A Real Canadian Copyright Debate

The Canadian Constitution Foundation ("CCF") October 3, 2009 panel on copyright moderated by Arnold Ceballos and featuring myself and Richard Owens has now been posted on YouTube. This was a genuine debate, though civilized throughout. This was the third annual CCF conference and I highly recommend this event for the future. Justice LeBel was the keynote speaker this year. Here's the program.

For my part, I tried to tie the main issues of copyright into other themes of the conference and interests of the CCF, such as freedom of various kinds, including freedom of expression and movement (e.g. across borders with laptops), freedom to innovate, freedom from "taxation", freedom from Big Brother "control" via DRM and TPM, etc.

Here's the whole panel. The odd camera angle is because the Power Point screen was off stage.

HK

A Real Debate on Copyright

Those interested in a real debate on copyright may wish to attend the Canadian Constitution Foundation ("CCF") Conference October 2-4, 2009 in Toronto. I'll be debating Richard Owens Stikeman Elliot LLP, Toronto.

There will be no "duet" or "un-debate", as in the current Woodrow Wilson road show on copyright.

This is the third annual CCF conference. CCF is a a conservative and influential foundation based in Calgary that encourages serious and high level debate on some very controversial topics that involve "Protecting the constitutional freedoms of Canadians", and participates in some very interesting litigation projects.

Other topics in the conference include:

• Is there a human right to be free from offence?
• The legal status of polygamy
• Racial equality, aboriginal rights, and Section 15: examining R. v. Kapp
• The place of religion in the public square

Keynote speakers will include Justice LeBel of the Supreme Court of Canada and George Jonas.

I understand that there are very few spaces left.

Here's where you can register.

HK