Michael Geist, the Canadian copyfightin' law prof, has an excellent article in this month's Literary Review of Canada about Canada's current plans for copyright reform (generally sucky) and how they could be massively improved (by concentrating on solving problems of public access and new opportunities for artists).
Canada need not choose copyright reforms that benefit a select
few rights holders, while providing little for Canadian creators
and users. As Charlie Angus, an NDP member of Parliament and a
musician on the Canadian Heritage Standing Committee, recently
noted, "placing handcuffs on students will not resolve the
inability of Canadian artists to earn a decent living."The federal government should instead embrace a positive vision
of copyright reform that increases access to Canadian culture and
opens new opportunities for Canadian artists. Two such
possibilities include the creation of a national digital library
and the granting of new public rights to use CBC content. The
Internet and emerging technologies provide millions of Canadians
with the ability both to create and to consume culture, political
speech and entertain-ment. New copyright legislation should
therefore help provide Canadians with the raw materials needed to
express themselves.
