Copyright Reform Bill Could Result in $20,000 Fines for Canadians

Recently the Canadian federal government introduced a controversial copyright reform bill, Bill C-61, (which is currently awaiting its second reading after Parliament’s summer break). The bill is expected to harmonize Canadian copyright laws with the country’s obligations under the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) treaty.

Despite harsh public criticism, the federal government claims that Bill C-61 strikes a balance between the rights of copyright holders and consumers. Some portions of Bill C-61 actually serve to clarify areas of uncertainty under existing laws by expressly allowing consumers to copy books, videocassettes and music, as long as consumers restrict themselves to one copy per device.

The anti-circumvention clause will make it illegal to break digital locks on copyright material, which means that CD and DVD makers could insert copy protections on their discs and consequently make it illegal for consumers to circumvent these protections. Similarly, television networks could attach technological flags to programs that would prevent them from being recorded onto TiVos and other personal video recorders. Even cell phone users who buy a device from one carrier and then use it with another could find themselves facing up to $20,000 in penalties.

People caught downloading music or video files illegally can also be penalized up to a maximum of $500. Considering that the percentage of home Internet users who download music has increased from 37 percent to 45 percent, it is no surprise that copyright holders have openly supported Bill C-61. However, it remains to be seen who will police the Internet for these violations.

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Volume VI

Copyright Reform Bill Could Result in $20,000 Fines for Canadians