Tories make another attempt to update copyright legislation

OTTAWA – The Conservative government has reintroduced legislation to make sweeping changes to the outdated Copyright Act.

The Copyright Modernization Act has been in Parliament before, but died before it became law.

Now with their first majority government, the Tories have brought back numerous pieces of legislation they couldn’t pass as a minority.

Heritage Minister James Moore said the copyright bill offers a common-sense balance between the interests of consumers and the rights of artists, writers and others who produce copyright material.

The government said social media and new technologies such as tablet computers, mobile devices and digital book readers have changed the way people create and use copyrighted material.

It said the bill recognizes the many new ways teachers, students, artists, companies, consumers, families, and copyright owners use technology.

Industry Minister Christian Paradis said it also protects the rights of artists and copyright holders.

“Canadian businesses and rights holders will have the confidence they need to continue to invest in our digital economy,” Paradis said.

But Michael Geist, a professor who specializes in Internet law, said there’s a better way to go about legally protecting digital locks.

“To ensure that we can go after those that would crack a DVD and try to sell 1,000 copies on the streets, but at the same time, preserve basic consumer rights, so that if they access a DVD that comes from a foreign country, they can continue to play it on their DVD player,” Geist said.

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