My thoughts on a “3 Strikes” policy

Over the next few weeks, the newly drafted copyright bill will make it to the committee process.  The CRIA, MPAA, and many other lobby groups are calling for a “graduated response” to help curb online piracy.  Basically what this means is that the entertainment and publishing industries are calling to strip the Internet from Canadians who are caught infringing on copyright.  While I whole hardly agree that creators need to get paid for their work, I do not agree with the approach of stripping anyone from the net.   Section 2 of the Canadian Charter States:

2. Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms:

(a) freedom of conscience and religion;
(b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication;
(c) freedom of peaceful assembly; and
(d) freedom of association.

In my view an internet connection is needed to fulfill subsection (b) of our fundamental freedoms.  The Internet is now becoming essential for Canadians as a medium, a way to become politically active, and communicate with the outside world, and is essential to our economic growth.  Too simply take this right away, or inhibit it through disconnecting users, to me represents a fascist and socialist view on society, and must be questioned within committee, and by the public. 

It is my hope that a wider discussion on the graduated response happens within the public domain, and that those who support this policy will be confronted individually by fans, artists, and the market.  In the coming weeks I will attempt to facilitate this communication with the public, by posting individual names, and public social contact info of those calling for such an approach.  This will include all Canadian artists that the CRIA represents that haven’t come out against the graduated response, and who have gave the CRIA permission to lobby on their behalf.

Stay Tuned...

-------
Have a news tip you would like to share, or additional information on the stories posted? E-mail jkobonews at rogers dot com