Hedy Fry's reply to a constituent on Bill C-61, the Canadian DMCA. Dated 16 July 2008, the letter explains that she does not support the bill in its current form, but that "Everyone is in agreement that the Copyright Act has to be amended to reflect the impact of digital technology."
Hedy Fry's reply to a constituent on Bill C-61, the Canadian DMCA. Dated 16 July 2008, the letter explains that she does not support the bill in its current form, but that "Everyone is in agreement that the Copyright Act has to be amended to reflect the impact of digital technology."
Hedy Fry's reply to a constituent on Bill C-61, the Canadian DMCA. Dated 16 July 2008, the letter explains that she does not support the bill in its current form, but that "Everyone is in agreement that the Copyright Act has to be amended to reflect the impact of digital technology."
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Hon. Hedy Fry, P.C., M.P.
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16 2008
(Chuck LeDuc ott
2207 - 1199 Seymour St
Vancouver, BC V6B 1K3
Dear Mr. LeDuc:
Thank you for your
Copyright Act.
As you are aware the previous Liberal government had tabled a Bill on this issue
but it did not come to debate because of the election. The current Conservative Bill has
been eagerly awaited since they announced their intentions, in December 2007.
respondence concerning Bill C-61, An Act fo amend the
Canada has signed two World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) treaties,
but has not yet ratified them. The last time the Canadian Copyright Act was amended
was in 1997 but these amendments did not address the WIPO treaty agreements. In the
interim, communications. technology has expanded rapidly. Everyone is in agreement
that the Copyright Act has to be amended to reflect the impact of digital technology.
Bill C-61 should strike a balance between the right of creators to be reimbursed
for their creative, intellectual property and the desire for consumers to have access to
these creative works.
Indeed digital technology serves both the creator and the consumer well. It
increases the reach and distribution of creative works as never imagined, before; which
is precisely what creators need and it gives consumers easy access to creative works
that can entertain, enrich, and educate.
This Bill does not serve either consumer or creator well. It prescribes narrow,
Punitive solutions to a complex problem. In fact the Bill could well have the effect of
curbing the use of digital technology, to the extent that it becomes useless. This would
be a pity! As well implementation of the measures in the Bill would be nearly
impossible, unless one abandons all privacy rights or imposes locks on the digital
technology that severely limits its application. How to monetize digital technology to
reward the creator and allow free and open use by the consumer is challenging
on &re
As Liberals we believe that there should have been extensive consultations with
legal experts, creators, distributors and conventional and digital media industries to find
the right balance of solutions. It is typical of the Harper government that they do not
consult but impose.
Liberals intend to begin these consultations over the course of the summer so
that when the Bill comes to the House we can propose appropriate amendments.
Moreover we believe that the Bill should be further subject to public scrutiny if it ever
gets to committee stage. It could be that after we consult with the expert groups they
believe that Bill C-61 is unsalvageable, in which case one would have to vote against
the Bill and rewrite a new one.
These are exciting and challenging times in media communications technology
that can broaden the consumption of arts and cultural products, in a manner unheard of
since the invention of the printing press. The challenges seemed impossible then but
solutions were found that led to a Renaissance of art and culture. We are at a similar
Point in history, now. We must not use a sledge hammer.
Once again, thank you for writing. Please feel free to contact my office if | may
be of further assistance.
Sin
Hon, Hedy Fry, M.P.
Vancouver Centre