Welcome to the blog of the Copyright Office at UVic
The “notice-and- notice policy for ISPs goes went into effect on January 2, 2015. Canadian internet providers will be required to forward copyright infringement notices to their subscribers. Providers who do not comply face up to $10,000 in damages.The law caps damages, for internet users, at $5,000 on non-commercial infringements.
See Michael Geist blog of a discussion on this issue: http://www.michaelgeist.ca/2014/12/notice-difference-new-canadian-internet-copyright-rules-isps-set-launch/
This article, found via @Copyright_Agent on Twitter, discusses some interesting issues around copyright and crafting. The world of crafting understandably involves a lot of derivation and artistic inspiration, based on another crafter’s work, which is where questions of copyright can arise. Within the limitations of any media, there will be natural similarities between a product with artistic variations, such as a knitted toque. This article, while based in American law, provides some clarity for how to apprach this issue locally. As well, the rise of internet-based craft retail sites like Etsy has changed the scope and financial implications of intellectual property issues in craft.
Graduate Students at UVic
Are you considering incorporating images, photos, maps, diagrams, etc. not created by you in your thesis/dissertation? Have you thought about copyright implications associated with your use of this content?
The Copyright Office is offering workshops for grad students who are working on their thesis or dissertation. Please talk to your department’s graduate supervisor to organize a session to discuss these issues or come to our drop-in office hours in McPherson Library – Room 135e on Tuesdays between 12:30-1:30pm.
The UVic Copyright Office is offering new drop-in office hours for faculty, staff and students who have questions about copyright. You can find us on the main floor, room 135e – in the Academic Commons – between 12:30 and 1:30 pm on Tuesdays.
Howard Knopf (http://excesscopyright.blogspot.ca/) and Michael Geist (http://www.michaelgeist.ca/) have begun to unpack Access Copyright’s responses to the Copyright Board’s questions from Feb.18th. The Copyright Board has asked Access to explain certain aspects of their board submission. I am particularly enjoying Access’s rationale behind attaching the copyright tariff to acts of linking/hyperlinking. Their response explains that linking is “telecommunication” and “making available to the public”.
If hyperlinking without permission is illegal, 99.99% of the internet is breaking the law. AC does concede a lack of evidence, and “has no objection to the Board removing this permitted use from the certified tariff”, but then goes on to provide legal justification for the inclusion of links and hyperlinks in the tariff.
According to #54 of the Board Submission, Access Copyright asserts that displaying a work on your computer screen can be defined as copying because “viewing a Digital Copy electronically (through a monitor, laptop, tablet, smartphone, e-reader, or other device) is the quintessence of digital copying”. Please discuss.
CBC New | March 20, 2014
“The B.C.-based copyright infringement lawsuit against James Cameron and the creators of the 2009 blockbuster movie Avatar was dismissed in Canada’s Federal Court Thursday.
In a news release sent Thursday morning, 20th Century Fox Film said that after the first day of hearings, the complainant, Emil Malak, approached Cameron’s counsel and said he no longer wanted to pursue his lawsuit.”
For more on the story see: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/emil-malak-s-avatar-screenplay-copyright-lawsuit-dismissed-1.2580748
EARLY BIRD registration has been extended to April 22!http://conferences.uvic.ca/index.php/abccopyright/abccopyright2014/schedConf/registration
Theme for the conference: Jumping off the (Leg)islation. The spirit behind this theme is moving forward in our new Canadian copyright environment – methods, issues and ideas.
Our keynote speakers are:
Kimberley Christen Withey, Associate Professor and Associate Director of the Digital Technology and Culture program, Department of English, Washington State University
Topic: Copyright and Traditional Knowledge
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Paul Stacy, Associate Director of Global Learning for Creative Commons
Topic: The ABC’s of CC – Using Creative Commons (CC) to generate a global public commons of knowledge and culture
The conference program is available at: http://conferences.uvic.ca/public/conferences/37/schedConfs/58/program-en_US.pdf
Location: University of Victoria, Victoria, BC Canada.
We &d love to see you at the conference!
Dr. Lawrence Lessig of Harvard Law School, successfully defends his use of snippets of music from the Australian band, Phoenix, in his YouTube lecture. Via eff.org, @creativecommons
Gillian Shaw | Vancouver Sun | February 29, 2014
“Canadians who illegally download music, movies and other copyright material may no longer be able to hide from potential lawsuits.
In a groundbreaking decision released Thursday by Canada &s Federal Court, the Internet service provider TekSavvy Solutions was ordered to release to Voltage Pictures LLC the names and addresses of more than 2,000 Internet users suspected of pirating movies…”
For more on the story see: http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/personal-tech/Illegal+downloaders+federal+court+crosshairs/9533007/story.html