Policy / advocacy / copyright reform

New Canadian Report Offers Balanced Recommendations for Progressive Copyright Reform

Earlier this week the Canadian Parliament’s Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology (INDU) released a report with 36 recommendations on the statutory review of Canadian copyright law. The report caps a year-long study, including a public consultation and committee hearings that included a variety of stakeholders. The document makes progressive recommendations that support a … Read More “New Canadian Report Offers Balanced Recommendations for Progressive Copyright Reform”

Policy / advocacy / copyright reform

A Dark Day for the Web: EU Parliament Approves Damaging Copyright Rules

Today in Strasbourg, the European Parliament voted 348-274 (with 36 abstentions) to approve the Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market. It retains Article 13, the harmful provision that will require nearly all for-profit web platforms to get a license for every user upload or otherwise install content filters and censor content, lest they … Read More “A Dark Day for the Web: EU Parliament Approves Damaging Copyright Rules”

Policy / advocacy / copyright reform

Los europeos deberían decirle al Parlamento que vote NO a los filtros de derechos de autor

Llegó el momento decisivo para el proyecto de directiva sobre derechos de autor en el mercado único digital de la Unión Europea. Las dramáticas consecuencias negativas que traerían los filtros de carga de contenidos serían desastrosas para la visión que Creative Commons tiene como organización y comunidad global. La inclusión del Artículo 13 hace que … Read More “Los europeos deberían decirle al Parlamento que vote NO a los filtros de derechos de autor”

Policy / advocacy / copyright reform

Europeans should tell Parliament to vote NO to copyright filters

It’s the end of the line for the EU’s proposed Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market. The dramatic negative effects of upload filters would be disastrous to the vision Creative Commons cares about as an organisation and global community. The continued inclusion of Article 13 makes the directive impossible to support as-is. Last … Read More “Europeans should tell Parliament to vote NO to copyright filters”

Policy / advocacy / copyright reform

EU copyright directive moves into critical final stage

In September 2018 the European Parliament voted to approve drastic changes to copyright law that would negatively affect creativity, freedom of expression, research, and sharing across the EU. Over the last few months the Parliament, Commission, and Council (representing the Member State governments) were engaged in secret talks to come up with a reconciled version … Read More “EU copyright directive moves into critical final stage”

Policy / advocacy / copyright reform

EU’s proposed link tax would [still] harm Creative Commons licensors

In September the European Parliament voted to approve drastic changes to copyright law that would negatively affect creativity, freedom of expression, research, and sharing across the EU. Now the Parliament and Council (representing the Member State governments) are engaged in closed-door negotiations, and their task over the coming months is to come up with a … Read More “EU’s proposed link tax would [still] harm Creative Commons licensors”

Policy / advocacy / copyright reform

What’s next with WIPO’s ill-advised broadcast treaty?

Six years ago we wrote a blog post titled WIPO’s Broadcasting Treaty: Still Harmful, Still Unnecessary. At the time, the proposed treaty — which would grant to broadcasters a separate, exclusive copyright-like right in the signals that they transmit, separate from any copyrights in the content of the transmissions — had already been on WIPO’s docket for … Read More “What’s next with WIPO’s ill-advised broadcast treaty?”

Policy / advocacy / copyright reform

New NAFTA Would Harm Canadian Copyright Reform and Shrink the Public Domain

Late yesterday the U.S., Canada, and Mexico reached an agreement on a new North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The agreement (now rebranded as the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or “USMCA”) obligates Canada to increase its copyright term by an additional 20 years if the deal is passed. Canada currently observes the minimum term of copyright as … Read More “New NAFTA Would Harm Canadian Copyright Reform and Shrink the Public Domain”

Policy / advocacy / copyright reform

With the European Parliament vote on the copyright directive, the internet lost – for now

Today the European Parliament voted 438-226 (with 39 abstentions) to approve drastic changes to copyright law that, if ultimately enacted, would negatively affect creativity, freedom of expression, research, and sharing across the EU. The Parliament voted in favor of almost all provisions that extend more rights to the establishment copyright industries while failing to protect … Read More “With the European Parliament vote on the copyright directive, the internet lost – for now”

Policy / advocacy / copyright reform