IntellectualPrivacy.ca is a new Canadian anti-DRM coalition, devoted to ensuring that Canada doesn't end up with American-style DMCA rules that let entertainment companies use DRM to override the user rights in copyright. They've sent an open letter to Canada's Heritage Minister that's excellent:
Rather than consulting on privacy and considering copyright law reforms that would protect
Canadians from the use of DRM (as an increasing number of commentators have suggested we
should do), our former government proposed copyright reforms that would provide protection for
DRM. Proposed 'anti-circumvention' provisions would make it illegal for people to circumvent
copyright holders' DRM. Such legal provisions could cripple Canadians' ability to protect their
privacy and to enjoy copyright works in private, free from copyright holders' DRM 'spyware'.
This problem is aggravated by free-market arguments that attempt to justify DRM on the basis
that people often 'agree' to the surveillance when they agree to the standard-form contracts
implemented by DRM. However, the law must protect individuals by ensuring that such
'agreements' reflect the expectations of the parties and are not used to circumvent privacy.
Deceptive standard-form agreements that add provisions on surveillance undermine consumer
confidence and hurt the acceptance of market-based solutions.
