New Canadian copyright legislation that was rumoured to be tabled by Industry Minister Jim Prentice today (June 4), and could fine users as much as $500 for downloading copyrighted songs, is already running into trouble.
Prentice told reporters that he will now not table the legislation until it contains the "appropriate balance," and sources quoted by the Globe and Mail say it will not appear until next week, and then it will likely be left to die over the summer break by the Conservative government. "It's not going to see the light of day," said an Ottawa lobbyist.
With a minority government, and a heavy grassroots campaign by Canadian consumers to prevent crippling, U.S. Style copyright laws, it's starting to seem unlikely that Prentice will be able to table something with across-the-board agreement. This is good news for Canadian consumers, who will have at least another few months before they have to contemplate being fined $500 for every song they download, as well as be prevented from copying protected CDs onto their iPods, or recording certain time-shifted cable shows.
Prentice told reporters that he will now not table the legislation until it contains the "appropriate balance," and sources quoted by the Globe and Mail say it will not appear until next week, and then it will likely be left to die over the summer break by the Conservative government. "It's not going to see the light of day," said an Ottawa lobbyist.
With a minority government, and a heavy grassroots campaign by Canadian consumers to prevent crippling, U.S. Style copyright laws, it's starting to seem unlikely that Prentice will be able to table something with across-the-board agreement. This is good news for Canadian consumers, who will have at least another few months before they have to contemplate being fined $500 for every song they download, as well as be prevented from copying protected CDs onto their iPods, or recording certain time-shifted cable shows.