Bell wants to criminalize piracy with nafta

[maryjane48]

Bell, Canada's largest telecom company, has called on the government to support radical copyright and broadcast distribution reforms as part of the NAFTA renegotiation. Their proposals include the creation of a mandated website blocking system without judicial review overseen by the CRTC, and the complete criminalization of copyright violations with criminal provisions attached to all commercial infringement


http://m.huffingtonpost.ca/michael-geis ... a-homepage

[spooker]

First they (copyright holders, not specifically Bell) tried to do something like that with regards to copyright via the TPP ... now they are working on getting it into NAFTA ... sadly it doesn't surprise me how copyright holders have fought tooth and nail to just get the current system extended without regards to how people actually use it or what makes more sense in today's world

[Catsumi]

Doesn't this just smack of Orwell's 1984 world?

Didn't we go through something similar to this years ago when the CRTC was hatched? If I recall correctly we fought tooth and nail to keep USA programs (popular) but wound up with more canadian made productions (unpopular, and mostly of CBC origin). There was to be a certain percentage of airtime devoted wholly to canadian content.

I have no idea what the phrase "simultaneous substitution" really means as it is not defined. I am guessing that more Anne of Green Gables would appear.

Also, I can't figure out why Bell doesn't jump all over the pirate broadcasters instead of our watching habits.

This will probably be determined behind closed doors as Bell wants.

[GordonH]

^^^ since CTV, TSN, Bravo etc... etc is own by Bell.

[Catsumi]

Yes, Bell is a huge outfit with lots of clout.

I think most canadians will sleep through this one only to find that some of their favorite information gathering sites are now blocked.

Censorship via big media corporates in bed with a weak kneed government led by an Airhead.

Only in Canada

[maryjane48]

http://www.cbc.ca/1.4308068 the ideas for bell is to be able to block access to sites they dont like .

[Catsumi]

http://www.cbc.ca/1.4308068 the ideas for bell is to be able to block access to sites they dont like .

AND, possibly the ones we DO like ?

[Veovis]

http://www.cbc.ca/1.4308068 the ideas for bell is to be able to block access to sites they dont like .

I would take it a step further and state that it isn't about blocking exactly than having the power to charge for access. Welcome to paying bell to access other peoples content.

[Bsuds]

[ Welcome to paying bell to access other peoples content.

That's what they do now.

With the way Bell's billing system works they will over bill and then promise to fix it for 8-10 months hoping you will give up and quit bothering them.

[Catsumi]

Billing issues be damned.

If Bell negotiates a deal with Federal government behind closed doors, and they achieve their real goal which is power of censorship over CONTENT on internet, you will lose your rights to inform yourself.

That is a bigger issue than a few bucks out of your wallet, right?

[maryjane48]

Billing issues be damned.

If Bell negotiates a deal with Federal government behind closed doors, and they achieve their real goal which is power of censorship over CONTENT on internet, you will lose your rights to inform yourself.

That is a bigger issue than a few bucks out of your wallet, right?

yea its huge and is worth taking up arms over