A proposed copyright bill in Canada that was set to be introduced to Parliament sometime last week has been halted, due to rampant public opposition by Canadians who feel that it will mainly pander to corporate interests. Attempting to reform Canadian copyright laws by placing tighter restrictions on intellectual property, critics argue that it falls too closely in line with the US Digital Millennium Copyright Act, effectively outlawing seemingly pedestrian activities such as taping a television show to a DVR device or copying files to DVD and MP3 players. Opponents are accusing those spearheading the bill of succumbing to the pressure of lobbyists from US entertainment companies that want all manners of digital copying banned. A Facebook group called "Fair Copyright For Canada" has been started by concerned citizens and has since attracted some 15,000 members. The House Of Commons, the venue for the bill's introduction, will reconvene in January. www.digital-copyright.ca/billc60
