Industry Minister Tony Clement has re-affirmed earlier comments that the introduction of a new copyright bill may take until the Spring 2010. In a Toronto Star interview, Clement emphasizes the need to establish a bill that withstands the test of time and that he'd like a bill this fall but […]
Post Tagged with: "clement"
Six Days Left: Canadian Net Users Caught As Copyright Consultation Nears Conclusion
[The following post appears simultaneously as a guest post on TorrentFreak today]
Seven weeks ago, the Canadian government launched the first national copyright consultation since 2001. The consultation, which has featured town hall meetings, by-invitation-only roundtables, an online discussion forum, and an open submission process, has attracted considerable interest with over 4,000 submissions to date.
While the overwhelming majority of those submissions have called for balanced reforms that would strengthen fair dealing, create a liability safe harbour for intermediaries, and link any new anti-circumvention rules to actual copyright infringement, there is reason for concern.
There are only six days left in the consultation and the thousands that have spoken out for fair copyright – the students, teachers, Internet users, software programmers, privacy advocates, librarians, and a growing number of creators – now find themselves under attack from two sides.
Reaction to the Cellphone Cost Calculator Story
My column on the decision to kill the cellphone cost calculator generated considerable reaction: The Liberal party issued a press release criticizing the decision and arguing that it placed the wireless industry ahead of consumers. The CBC covered the story, including comments from the CWTA, PIAC, and Bell (it should […]
How Telco Lobbying Helped Quietly Kill Consumer Cell Phone Cost Calculator
Last week I discussed the well-known challenge faced by millions of Canadians as they sort through a myriad of cellphone pricing plans in a marketplace still lacking in robust competition. The subject of this week's technology law column (Toronto Star version, homepage version) is that previously unreported, however, is Industry Canada officials identified much the same problem and worked for years to develop an online tool to address it.
After spending tens of thousands of dollars creating and testing an online calculator designed to help consumers select their ideal wireless plan, Industry Minister Tony Clement killed the project weeks before it was scheduled to launch. Government records suggest intense lobbying this spring by Canada’s wireless companies, who feared the service would promote lower cost plans, played a key role in the decision.
How Telco Lobby Helped Kill Consumer Cell Phone Cost Calculator
Appeared in the Toronto Star on August 31, 2009 as Telco Lobby Helped Block Cellphone Cost Calculator Last week I discussed the well-known challenge faced by millions of Canadians as they sort through a myriad of cellphone pricing plans in a marketplace still lacking in robust competition. Previously unreported, however, […]
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