Michael McCarty, President of Canadian publisher Ole.
Sound familiar? In Canada, a Parliamentary Committee is now sifting through Bill C-32, the latest attempt to reform the country's Copyright Act. This is already mired in heavy debate and complexity, and McCarty fears that little will ultimately be done to shift the status quo. In other words,
But C-32 remains at a formative stage, and therefore, ripe for debate (complete bill here). But the divide between the creative, technology, and access communities remains substantial, potentially dragging out the debate and threatening eventual passage.
So, how to ensure a better ecosystem for all? McCarty—like many others—is critical of provisions related to digital locks, and wants modernized levies instead. That is, surcharges that go beyond CD-Rs and onto MP3 players (and potentially smartphones). These updated private copying statutes would better move the money around, though critics of government levies point to exactly this sort of situation—that is, rapidly shifting technologies that the government inevitably lags behind.
Actually, that is just one component of a complicated bill, and McCarty is joined by a chorus of critics in the creative community. Others share concerns with concepts like 'Notice-on-Notice' requirements for ISPs, for example, which essentially call for user warnings but lack stronger, graduated response provisions. Similarly, C-32 lacks the teeth required to impose statutory damages or shut down infringing sites.
More ahead.
