This story in todays Nat Post suggests that the government is going to totally cave-in to industry demands on the copyright issue. When I purchase a CD I am purchasing the right to listen to that music. The idea that I will only be able to listen to the music on the CD when I am sitting in my family room (competing with the clatter coming from the XBox) is ridiculous. The government is going to facilitate industry requiring me to buy a copy of each piece of music that I want to listen to for each device that I have.
We already pay copying levies, businesses are required to pay levies based upon entirely notional audience calculations every time they play a song and the industry already receives subsidies. I am all for requiring people to pay for music but the idea that the government is going to legally enshrine the recording industry's ability to restrict my usage is beyond the pale.
The fact that they are going to make this an offence means that the government is opening the door to the industry engaging in private prosecutions, investigations and other remedies to pursue individuals who have legitimately purchased music and or movies. It will also open the door to civil proceedings and take down remedies based upon spurious allegations of copying or sharing.
We have seen these industrial remedy proceedings on other fronts. Companies set up collection centres where they send out pro forma demands for payment and threaten legal action if their demands are not met (see here and Electronic Frontier Foundation release from July 6, 2007). In the face of this people often decide to pay, some, like Mrs. Leadbetter have fought back. Is this something we really want to promote.
If the government wants to pass a law that makes file-sharing a crime then go ahead and do so - but the activities in question are not file sharing and are legitimate uses of lawfully purchased property.
