Is Canada Considering A Three Strikes And You're Off The Internet Policy?

from the keep-an-eye-out dept

With the entertainment industry actively pushing for laws that would require ISPs to kick users off the internet for file sharing, using a "three strikes" policy, Michael Geist is wondering if they've quietly succeeded in Canada. Apparently a French newspaper is reporting that Canadian ISPs are negotiating such a policy already, though there have been no such public statements. Given how secretive the industry and the government have been about new copyright laws, perhaps this isn't too surprising. We do know that the industry was pushing for greater ISP liability as part of copyright law changes a few months back, so it wouldn't be surprising if ISPs were negotiating a "three strikes" type rule to avoid the liability issues. Of course, they probably want to keep it secret, as publicity (and resulting anger) about these types of laws in Europe has at least some politicians moving away from them. However, as the entertainment industry does keep succeeding in getting these types of laws to move forward, how long will it be before similar laws are proposed in the US, with "everyone else is doing it" as part of the reasoning?
Hide this

Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.

Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.

While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.

–The Techdirt Team

Filed Under: canada, copyright, isps, three strikes


Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread


  1. identicon
    Zaide, 12 May 2008 @ 10:43am

    Three strikes...

    I can't seeing that flying by any means here, though I can see the polys trying. :/

    link to this | view in thread ]

  2. identicon
    David, 12 May 2008 @ 10:48am

    Clarification

    It's not a French newspaper reporting this, it's a statement included in the latest version of the three strikes bill in France. Translation:

    "Numerous countries in Europe (such as Great Britain) or other continents (such as Canada or Japan) have already initiated a similar negotiation process..."

    link to this | view in thread ]

  3. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 12 May 2008 @ 10:59am

    crash your car three times and you can't drive on our roads anymore, ever, (or pay us and we'll go away)

    link to this | view in thread ]

  4. identicon
    RIAA Fukk RIght OrFT, 12 May 2008 @ 11:28am

    "Numerous countries in Europe (such as Great Britain) or other continents (such as Canada or Japan) have already initiated a similar negotiation process..."

    "Initiated" is the right word, coz they can FuKK RIGHT OFF if they they think they gonna pass that one. Our govenrment has already had a kick in the bollox coz of the "bollox" they keep trying on us.

    BTW in canada dont you already pay taxes on blank "Media" to cover this already ? I can see u guys being really happy about this. I suppose you can always ask for the "media tax" to be removed... N0TT!

    Wish u well guys, UK is "debating" this one still.

    Now where's that WEP wifi router i "found"?

    link to this | view in thread ]

  5. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 12 May 2008 @ 11:34am

    so by taking my laptop connect to all the people and free places that i can get Internet and openly share and DL to get them kicked off with out any harm to me. Sure it will piss those off who no longer have the Internet and have to use free wireless connections but then my connection will be faster since there is less load on the network.

    I love the idea and it keeps us from running out of those Internet tubes. LOL

    link to this | view in thread ]

  6. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 12 May 2008 @ 11:51am

    The car crash reminds me of the 3 strikes and your out for DUI. Hell after 8 times, their still driving. Come on. Change your model and move on to the new world.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  7. identicon
    claire rand, 12 May 2008 @ 12:09pm

    uk legal system

    the trick with all this is the media types trying to get the ISPs to enforce the rules (rules not law) since if they have to go to court they have to have this little thing called 'evidence' and this seems to be a problem for them.

    i.e. prove *who* downloaded the file, not just the machine address that did it. which they can't do with breaking all sorts of laws.

    so cut through it, get the ISPs to implement some iffy rules to kick of the file sharers, I dare say it sounded a good idea to the ISPs to start with.

    then the backlash it, and one of the big boys said no, and did so publically, basically saying let us be your ISP we won't kick you off without a court order..

    the ones who will boot you will die if they try it now.

    legislation may well follow, but as with anything legal evidience will be required somewhere, and it will be possible to challange it.

    media companies hate having to prove stuff

    link to this | view in thread ]

  8. identicon
    Haywood, 12 May 2008 @ 12:37pm

    always a way

    link to this | view in thread ]

  9. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 12 May 2008 @ 12:37pm

    Re:

    You can crash a car by accident--you cannot download illegally by accident. Your analogy is erroneous.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  10. identicon
    Haywood, 12 May 2008 @ 12:43pm

    There's always a way

    I knew of a hotel bar that was owned by a reputed mobster in my home town. They were always getting their liquor license revoked. They would be back up and running almost immediately by "selling" the bar to a relative. It got ridiculous, it was getting down to brother-in-laws 2nd cousin, but the point is they kept on running as though there was no law.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  11. identicon
    Keybored, 12 May 2008 @ 12:45pm

    accidental downloads

    I downloaded illegally once totally by accident. Her father made me marry her.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  12. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 12 May 2008 @ 12:48pm

    Re: Re:

    What if the file was renamed and you think you are downloading Public Domain information? What if someone steals your laptop?

    link to this | view in thread ]

  13. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 12 May 2008 @ 1:02pm

    Electricity too.

