Analog Rights missing in a Digital World

In the blog entry "Canadians Stuck With Analog Rights in a Digital World", Michael Geist talks about how rights of Canadian consumers to "time shift" television programs (record a TV show for later viewing) in the digital era have been taken away.

The Copyright Myths

The Copyright Myths presentation by Michael Geist (12 minutes video) this Monday. [via Michael]

Michael Geist, technology law expert & Canadian Copyfighter, at Kempton’s Virtual Cafe

Michael Geist is one of the leading and internationally recognized legal expert in technology law and the fight for fair copyright. It was my great pleasure to attend a copyright workshop with him as the featured speaker at University of Calgary yesterday. Michael also took time to meet with some members of the Calgary Chapter of the Fair Copyright for Canada group.

After the Calgary chapter meet up, I interviewed Michael for a few minutes. The following is my first face-to-face interview in my Kempton’s Virtual Cafe series. I hope you will enjoy them and learn as much from them as I did.

Michael Geist Interview - Part 1 of 7

Michael Geist’s impression of meeting Fair Copyright for Canada Calgary chapter members.

Michael Geist Interview - Part 2 of 7

Michael gives an update on the copyright bill.

Michael Geist Interview - Part 3 of 7

Michael explains how to use “Access to information” as a tool to investigate and find out more information. (For example, www.onlinedemocracy.ca is a site that keeps a record of existing ATI requests.)

Michael Geist Interview - Part 4 of 7

With blog entries like “30 copyright things you can do” and “The Copyright MPs”, I ask Michael if he has always been politically active?

Michael Geist Interview - Part 5 of 7

How did Michael first get interested in internet law? And his view on the growing interest of the academics and general public in technology law.

Michael Geist Interview - Part 6 of 7

Michael talks about how internet is getting the voices of many people heard and reshaping our political processes, etc.

Michael Geist Interview - Part 7 of 7

Michael talks about current interests and focuses (including a discussion about ioptout.ca , a site that lets people opt out of annoying polling, “exempted” calls ).

P.S. Many thanks to Michael for meeting the members of the Calgary Chapter of Fair Copyright for Canada even after a non-stop day of workshop and seminar. And then spending another 30 minutes to chat with me. Thanks also go to the members of the Calgary Chapter who took time to meet and chat about Copyright and technology law issues to keep ourselves better informed of these important issues.

Meeting Michael Geist - Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Just learned that Michael Geist, the man who makes Copyright "sexy" in Canada (and probably the world) will be in Calgary this Wednesday to give two talks. So I immediately contacted Michael and he was wonderful in agreeing to a "meet up" so Calgarians can have a chance to meet and chat with him.

Please sign up at the Facebook event so we know how many people are coming.

Date: Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Location: Starbucks Coffee at the downtown Westin Hotel
Address: 320 4th Ave. SW, Calgary

Facing Up to Facebook: The Fight for Fair Copyright in Canada

Professor Michael Geist (my blog friend and leader of the flight for Fair Copyright in Canada) has a great talk (that I am watching to this wmv video right now) and here is an Abstract of his talk (emphasis added):

In December 2007, the Canadian government planned to introduce new copyright legislation that was to have mirrored the U.S. Digital Millennium Copyright Act. A Facebook group was formed to advocate against such reforms and for balanced copyright laws. Within weeks, nearly 40,000 Canadians joined the group, with members writing and calling their elected representatives, educating their local communities, and staging public protests. In the face of this opposition, the Canadian government delayed introducing the legislation. The “Canadian copy-fight” attracted considerable attention from the mainstream media, with many wondering how copyright had emerged as a contentious policy issue. This talk will assess the Canadian experience in an effort to answer the oft-asked question – “why copyright?”.

[via Michael]

Copyright Lesson: Jim Prentice and Conservative Party entangled “For the Love of Money”

From the front page of Ottawa Citizen today (emphasis added),

As the Harper government prepares to introduce tougher new copyright rules, the Conservative party is being accused of using the theme song ["For the Love of Money"] from the reality TV show The Apprentice without permission of the record company that owns it.

At a press conference on Sunday, the Conservatives presented an election-style attack video about the alleged costs of Stéphane Dion's spending promises, set to the musical refrain of "money, money, money, money, mo-ney."

The Harper government and Minister Jim Prentice, who is the minister in charge of Copyright reform, should really know better than to use a copyrighted song without proper permission in a public performance that they know will be broadcasted and not just a private small function.

