Canadian Coalition for Electronic Rights » Activism

URGENT: Canadian Copyright Bill C-32 Another Step Closer To Becoming Law

CCER — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 01:29:54 +0000

Bill C-32 has passed 2nd Reading and has now been referred to a special Legislative Committee for review, meaning the Canadian DMCA is one step closer to becoming law. However, the Committee charged with studying the Bill is asking for your input, the parameters and details of which can be viewed here. This is a unique opportunity for Canadians to interact directly with the lawmakers responsible for working out the specific language of the Bill before it is law and comes into force. The MP’s that form this committee believe it is important to hear from Canadians on the topic of copyright and Bill C-32:

The CCER has updated its online letter writing tool to make it quick and easy for Canadians to get their message to the Committee. The Committee and your MP need to know where you stand on this issue regardless of your views and even if you have already told them before. It is essential for Canadians to take advantage of this unique opportunity to speak out with their concerns and specific recommendations for the Committee while they are still working on the specifics of the Bill. Send your letter NOW as the Committee is only accepting submissions until the end of January, 2011.

Online Letter Tool Updated To Address Bill C-32 Concerns

CCER — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 14:52:14 +0000

On June 2, 2010 the Government of Canada undertook an important step towards updating Canada’s copyright regime by introducing Bill C-32: the Copyright Modernization Act. Although Bill C-32 appears to be more flexible than the previous attempts at copyright reform, this bill is flawed to its core by the inclusion of strict, anti-circumvention provisions. Understandably Canadians are concerned at how easily their rights are trumped by the overriding protection for digital locks included in this legislation and it is to this effect that the CCER has updated its online letter writing tool.

It is essential that Canadians speak up about their concerns with Bill C-32 while it is still open to amendments. Even if you have spoken out before the Government needs to hear your concerns. Send your letter now and share this tool with your friends, family and co-workers. It is essential that we all speak up now while we have the opportunity.

Don’t Allow Your Voice To Be Silenced In The Canadian Copyright Debate

CCER — Thu, 06 May 2010 19:44:44 +0000

The Canadian Coalition for Electronic Rights has updated its online letter writing wizard in light of recent developments in the Canadian copyright reform front. This update is intended to address the Government’s seeming willingness to ignore the voices of thousands of Canadians and proceed with the introduction of anti-consumer copyright reform legislation in as little as 6 weeks. Legislation that goes in a polar opposite direction of what Canadians demanded during the consultation process.

Send your letter now and share this tool with your friends, family and co-workers. It is essential that we all speak up now while we have the opportunity.

URGENT: Copyright Lobby Pushes For Troubling Changes To Bill C-27

CCER — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 21:17:42 +0000

Since its introduction in April 2009 Bill C-27, the Electronic Commerce Protection Act (ECPA) has attracted significant attention from the copyright lobby. Lobbyists have been attending committee hearings and working with Liberal and Bloq MPs to forward their agenda. The ECPA is aimed at deterring the most dangerous forms of spam, such as identity theft, phishing and spyware, from occurring in Canada however the copyright lobby fears that the current wording of the Bill will hinder their questionable use of DRM and potential for electronic surveillance.

Bill C-27 would strike a serious blow to DRM by requiring consent be obtained prior to installing software on a computer.

The DRM concern arises from a requirement in the bill to obtain consent before installing software programs on users’ computers. This anti-spyware provision applies broadly, setting an appropriate standard of protection for computer users. Yet the copyright lobby fears it could inhibit installation of DRM-type software without full knowledge and consent. Sources say that the Liberals have introduced a motion that would take these practices outside of the bill. In its place, they would define computer program as, among other things, “a program that has as its primary function…inducing a user to install software by intentionally misrepresenting that installing that software is necessary to safeguard security or privacy or to open or play content of a computer program.” This sets such a high bar – primary function, intentional mispresentation – that music and software industry can plausibly argue that surreptitious DRM installations fall outside of C-27.

Even more startling are the changes to Bill C-27 being sought after by the copyright lobby which would effectively permit copyright owners to secretly access information on users’ computers.

PIPEDA currently features a series of exceptions to the standard requirements for obtaining consent for the collection of personal information (found in Section 7). Bill C-27 includes a provision that bars those exceptions in cases involving computer harvesting of email addresses and the “collection of personal information through any means of telecommunication, if the collection is made by accessing a computer system or causing a computer system to be accessed without authorization.” In other words, email harvesting and spyware would not be permitted and would not qualify for the PIPEDA exceptions found in Section 7.

The copyright lobby is deeply concerned that this change will block attempts to track possible infringement through electronic means. The Section 7(1)(b) exception in PIPEDA currently states that collecting personal information without consent or knowledge of the individual is permitted if it is reasonable to expect that the collection “would compromise the availability or accuracy of the information” and the collection is “related to investigating a breach of an agreement or a contravention of the laws of Canada.”

The committee’s “clause by clause” review of the Bill was to be conducted today however it appears that intense lobbying pressure was successful in securing an adjournment until Wednesday October 21, 2009. The Canadian Coalition for Electronic Rights urges you to use the next 48 hours and write to Industry Minister Tony Clement and other members of the committee and demand they reject changes to Bill C-27 that would support the clandestine deployment and use of DRM or changes that would leave the door open to “private surreptitious surveillance”. Other committee members include:

Letter Wizard Updated To Include French

CCER — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 14:58:49 +0000

The popular Letter Wizard setup by CCER just less than a month ago has been updated to include a french version. The french letter varient is also CC’d to the Bloc Québécois industry critic Paule Brunelle.

So far there have been over 20,000 letters sent with this tool to the ministers in Ottawa responsible for the Canadian DMCA (Bill C-61) which is nothing short of amazing. Keep up the pressure over the summer and share the Letter Wizard with your friends and family and help stop the Canadian DMCA.

Letter Wizard Updated To Include Hardcopies & Personalization

CCER — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 19:30:00 +0000

We have just updated our letter writing wizard in response to the introduction of Bill C-61. The letter wizard now provides an editable body and subject line so you can put a personal touch on your letter to Prentice, Verner and Harper. Additionally CCER will mail a hardcopy of your letter to the ministers in Ottawa on your behalf.