martha's blog

As we ready for a new Copyright Act let us not forget that this is not a war.   My students at Emily Carr  found the framing of copyright as a war polarizing and unproductive in RiP: A Remix Manifesto.  RiP while interesting as a story, is one with which I have many disagreements.  In particular I have taken issue with the representations of "remix" culture as a war.  Most of my students, like many emerging creators, want to have a conversation that does not set them up as either o

Today, I heard from a friend that a new Copyright Act is indeed imminent.  As anyone who has watched my appearance at the Toronto Town Hall Copyright Consultation my own views are two-fold: first, that whatever is done we need public legal education on copyright for creators, users and everyone in between.  Second, after reading multitudes of submissions and talking to many people smarter than I I actually think we need less law not more.  By that I mean we simply don't yet know where this technology is taking us.  If anything there is an enormous diversity of views out the

Last week in Ottawa, Charlie Angus introduced a private member's bill proposing changes to the Copyright Act.  The proposed changes include a levy on iPod (and similar digital devices) to provide a new revenue stream to creators, and an expansion of fair dealing.  Since its introduction last month an open letter has been circulating supporting the proposed changes to fair dealing.  I have been reading and following some of the commentary and  share the following thoughts.

We are really pleased to announce that we will be co-hosting with ECUAD and W2 a screening of this PBS documentary film Copyright Criminals.  On April 18th at 7pm join us at W2 for a screening followed by a q&a with the producer Kembrew McLeod.  Among other things Kembrew writes about copyright at least as coherently and with a good deal more wit than many.  His knowledge of music and musical cultures especially oral traditions and hip-hop are demonstrated i