[via Michael Geist]

Michael Geist Won 2008 Electronic Frontier Foundation Pioneer Award

Congratulations to Michael Geist for being named one of the recipients of the 2008 Electronic Frontier Foundation Pioneer Awards.

[via Michael]

Links: 2008-02-15 Leaving Yahoo, Creative Commons, Reverse syndication, Murdoch vs Zell, Panasonic AG-MHC150, Law firm wikis, laptop suit

1. On Leaving Yahoo ... by former VP of ADD (Advanced Development Division of Yahoo)
2. Australia may give go-ahead for Creative Commons on public data
3. Reverse syndication - with newspapers losing money and laying off people, may be it is unavoidable that we will read the same story by the same reporter even if we thought we are reading multiple newspapers for wider perspectives on things
4. Mogul Showdown: Murdoch vs. Zell - I was going to write a critical piece about Murdoch, WSJ, and Fox Business News after reading Fortune's "Inside Fox Business News" but I've now changed my mind. I think it is wiser for me to wait and spend more time watching what Murdoch does with WSJ before I make any semi-intelligent observations. And here is a good linking piece "Poor, Poor, Pitiful Rupert Murdoch ["rotten old bastard"]" from Slate.
5. Panasonic AG-MHC150 pro-level HD camcorders
6. Do Wikis belong in Law Firms?
7. The Great American ... Laptop Suit?
   

Copyright Links: 2008-02-13 - Business coalition, Broadcasters, CDMCA on hold?

1. Business Coalition for Balanced Copyright Speaks Out Against Canadian DMCA - Michael Geist
2. Business coalition opposes harsh copyright reform - CBC News
3. Broadcasters Claim Copyright at the Breaking Point - Michael Geist
4. Canadian DMCA On Hold? - Michael Geist

Fair Copyright for Canada - Minister Prentice’s Failure to Communicate

Professor Michael Geist wrote an insightful blog entry in response to Industry Minister Jim Prentice’s visit to the University of Calgary yesterday which I blogged about here.

Jim Prentice Speaks - with Fair Copyright Q & A

Yesterday, Industry Minister Jim Prentice came to Calgary to deliver the William A. Howard Lecture as presented by the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Law and Borden Ladner Gervais LLP. (more pictures here, Note: William A. Howard founded a law firm that was the predecessor of Borden Ladner Gervais LLP.)

In the following two video clips, Minister Jim Prentice talks about creating laws and government policies dealing with Green House Gas Emission and Global warming. Minister Prentice talks about the need for consultations with a wide range of affected parties in an open process to develop policies dealing with the two challenges. At the same time, it is sad to see the government of Canada seems to be unwilling and unable to consult with Canadians to gain their latest insights and opinions.

One is left to wonder, when it is convenient and the government agrees, the Conservative government is perfectly content in reusing Liberal’s almost 8 years old and misguided report conclusions for Copyright related issues.

“Minister Jim Prentice Speaks” Clip #1

“Minister Jim Prentice Speaks” Clip #2

The following are two Fair Copyright Q&A video clips.

Minister Jim Prentice Copyright Q&A clip #1

Minister Jim Prentice Copyright Q&A clip #2 (with 3 questions)

Special Thanks

Finally, I want to send a special thanks to Rob for informing the group about this event in the first place. Thanks Rob, it was nice meeting you yesterday and thanks for your question.

And thanks to every Fair Copyright for Canada Calgary Chapter members that were able to attend the talk yesterday even the weather in Calgary was just absolutely horrible (white out driving condition).

Links: 2008-02-04 Super Bowl Ads, China firewall, Prentice Copyright, Jerry Yang, IP v6

1. Super Bowl Ads: 2008 - I don’t watch the game but I will watch the Ads
2. China’s “great firewall” faces new opposition
3. Is Prentice’s Copyright Bill Born in the U.S.A.?
4. Jerry Yang e-mail reaches out to Yahoo employees
5. Q&A: IP Version 6 - BBC - (Internet’s new addressing system as of Feb 4th)

Fair Copyright for Canada: 2008-02-01

1. Two More Opponents of Prentice’s Canadian DMCA
2. Copyright law should distinguish between commercial and cultural uses
3. The Canadian DMCA: A Summary To-Date
4. Michael Geist Ottawa Citizen profile

The Honourable Jim Prentice Speaks - William A. Howard Lecture

Thanks to The University of Calgary Faculty of Law and Borden Ladner Gervais LLP presenting the William A. Howard Lecture, we are going to get a chance to listen to the Honourable Jim Prentice speaks in person and opportunities to ask him a few questions.

