Microsoft has found itself on the wrong side of democracy in Russia. In a huge bombshell article the New York Times reported that the Russian Government is using the enforcement of copyright to suppress dissent within its government by several NGO activist groups and journalists. Government raids have been carried out and equipment confiscated under the pretext of searching for pirated Microsoft software. The US has been pushing hard on Russia and Canada to actively enforce copyright, putting both countries on the USTR's Special 301 copyright watch list. This list has been actively denounced by Canadian Government officials, and diplomats.
Copyright has been used in the past by the US to squash protests as well. During the Beijing 2008 Olympics, the International Olympic Committee filed a DMCA take down notice to Youtube (which resides in the US) to remove a video of the "Free Tibet" group standing in front of the Olympic rings. After public outcry of the removal of this video, the IOC and Youtube put the video back up.
This recent incident with Russia comes on the battlefield just as most developing nations (including Canada) are getting ready to sign the final draft of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA). Over the past several years this agreement has remained secret. Journalists in Canada were refused any documentation on this agreement by government officials, and the US told it's journalists that the Trade Agreement would not be publicly released since it was a matter of "national security". Through leaked documents it was clear that the US copyright lobby was trying to bi-pass democratic institutions to implement a global DMCA and pushing for stricter enforcement of Intellectual Property by member nations.
In 2010 after massive public outcry worldwide, and a threat from the EU Parliament to veto the agreement unless transparency was offered, the member nations agreed to release the texts with several "omissions" on the Internet enforcement policy which would have seen users Internet connections cut off for frequent violations of copyright, which is still currently being pushed on the Canadian Government and MP's by the US Entertainment Lobby in our newly drafted copyright legislation C-32. While C-32 doesn't implement the policy of stripping Internet connections, the Entertainment Lobby has been out in full force this past summer trying to persuade Canadians and MP's this policy is needed.
While many Canadians only see small clips on the news demonizing the teenager who downloads music and films, this recent incident with Russia should be a warning shot to Canadians that copyright policy can be used for other purposes, and that it isn't just teen aged pirates that will be affected. Canadians need to get more engaged in this, since there are huge lobby groups and back room deals being made right now outside of our democratic institutions on the future of copyright policy in Canada. Unless the Canadian public is actively informed and engaged on this issue, our rights are at risk, without transparency and due process.
Copyright has been used in the past by the US to squash protests as well. During the Beijing 2008 Olympics, the International Olympic Committee filed a DMCA take down notice to Youtube (which resides in the US) to remove a video of the "Free Tibet" group standing in front of the Olympic rings. After public outcry of the removal of this video, the IOC and Youtube put the video back up.
This recent incident with Russia comes on the battlefield just as most developing nations (including Canada) are getting ready to sign the final draft of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA). Over the past several years this agreement has remained secret. Journalists in Canada were refused any documentation on this agreement by government officials, and the US told it's journalists that the Trade Agreement would not be publicly released since it was a matter of "national security". Through leaked documents it was clear that the US copyright lobby was trying to bi-pass democratic institutions to implement a global DMCA and pushing for stricter enforcement of Intellectual Property by member nations.
In 2010 after massive public outcry worldwide, and a threat from the EU Parliament to veto the agreement unless transparency was offered, the member nations agreed to release the texts with several "omissions" on the Internet enforcement policy which would have seen users Internet connections cut off for frequent violations of copyright, which is still currently being pushed on the Canadian Government and MP's by the US Entertainment Lobby in our newly drafted copyright legislation C-32. While C-32 doesn't implement the policy of stripping Internet connections, the Entertainment Lobby has been out in full force this past summer trying to persuade Canadians and MP's this policy is needed.
While many Canadians only see small clips on the news demonizing the teenager who downloads music and films, this recent incident with Russia should be a warning shot to Canadians that copyright policy can be used for other purposes, and that it isn't just teen aged pirates that will be affected. Canadians need to get more engaged in this, since there are huge lobby groups and back room deals being made right now outside of our democratic institutions on the future of copyright policy in Canada. Unless the Canadian public is actively informed and engaged on this issue, our rights are at risk, without transparency and due process.
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