Canadians!

[fourlittlesongs]

It's time to see if democracy works.

If you have not been following the news, everyone's favourite Conservative party is trying to pass new copyright legislation that is, in a word, bullshit.

Comments

[recordbodycount]

My MP's a Tory so I don't know how much good it will do, but I emailed him.

I've written to my MP before and I think they straight-up ignore it every time, although sometimes I get a "thank you for saying stuff" response from a staffer.

It really is the dumbest legislation I've seen in awhile--I have to wonder if those people are entirely aware of what iPods are.

[m_valentine]

I don't think it's written in the law that we can't download anything nor does it talk about being sued by American companies. It's basically against shifting media and uploading. So as long as someone else uploads it, it's all good.

Right?

[fourlittlesongs]

It is mostly focused on uploading at the moment. It does say there is a $500 fine for having bootleg copies of digital music on your computer, and the bit about ISPs notifying subscribers accused of infringing copyright laws is worrying

[youisfunny]

I have been reading about this the last little while. Some of it, I get. OK, the uploader fines, I can understand why they're doing that, although I can probably argue both sides fairly decently. BUT, the "breaking any form of encryption" thing I have a problem with. Essentially they are almost making it illegal to own iPods, not by the virtue of having those devices, but by making it illegal to put any music on them except that you have purchased IN DIGITAL FORM. I have piles and piles of legally purchased CDs (and, for that matter, records) which I rip to my computer, a right I would think I have purchased with those things.

You're absolutely right: this is BULLSHIT. Suddenly we're facing what amounts to digital martial law. Nobody is gaining from this - as a musician myself, I completely understand the reach that digital music has. This is not going to help anybody, least of all the people it's 'trying to protect'.

[fourlittlesongs]

Exactly. I don't know if you read my reply to Damon up above your comment, but check out musiccreators.ca. You are definitely not the only musician who feels this is not helping anybody other than the companies that are already profiting off of the work of others.

I'm surprised Apple hasn't spoken out against this, since, as you said, it is basically criminalizing iPods. Not to mention chains like HMV - if buying cds and then ripping them to your computer is made illegal, that makes buying cds less attractive, driving more people towards digital purchases. I can't see the big music retailers approving of this legislation.