Since Minister Prentice’s topic has not been announced, may be he will surprise us with a talk on “The importance of Fair Use in the upcoming Copyright legislation” ?

I’ve created a Facebook event for interested Fair Copyright For Canada Calgary Chapter members to meet up and attend the lecture together.

Excerpt of the full details from U of C event is as follows,

Event Date
12:15pm, Friday 8th Feb., 2008

Location
Murray Fraser Hall 2370, University of Calgary (UC map)

Description
The Faculty of Law and Borden Ladner Gervais LLP present the William A. Howard Lecture

Fair Copyright for Canada: 2008-01-25

1. Privacy Coalition Warns on Copyright Reform - with a signed public letter
2. Why has copyright generated so much interest from so many people? - with podcast of the Prof. Michael Geist’s talk and slides.
3. Wikinomics [expands] on the Copyright MPs - Wikinomics blog expands on previous Copyright MPs chat

Global News on Copyright Law

I had the pleasure to be interviewed on Global News to talk about Copyright Law the other day. On the eve of the introduction of a new amended copyright act in Canada, it is important for Canadians to be aware of more of the issues related to copyright. Here is a YouTube clip of the Global News report.

P.S. Incidentally, I asked the really nice reporter Heather (who helped me stay focus and forget about being nervous) to see if Global has plans to put up their news reports permanently on the internet. Her answer is unfortunately there is no plan at the moment.

I mentioned to her (and also to CBC previously) that the most expensive part of news reporting is for her and the cameraman to do the reporting, and then the editing and producing of the news piece to air. Hosting the video footage on the internet and the web delivery of it is cheap. If lack of money is an issue, just upload the clips onto YouTube. Interestingly, this has been my standing free advice to broadcasters in the country. But no one is taking it so far. (smile)

Links: 2008-01-16

1. Designer presents his life as a corporate annual report
2. Copyright updates: “Campus Press Picks up Copyright Mantle” and “Vancouver Sun Warns Against Unfair Copyright“
3. Your information. Your choice. - After you hand over your info to companies like Facebook, etc, is it still ours? Can we change the info, take it back, and even move it somewhere else? A few informative links.
4. U.S. FBI is considering the development of an international database - The money quote from the Privacy Commissioner blog entry is this, “In terms of Canadian participation, our citizens rightfully expect that their personal information remains safeguarded and understandably, could be reluctant to see that information freely shared with two countries that were ranked near the bottom of Privacy International’s ratings of privacy protection around the world. “
5. Oprah TV, Paul TV, […] TV
6. Greenspan said to join Paulson & Company (a New York-based hedge fund) as adviser
7. Tons of Apple coverage at 2008 Macworld Expo - a most shocking news to me includes - MacBook Air doesn’t have a user-replaceable battery. Wow, give me a break Apple! Don’t like this. And install software remotely via wireless network. Hmmmm, I don’t think this is a good idea (to put it politely).
8. Christie introduces LX500 (a 5,000 ANSI lumens) professional projector

Links: 2008-01-15

• The house that dave built - How [U of Toronto] law grad David Shore (LLB 1982) took one misanthropic doctor, added a large dose of twisted humour and created the hit medical drama House - Says Shore, “I remember Iacobucci basically asked us to make fewer masturbation jokes. We didn’t get that directly from the dean. In a way, for us, it was more fun that it came from Lorne.” (Indeed, a tongue-in-cheek note from Cameron appears in one issue: “The buck stops here. Thus as vice-president and chief returning officer, I must take full responsibility for Dave Shore’s incompetence. There, I did it. Now leave me alone.”)
  
• A New Canadian Copyright Pledge - Prof. Michael Geist urges MPs from all parties to adopt this. “The pledge is simple: I will not introduce, support, or endorse any copyright bill that, either directly or indirectly, undermines or weakens the Copyright Act’s fair dealing provision.“
• Sir Edmund Hillary, a New Zealand hero that lived “up the road”
• Macworld Expo Live Update from MacWorld magazine
• It is never too late to learn from others, even if they are no longer with us. Here are a few good lessons from Mr. Eugene Kleine, founding partner and partner emeritus of KPCB.
• One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) XO machine Review and Teardown - [via Engadget]
• 33 megapixel Super Hi-Vision (Ultra HDTV) could be on the air in Japan in 2015