcement of this would be a little bunk.

#4: Minority Gov't. Though the Bloc(the balance tipping power that solely is interested within their own province of Quebec is being more then their usual asshole selves towards the rest of the nation, there's no way, as a party, they would let this happen. Neither would the NDP. And the Liberals would smell the blood from miles away. Yes, I know the committee has peoples from all parties, but it doesn't mean the party itself would act on their behalf.

I could be wrong(though I really hope I'm not), but I don't see this swimming.

Re:Are they just stupid or plain dumb?

[McGiraf]

no NPD ...