Why Are Supporters Of Canadian DMCA Against Original Thought In Writing In Support Of The Bill?

from the that's-copyright! dept

Fri, Jun 18th 2010 12:24pm — Mike Masnick

You may recall that, earlier this year, as part of the entertainment industry's media campaign leading up to the introduction of the new Canadian DMCA, a report was put out that tried to discredit the massive public outcry against any sort of DMCA-like legislation. Part of that report mocked the fact that many of the submissions came via an online system with suggested text that was editable. It also mocked the fact that the system could be gamed (though, the details showed that gaming that system actually wasn't that easy). Of course, now that the industry is trying to drum up some appearance of public support for the bill... it seems that they're going even further than what they accused the other side of doing.

Michael Geist notes that the fake, RIAA-backed "grassroots" site called BalancedCopyrightforCanada.ca now has its own letter-generating system, and unlike the one that the industry folks mocked, this one doesn't even let you edit it. You have to send the letter exactly as it's written by the industry folks behind the site.

This is pretty ironic: this is a site supposedly in favor of encouraging greater creativity through copyright, and yet it allows no creativity or original thought at all in writing to your elected official about the law. On top of that, similar to the claims that the original letter writing campaign could have been "gamed" by Americans or others, Geist notes that "the site has already been subject to gaming from non-Canadians as a random search of members turned up at least one U.S. based record company executive with Warner Music." So apparently for all the "complaints" the recording industry folks had against the way actual citizens responded to requests for comments on copyright law in Canada, they'll set up the same systems taken to an even greater extreme.

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Filed Under: astroturfing, canada, copyright, dmca

22 Comments

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Anonymous Coward, 18 Jun 2010 @ 12:39pm

I got nothing. It really is too fucking stupid to contemplate. What a bunch of morons, eh?
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Dark Helmet (profile), 18 Jun 2010 @ 12:44pm

Looks like they're singing...
Anything you can do, I can do better,
I can do anything better -Redacted due to DMCA Takedown Notice, prepare to receive a visit from MiBs-
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Anonymous Coward, 18 Jun 2010 @ 12:55pm

Re: Looks like they're singing...
More like anything you can do I can do worse.
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Berenerd (profile), 18 Jun 2010 @ 1:11pm

Re: Re: Looks like they're singing...
More like...Anything you can do...I can make you pay for cause I have the copyright...
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btrussell (profile), 18 Jun 2010 @ 1:36pm

Maybe our copyright laws aren't tough enough to enable anything new and creative.
/sarc
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jakerome (profile), 18 Jun 2010 @ 2:15pm

They want to ban the internet!!! ElevEnTY!!!!
This bit is particularly egregious, "In the absence of clear rules, Canadian consumers lack a clear signal that downloading digital products from the Internet without payment is not allowed."

Does does this alleged coalition want to outlaw iTunes software, Firefox, Windows updates, photo sharing sites & YouTube? Bizarre.

/exclamation point
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Ben in TX (profile), 18 Jun 2010 @ 2:28pm

They're terrified
They're afraid that intelligent, well-educated people will go sign up to send their letter, take out all the canned bullshit they prepared and edit it to say things like "hey this letter is canned BS from the CRIAA (or whoever)" and do some damage to their 'grassroots' (LOLOLOLOL) campaign.

I doubt the interns at the Canadian legislature (Parliament? I am unfortunately ignorant about Canadian government setup) actually read all those letters word-for-word anyway, but it just shows you that the industry groups who support the CA-DMCA are well aware that the arguments against the bill are logical and sensible, while the arguments in favor of the proposed law are anything but sensible, fair, or reasonable.
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Uncreative, 18 Jun 2010 @ 2:32pm

I liked the letter writer
I found the template letter writer calling for reform to Canadian DMCA while I was on isohunt about a month ago. I don't think I would have ever taken the time to write my MP without it. I even personalized it a little with my thoughts on ACTA.

I'd like to thank whoever published the tool. At least I feel heard, even though the cookie cutter response from Tony Clement let me know that they didn't care.

Here's the response i got:

"Thank you for your correspondence regarding copyright policy.

We are pleased to inform you that the Government of Canada has introduced
legislation to modernize the Copyright Act, bringing it up to date with
the advances of the digital age.

This legislation will bring Canada in line with international standards
and promote homegrown innovation and creativity. It is a fair, balanced,
and common-sense approach, respecting both the rights of creators and the
interests of consumers in a modern marketplace. The federal government is
working to secure Canada’s place in the digital economy and to promote a
more prosperous and competitive country.

The popularity of Web 2.0, social media, and new technologies such as MP3
players and digital books have changed the way Canadians create and make
use of copyrighted material. This bill recognizes the many new ways in
which teachers, students, artists, software companies, consumers,
families, copyright owners and many others use technology. It gives
creators and copyright owners the tools to protect their work and grow
their business models. It provides clearer rules that will enable all
Canadians to fully participate in the digital economy, now and in the
future.

For more information, please visit www.balancedcopyright.gc.ca.

Sincerely,

Tony Clement
Minister of Industry

James Moore
Minister of Canadian Heritage
and Official Languages"
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Anonymous Coward, 18 Jun 2010 @ 2:57pm

Re: I liked the letter writer
"It is a fair, balanced, and common-sense approach"

In other words, he sent you an E - Mail full of lies. Figures.
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Krusty, 18 Jun 2010 @ 3:10pm

Re:
Well like no, ay, fuck the riaa ok. Beauty
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Anonymous Coward, 18 Jun 2010 @ 6:16pm

I'm sure someone can probably tinker with the code somehow and change what is submitted. Upon doing so, submit the tinkered code to techdirt so we can all do the same thing.
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Anonymous Coward, 18 Jun 2010 @ 7:57pm

"this is a site supposedly in favor of encouraging greater creativity through copyright, and yet it allows no creativity or original thought at all in writing to your elected official about the law" - do you actually think this stops people from voicing their own opinion? do you think somehow this magically stops people from being able to write their own letters?

holy crap mike, are you that desperate? i think the anti-copyright flock are beginning the feel the heat on the feet as reality starts to catch up.
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Anonymous Coward, 18 Jun 2010 @ 8:24pm

Re:
Oh look, a TAM straw man. This is my surprised face. Can you tell?
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Jun 2010 @ 8:45am

Re: Re:
mike, why not log in? why use anonymous? dont want to look like a bully?
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Jun 2010 @ 2:43pm

Re: Re: Re:
You're a fucking moron.
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Bill, 19 Jun 2010 @ 5:01pm

Morlocks
H.G. Wells gave us the perfect name for the digital lock lobbyists. Here's my take...
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Jun 2010 @ 5:09pm

Re: Re: Re:
TAM, why not log in? Why use anonymous? Don't want to look stupid?
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Jun 2010 @ 10:11pm

Re: Re: Re: Re:
you guys so fail, as i am not tam. sorry.
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Anonymous Coward, 20 Jun 2010 @ 1:35am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
So you don't deny to being a fucking moron, I see.
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Anonymous Coward, 20 Jun 2010 @ 11:44pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
Except you are. Sorry.
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Hephaestus (profile), 21 Jun 2010 @ 6:32am

Very understandable
"You have to send the letter exactly as it's written by the industry folks behind the site."

This is totally understandable. They dont want people hijacking the system. These laws they are trying to pass are extremely anti consumer. 10,000 people correcting this e-mail would look very bad for the IP types.
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Anonymous Coward, 21 Jun 2010 @ 7:17am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
mike, is that you?
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