Holy cow, they actually listened! Others can fill you in much more eloquently than I (Laura J. Murray, Michael Geist) but in a nutshell Canada was contemplating changes to copyright law that would both make Canada the laughingstock of the Internet, and throw distance education back into the pre-internet dark ages as far as document delivery went. Lots of academic institutions and individuals voiced their displeasure and it seems the government listened!
Here are a couple of highlights pertaining to the education world:
The Government recognizes the significance of the Internet as a learning tool for teachers and students as well as a platform for creators to disseminate content. Enabling the educational use of publicly available Internet material has proven to be a complex and contentious issue, however. Soon after tabling of the bill, the Government will open consultations on this issue for additional public input and consideration.
Educational and Research Access Issues
- The current exception that permits the performance or display
of copyright material for educational purposes within the classroom
would be modified to enable students in remote locations to view a
lecture using network technology, either live or at a more convenient
time. - Material that may be photocopied and provided to students pursuant to an educational institution’s blanket licence with a collective society would be permitted to be delivered to the students electronically without additional copyright liability. Provisions in this regard would apply until such time as the collective societies’ blanket licenses authorize such electronic delivery.
- In the above instances, educational institutions would be required to adopt safeguards to prevent misuse of the copyright material.
- The electronic interlibrary desktop delivery of certain copyright material, notably academic articles, directly to library patrons would be permitted, provided effective safeguards were in place to prevent misuse of the material. (YESSS! – PRP)
Link: The Government of Canada Announces Upcoming Amendments to the Copyright Act.