This morning I was at my MP and Industry Minister Jim Prentice’s stampede (pancake) breakfast, and I sure believe that it informed quite a few people. With at least 30 people from the Fair Copyright For Canada Facebook group there, some heated debates came up, I got myself into one and hanging around listening in on others.

It was nice, well, seeing, Jim Prentice, I shook his hand for a few seconds and then he was off. I didn’t have a chance to ask some questions or comment on the Bill, but I’m sure quite a few people did and I’m awaiting what his response was and possibly for some video content.
I wanted to question Minister Prentice on how Bill C-61 will affect the Open Source industry and how the Bill will reduce or destroy any competition between media formats and creators.
The open source software that I am more specifically concerned about is Linux and its various applications such as Gimp or open source media formats such as .ogg. This bill could cease the production of open source software such as these in Canada because they most likely won’t contain DRM. Also, Linux is unable to play any music that has any type of lock on it because the open source developer don’t have the access to the keys to run DRM’d music. The only way to possibly play music on Linux is to break DRM.
Another concern of mine is how I will be able to play any of my music, will every media player other than iPod become obsolete? I own a PSP, which does great in playing media, but is unable to play any locked music.

Here’s what an information sheet given out at the protest said, it summarizes what the bill could do if passed quite well:

Hands Off My DVDs – C-61 prohibits transferring DVDs to a computer or video player, locks out region coded DVDs
Hands Off My iPod – C-61 prohibits transferring copy-controlled CD to iPod
Hands Off My PVR – C-61 prohibits recording broadcast flagged TV shows

Hands Off My Teachers – C-61 forces teachers to destroy their digital lessons after 30 days
Hands Off My Librarians – C-61 forces librarians to use DRM (digial locks) for digital delivery of articles
Hands Off My Flim – C-61 is opposed by documentary filmmakers who fear it will make it more difficult to creat films
Hands Off My Artwork – C-61 locks out artists from using some works and makes it more difficult to create

Hands Off My Kids – C-61 makes lawsuits against teenagers more likely
Hands Off My Privacy – C-61 makes it more difficult to protect your privacy against DRM’d products
Hands Off My Copyright Rights – C-61 renders fair dealing obsolete in the digital world
Hands Off My Research – C-61 could make our researchers infringers for circumventing for reasearch purposes
Hands Off My Students – C-61 locks out students from accessing their digitally locked electronic books

For more info and find out how to help, please visit www.FairCopyrightForCanada.ca and join the Fair Copyright For Canada Facebook groups (both the national and local chapters)