Canada May Introduce Harsh Copyright Restrictions

In Canadian news, the Conservative federal government tabled Bill C-61, a strict new copyright bill that would see violators paying fines of up to $20,000 for file sharing, illegal copying, or circumventing digital copy protection. In Canada, citizens and educational institutions have been permitted to make and use copies of much of their media for private / non-commercial use. In 1997, after extensive debate on the issue, the federal government introduced a private copying levy on blank media (and which later applied to storage devices like iPods), which would offset the loss in sales due to private copying.

While the bill has been applauded by industry lobby groups, it has also been roundly criticized by consumer groups and legal experts. Reasons include:

• The government has failed to consult with the Canadian public, but has consulted with US lobby groups.
• It increases the copying levy, while at the same time restricting copying, which prompts many to accuse the government of "double dipping." The increased levy may also raise the price of iPods and computers as well, restricting the availability of this technology.
• While ISPs would not be liable for their customers’ activities, they may be required to report those activities to industry groups—raising the question of privacy and net neutrality.

So, without going too much into the merits or lack thereof of file sharing; does this law seem exceptionally harsh, or is it long overdue? Should Canada fall in line with the US DMCA laws? Will this affect net neutrality? If ISPs are required to report their users’ activities to industry groups, does it undermine basic rights to privacy?