Thoughts and musings
Recently CBC’s excellent Ideas program ran a documentary on copyright entitled Who own’s ideas?. The episode provides a really nice overview of the issues and even includes a bit of history which is too often ignored in this debate.
Both a podcast and a direct MP3 download are available.
In The Inquisition In Canada my friend Bob outlines how Human Rights Commissions (HRCs) are being abused.
Last week’s Cross Country Checkup episode titled “Are There Legitimate Limits to Free Expression?” also delves into the role of the HRCs as part of a larger discussion on free speech. You can find a nice introduction to this topic in the episode’s introduction (text) or you can download to the whole show (MP3). Several people people close to this issue are interviewed as well callers from across the country.
There was also a quote from someone (unfortunately I don’t remember who) which sums the issue up nicely (paraphrasing):
You have a right to not be exposed to hate but you don’t have a right to not be offended.
No One Likes a Bully: The IIPA and Canada
An interesting description of where some of the pressure relating to Canada’s copyright reform is coming from.
The current Federal government has decided that federally funded scientists at Environment Canada should not be allowed to speak with reporters directly. In the past reporters could freely contact Environment Canada scientists with science questions. Now all questions must now go through an information officer. The leaked reasons for this change are particularly worrisome. I fail to see how the fact that “interviews sometimes result in surprises to minister and senior management” outweighs the public’s access to the scientists it funds.
Wasn’t this supposed to be the open and accountable government?
Environment Canada ‘muzzles’ scientists’ dealings with media
Or listen to the first few minutes of this week’s Sunday edition for a bit of commentary.
Sometimes our government surprises me. The Government of Canada has created a list of Canadian podcasts.
This past Saturday I spent the day at the Ontario Linux Fest which was held at the Toronto Congress Centre. Despite this being the inaugural year for the event it was very well organized and I think, well attended. The number I heard was approximately 350 attendees. The most enjoyable aspect of the event was that it had a really nice community feel. Everywhere you looked there were groups of people chatting and having a good time. The only negative thing I can say is that many of the presentations were very high level. Given the broad audience this is not necessarily a bad thing but personally I was hoping for more technical detail. I really hope the organizers are able to this again next year because I’ll definitely be there.
I didn’t have a real camera along so the best I can offer is this picture of Jon ‘maddog’ Hall’s closing presentation taken with my N800.
Anyone who pays attention to the current copyright debate has heard the claims that Canada is a hot bed for movie piracy. For a different perspective take a look at this video from Michael Geist and Daniel Albahary.
Arrived in Ottawa today for OLS. Managed to get in early enough to make it over to the new (2005?) Canadian War Museum. Unfortunately, there was only two hours left before close. Two hours was not nearly long enough to do the museum justice. Even if you have been to the previous war museum you should go again. The new building is gorgeous and there is lot more stuff to look at. If you like to read everything in a museum, you need to budget a LOT more than two hours.
For those new to Ottawa, walking to the war museum from OLS will take under 30 minutes.
During the latest episode of CBC’s excellent national science program Quirks and Quarks (podcast) there was mention of www.sciencefunding.ca. There are some interesting documents available on that site which discuss how science is funded in Canada. The letter in this document (2005) gives some background.
Also, this week’s Quirks and Quarks is the 30th anniversary show. This would be a great show to listen to if you are new to Quirks and Quarks.
Just before the last federal election the world found out how cozy some federal politicians involved in copyright reform were with special interest groups. Despite the change of government, it appears little has changed.
CRIA’s Lobby Effort: The Untold Story
Michael Geist deserves a lot of credit for not letting this drop.
Transcripts and audio versions of Geist’s Hart House 2006 lecture entitled Our own creative land: Cultural Monopoly and the Trouble with Copyright are available if you are interested in Canadian copyright reform.
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