Michael Geist sez,
A coalition of English-language writers organizations have publicly posted their response to Bill C-32. Despite an ideal opportunity for constructive dialogue and a good faith effort to find compromise positions on the more contentious elements of the bill, the groups have chosen to increase the level of fear mongering with a misleading and often inaccurate document that implausibly claims the end of Canadian publishing is near if C-32 is passed in its current form.
Perhaps most disappointingly, the groups had promised in August to offer "constructive suggestions", particularly on the issue of fair dealing, which was said to require clear legislative guidance. Rather than offering proposed language for such guidance, the groups simply want to hit the delete key. Inclusion of education as a fair dealing category? Delete. Non-commercial user-generated content? Delete. Digital inter-library loans? Delete. Format shifting for private purposes? Delete.
I offer a line-by-line rebuttal of many of the misleading claims regarding the proposed changes to Canadian copyright law.
Copyright Fear Mongering Hits a New High: Writers Groups Post Their C-32 Brief
