From: Gary Lawrence Murphy <garym@canada.com> To: dmarti@zgp.org, chris@dibona.com, bruce@perens.com Subject: FYI: Call for Action on Canadian Copyright Reform Date: 25 Jul 2001 17:00:40 -0400 Cc: letters@lwn.net [ fyi, posted at http://www.teledyn.com/story.php?storyid=2001/7/24/102 ] Dear Opensource Collegues, Industry Canada has just put out a Call for Comment over reforms to our Copyright Act to become our new digital copyright laws. These reforms have a the stated intent of "prevent[ing] the circumvention of technologies used to protect copyright material" ... among other purposes. That sounds like DMCA to me. http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/SSG/rp01100e.html I know Canadian activism may seem a contradiction in terms, but in this case, it requires our characteristic politeness and protocol. We have our chance to make a difference, but only if we react in a seasoned and respectable way. But this does not mean "contact your MP and whine"; it does not mean hang out on your favourite blog and bitch about it. It means "if we play by the rules, we can change the rules." To be effective in changing these proposals, it is imperative every Canadian reading this should visit the website, read the posted proposals (carefully), and submit the necessary documents to Industry Canada by Sept 15; if you are a student, ensure your professors/teachers voice their concerns; if you are an employee, prompt your employer to react. Non-Canadians reading this can help too. They can do what they can to ensure their Canadian collegues are aware of the Call for Comment, and ensure they have the best possible information regarding the implications of a DMCA-like restriction on reverse-engineering. Please forward this call to action to your collegues - there is very little time to prepare our response. With your assistance, we truly can ensure that the Copyright Act remains "among the most modern and progressive in the world", as was indeed promised in the January 2001 Speech from the Throne. Best regards, Gary Lawrence Murphy CEO TeleDynamics Communications Inc http://www.teledyn.com