    Why just turn off their internet access? Were they also using their electric service to commit their "crime"? If so, then disconnect their electric service too. That'll teach 'em.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  14. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 12 May 2008 @ 1:04pm

    Re: Re: Re:

    My guess is that your first analogy would rarely happen.... Not only downloading a full version "disguised" as public domain (rather than vice versa) but also being busted by something like this. If your luck was so bad that you got busted 3 times in this situation, you're cursed and might as well give up hope for yourself.

    As for stealing your laptop, what does that have to do with it? Steeling a connection maybe but they're tracking the connection you use, not who owns the laptop.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  15. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 12 May 2008 @ 1:18pm

    Re: Re: Re: Re:

    My guess is that your first analogy would rarely happen....
    You must have no idea how many "fake" files there are on some of the P2P networks.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  16. identicon
    GodEater, 12 May 2008 @ 3:15pm

    Informaiton should be free in a Democracy.

    So, will I get canned because I wrote some code and wanna share it over p2p networks ?

    I'll freaking sue.
    Or only send encrypted.
    Hmmm,

    link to this | view in thread ]

  17. identicon
    PJ, 12 May 2008 @ 4:51pm

    Yea I dont See this Happening ...

    What are they farking stupid ? duh morons wake the hell up! we will NEVER STOP FILE SHARING !! WANT TO KNOW WHY???..

    cause gee dumbshits think about it we have EMAIL... And Instant Messengers ... Duh Morons we can still share files over that .. and Ohh if you think your going to Stop Us that way think again... cause there is a such thing as LAN parties LOL no Internet needed DUH get a FARKIN CLUE RIAA and YOU DUMB SHIATS!!

    link to this | view in thread ]

  18. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 12 May 2008 @ 8:35pm

    Re: Re:

    Surprisingly, you can download copyrighted materials by mistake...

    link to this | view in thread ]

  19. identicon
    JW, 12 May 2008 @ 8:40pm

    So what if you crash your car on purpose. What's the limit to how many times you can crash your car. Dunno about you but I know a professional bus driver that has been in over 50 accidents. His job requires him to drive, which makes him more prone to having accidents. If they enployed a law of this type, where would the lines be drawn. This kinda crap would never fly here. There's too many ways around it!

    link to this | view in thread ]

  20. identicon
    StarNoStar, 13 May 2008 @ 3:53am

    Maby the entertainment industry should have embraced the p2p revolution instead of fighting it.

    http://www.demonbaby.com/blog/2007/10/when-pigs-fly-death-of-oink-birth-of.html

    link to this | view in thread ]

  21. identicon
    John Wilson, 13 May 2008 @ 7:02am

    Or you can legally

    Of course you can download copyrighted material legally too. Take any Linux distro that uses BitTorrent to download releases or updates.

    So the mere fact of copyright doesn't make the download "illegal". It's about copyright and the associated licensing, if any, that this is all about.

    The entire idea reads like a script for Trailer Park Boys.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  22. identicon
    pete, 4 Jun 2008 @ 7:54pm

    Do it

    Ive spoken to many people and they seem to think artists are rich, nothing could be further from the truth! 1st artists were RIPPED OFF by rec co's and coke sniffing execs (quote the late Bo Diddly"the man with the pen is more dangerous than the man with the gun")and 2nd by pimply faced kids who dont think downloading an artists hard work and money (artists have to pay back rec co's rec costs) i say 3 STRIKES AND YOUR OUT! Its incredible to me that someone thinks downloading isnt steakling, if you dont pay yer water its cut off

    link to this | view in thread ]

  23. identicon
    RYAN, 29 Jan 2009 @ 6:09pm

    hmmmm,

    Interesting how the RIAA is in the US and it would be the very last of all places to see such a policy

    Also, if such a policy isnt passed into law I could see some ISP's not adopting the policy and they would rake in the profits with new marketshare from angry pirates

    link to this | view in thread ]


Follow Techdirt
Essential Reading
Techdirt Deals
Report this ad  |  Hide Techdirt ads
Techdirt Insider Discord

The latest chatter on the Techdirt Insider Discord channel...

Loading...
Recent Stories

This site, like most other sites on the web, uses cookies. For more information, see our privacy policy. Got it
Close

Email This

This feature is only available to registered users. Register or sign in to use it.