Differing views on Canadian copyright reform

Bill C-32, Canada's latest attempt to amend its Copyright Act, was introduced early this month. Generally the bill is seen as striking an acceptable balance between rights-holders and consumers. There is still substantial controversy, however, over the proposed "digital lock" provisions that give legal protection to technological protection measures.

Copy protection measures are well known to gamers (remember when you had to input a code from a PC game's manual to be able to play?), and not surprisingly there has been some recent public discussion of Bill C-32's digital lock provisions in the context of Canada's video game industry.

First, Danielle LaBossiere Parr of the Entertainment Software Association of Canada has published an opinion piece in the Calgary Herald titled "Why gamers should love copyright bill".

Second, well-known Canadian copyright scholar Michael Geist has responded to that piece on his own blog.

Given how important video games are in Canada (both to consumers and to Canada's economy and high-tech industries), no doubt there will be further discussions like this before Canada's copyright amendments are finalized.