Action Items
The Canadian government has been considering copyright legislation for years now. Canada could choose between balanced legislation that addresses the Canadian consumer, creator, security, education, innovation and privacy interests, and legislation that responds to the demands of foreign governments and industry lobbyists. Reports indicate that the Conservative government has made its choice, and that it has not chosen to put Canadian interests first: we understand that the government will soon introduce copyright legislation that is modeled on the failed American Digital Millennium Copyright Act. The truth is that copyright is important to a wide range of Canadian interests, and we need laws that further those interests. While there is little that can be done to change the bill that will be introduced, Canadians can still have a say in what the final law looks like. Canadians who care about balanced laws - laws that put Canadian interests first - can make their views known. What can you do? We have some ideas....
Ownership of communications media (internet, telephone, and broadcasting) in Canada is already highly concentrated and is at risk of becoming even more concentrated. Such concentration threatens to limit diversity of voices as well as user choice and control. For more information, and to take action, go to Canadians for Democratic Media.
Tired of dealing with all those unsolicited email messages? Concerned about the cost that spammers are imposing on all of us, email users and ISPs? You can do something about it. And you should - we all play a role in getting rid of this menace to online communications.