[discuss] Canadian Software Innovation Alliance --an invitation from CIPPIC, EFF, and Bob Young (fwd)

[Russell McOrmond]

Just forwarding an announcement of CSIA...

Note: I strongly endorse the coalition.

That said, I have a problem with the confusion caused by the line "Open 
source innovators need to support Bill C-60's support of open source 
innovators".

   What I believe Damien means is that C-60 isn't as bad as the USA's DMCA, 
or as bad as our primarily foreign opposition (CAAST, CRIA, CMPDA) wants 
to make it.  I am unaware of any *support* for FLOSS in C-60, nor do I 
agree that C-60 continues "to permit reverse engineering, 
inter-operability and security research" in situations that touch 
"technical measures" as (ab)used by copyright holders.



Date: Wed, 30 Nov 2005 18:59:20 -0500
From: Damien Fox <damien is at wirelessnomad period com>

Subject: Canadian Software Innovation Alliance --an invitation from
     CIPPIC, EFF, and Bob Young

Re: Canadian Software Innovation Alliance --an invitation from CIPPIC, EFF, 
and Bob Young

Good Afternoon!

Canada's open-source professionals and open-source advocates are coming 
together to make sure Canada's copyright law continues to support creativity 
and encourage innovation.  Content industry lobbyists are calling for new 
controls that threaten important activities such as the right to reverse 
engineer, the right to create interoperable software and the right to conduct 
security research.  These rights are crucial to software innovators and need 
to be guaranteed.

The government has fallen, but the draft copyright legislation has already 
been written, the process that created it is still in place, and the interest 
groups pushing for stronger copyright laws continue to demand more control. 
Bill C-60 proposed to grant copyright owners control over those who would 
circumvent technological protection measures (TPMs) for the purpose of 
infringing copyright.  While there was much in Bill C-60 to oppose, Bill C-60 
supported the rights of open source innovators by continuing to permit reverse 
engineering, inter-operability and security research. Opponents of Bill C-60 
say that it did not do enough, and that Canada needs to import the American 
Digital Millennium Copyright Act.  Open source innovators need to support Bill 
C-60's support of open source innovators.

Individual professors, lone companies, solitary consultants and local user 
groups all understand the reality of how TPMs work and the anti-competitive 
effects of strong anti-circumvention laws. Alone, these stakeholders face 
challenges getting their message to elected politicians and policy makers. 
These stakeholders need to come together to speak with a stronger voice.

The Canadian Software Innovation Alliance has been started by Bob Young, 
co-founder of Red Hat, to help provide that voice.  With your support, the 
CSIA can make sure that Canada remains fertile ground for open source 
development, that the Canadian open source community continues to thrive, that 
and Canada's computing and communications resources are as accessible and 
secure as possible.

Over the next few days, the Canadian Software Innovation Alliance will begin 
adding members to the coalition.  Several companies and organizations have 
already signed up: if you think your company, institution or organization has 
an interest in making sure open source software remains a powerful and 
effective tool, get in touch with us to find out more or to join the CSIA. 
Joining the CSIA is voluntary, does not cost any money, and does not require 
much of a time commitment, unless you choose to help with the activities of 
the organization.

We are hard at work preparing a web site and draft White Paper.  Once they are 
available, we will send around a further e-mail to provide additional contact 
information and the web site address.  In the meantime, please distribute this 
e-mail to anyone you think might be interested in joining the coalition, might 
know others that are interested in joining the coalition, or might like to 
help the CSIA, but not join.

The CSIA is being formed to promote the interests of Canada's open-source 
community and to encourage innovation and competition.  Bob Young from Red Hat 
is the lead spokesperson for the organization.  The Canadian Internet Policy 
and Public Interest Clinic (CIPPIC), the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) 
and Online Rights Canada (ORC) are working together to get the CSIA started 
and to help Canada's open-source community come together.  Neither CIPPIC, EFF 
nor ORC will be a member of the CSIA, nor have any authority over the 
positions, statements or membership of the CSIA.

Sincerely,
Damien Fox


Damien Fox,
Copyright Outreach Coordinator, CIPPIC
ahdfox isat mac.com
416-707-2204

Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic
University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law
57 Louis Pasteur St.
Ottawa, Ontario  K1N 6N5
http://www.cippic.ca
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