Re: New Media and Copyright

At 23:51 3/30/94 -0500, Ross Mutton wrote:
>Tom Grandy (wcsngl[_at_]alfred.carleton.ca) wrote:
>: NGL is conducting an analysis which will identify copyright policy
>: issues, options and benefits to creators, industry, business users and
>: consumers, and which will, early enough, position the government to
>: address issues crucial to the development of new media on the
>: electronic highway system. We would appreciate your comments on the
>: following basic policy questions:
>
>: - Is the present Canadian copyright policy framework adequate to
>: protect new media creations?
>
>: - Does it impede the development of new media?
>
>: - How do we balance conflicting interests between creators, industry,
>: business users and consumers with regard to copyright?
>
>: Thanks in advance for your input.
>
>: Loretta Rocca
>: NGL Nordicity Group Ltd.
>: wcsngl[_at_]ccs.carleton.ca
>
>Phase II of reform of Canada's copyright act has been inched forward
>for the last five years. At present, draft legislation is being
>prepared, but the scheduling of presentation to the House of Commons
>is uncertain.

There is a critical need for some determination of fair use in Canada, which I understand was to be in phase 2, but the current government has made noises about backing away from. I think the lack of a fair use policy does impede the development of new media, because it restricts some sectors (education) from working with and playing with the ideas that can be built upon in real products and applications when students enter the workforce.

Tim Winkelmans                  |    Technology and Distance Education Branch
Assistant Director              |    British Columbia Ministry of Education
Distance Education              |    Victoria, BC, Canada
                        twinkelm[_at_]cln.etc.bc.ca