I like Conservatism, property rights and all that, but if I can’t hypocritically steal things from giant music labels, then what good is it? I know a few musicians, Cathy knows a few – we’ve asked them, it’s cool with them if we steal their music from the net, so who’s hurt?
Apparently some well connected lobbyist is hurt – after all what else could explain some of the more, frankly, idiotic portions of this proposed bill?:
The federal Conservatives are set to introduce new copyright legislation as soon as this week that will include provisions to target users with a $500 fine for all illegal files transferred online, a move that legal experts say could see Canadians sued for hundreds of thousands of dollars if found guilty of infringement.
Multiple sources familiar with the matter have told the National Post that one of the provisions in the government’s updated Copyright Act of Canada will include a fine for each “personal use download” found to be shared online through peer-to-peer software programs.
Other provisions in the bill, which is said to be tabled to the House of Commons tomorrow afternoon, will include measures to make it illegal to unlock cellphones or copy music from protected CDs to iPods as well as making it illegal to copy “time shifted” shows onto personal video recorders if flagged by broadcasters.
The downloading thing, I suppose I get. The fines are grossly disproportionate, but I get the principle.
But unlocking cell phones, copying music to your iPod, blocking Tivo’s, that’s too far. Yes big business has the right to their intellectual property, but once it’s in my hands, it’s mine to dispose of as I wish. It’s none of the government’s business if I wish to unlock my phone, transfer my music to my iPod for my personal use, or have Tivo record ‘Lost’ a few hours early.
This is a copy of a rubbish bill, ousted Liberal MP Sarmite Bulte, tried to introduce in the last parliament. We Tories justly attacked that bill then as a transparent sop to big business; hopefully those of us with principles will attack this supposedly Conservative bill just as strongly. It’s bad, unreasonable law, and it needs a lot of work before it’s tabled. Remember, it’s not Conservative to tow the party line – we’re ideologues. This bill is against our ideology, and so we should be against it.
You can read more on the bill and other copyright issues here at Michael Geist’s blog.
In the meantime, while I still can without facing tremendous fines, I’d like to (hypocritically) share a few songs in circulation on my MP3 player:
Lupe Fiasco – Switch
Iron & Wine – House by the Sea
Blackalicious – My Pen and Pad
Iggy Pop – Search and Destroy
Supersystem – White Light / White Light
CoCo Rosie – Japan
Burzum – Drunkelheit
LL Cool J – Mama Said Knock You Out
Filed under: Uncategorized , Canada, Copyright, File sharing, Law, Music, Politics
“we’ve asked them, it’s cool with them if we steal their music from the net, so who’s hurt?”
Well, I’m a musician with recorded works for sale. I’m hurt. It’s nice that some of your friends don’t mind: I’m sure there are folks out there who wouldn’t mind if you stole a few bucks from their wallet or took a spoon or two home. But it’s still illegal. It’s nice that Radiohead can afford to give away music. I like to get paid for what I made and sell.
:/ so we dont like getting gypped by money hustling corporations who throw around things like drm and over price stuff because of their greed. People would buy stuff if it was reasonable to do so but its not the stuff is over priced [$40 bucks for a dvd screw that!] not only that but other parts of this bill are just plain dumb like not being able to unlock your cellphone [you payed for the cellphone and thus you should be able to use whatever carrier that you want] and im obliged to say no to this foolish bill.