Business coalition opposes harsh copyright reform

[CHIMO]

Business coalition opposes harsh copyright reform
Google, Rogers, Retail Council among those urging changes to legislation
Last Updated: Wednesday, February 13, 2008 | 6:28 PM ET


A who's who of powerful companies and business associations have banded together to push for less restrictive copyright reform, driving a stake into the heart of the federal government's argument for its new copyright bill.

The Business Coalition for Balanced Copyright, a group that includes Google, Yahoo, Rogers, Telus, the Canadian Alliance of Broadcasters and the Retail Council of Canada, among others, on Tuesday sent its stance on seven key copyright principles to Industry Minister Jim Prentice, Canadian Heritage Minister Josée Verner and several other cabinet ministers.

According to the document obtained by CBCNews.ca, the coalition wants any new copyright legislation to include measures that enshrine the rights of consumers to use in different ways the copyrighted material they buy, as well as companies in their daily business practices.

The group also said internet service providers should not be held liable for copyright violations that occur on their networks, and that Canada should put into place measures that prevent the highly punitive lawsuits seen in the United States.

http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2008/02/13/tech-copyright.html


And some may have thought that Prentice figured that the legislation was flawed.