Fall of Copyright

Submitted by Jane Duffy
 
While the much discussed proposed Bill C-61 died on the order paper with the dissolution of Parliament on September 7, 2008, the re-elected minority Conservative government has assured us that the proposed Copyright Bill C-61 as it stands will be again brought forward, though how and through which channels have yet to be determined.

Below, please find a link to the brief "Unlocking the Public Interest", the end product of the Coyright Working Group's work over the past 4 months:

http://www.cla.ca/copyright/Unlocking%20the%20public%20interest-Final.pdf

As all librarians in the Atlantic Region will appreciate, the issues discussed throughout the "Summer of Copyright" remain unresolved. And the CLA, as it represents the interests of all Libraries continues to have serious concerns about the proposed bill as well as how the broader discussion of copyright reform is proceeding.

The topics specifically discussed in CLA's "Unlocking the Public Interest" are:
1) Fair Dealing; 
2) Libraries, Archives and Museums: Exceptions for Research and Private Study; 
3) Digital Locks [also known as DRM's, TPM's and TM's];
4) Exceptions for the Print Disabled; 
5) Provisions on Contractual Limitations; 
6) Statutory Damanges; 
7) Special Educational Exemptions; 
8) Internet Srevice Provider Liability; 
9) Preservation; 
10) Copyright and Photography; 
11) Crown Copyright.

I know that you will find this CLA Briefing Note report highly readable and useful. Your further insights on copyright reform as well as any feedback on the CWG's efforts, are all welcome!

The next steps for the Copyright Working Group are to continue to anticipate the direction that the government will take in reintroducing the Bill. We are urging them to ensure that the Bill is discussed by and feedback gathered from the widest possible range of Canadian stakeholders. See Michael Geist's blog for more informed details about this particular process:
http://www.michaelgeist.ca/

In the meantime, as your APLA representative on the CLA Copyright Working Group, I shall continue to update you on the CWG's progress, as new information on our work becomes available.