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TAGGED AS COPYRIGHT
Bell, Rogers, Quebecor apply for extended site-blocking in GoldTV
A trio of Canada’s biggest broadcasters has asked the Federal Court for a renewal of Canada’s first ever site-blocking order, two years after the original blocking order was first granted in a precedent setting case. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian …
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Man fined $40,000 for selling set-top boxes
A federal court judge has fined a pre-loaded set top box seller $40,000 for being in contempt of an injunction by continuing to sell the boxes to people to pirate television content. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and …
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Appeal court revives reverse class-action suit by Voltage Pictures LLC
A federal appeal court judge has revived a proposed reverse class-action suit by movie studio Voltage Pictures LLC looking to sue thousands of alleged Canadian copyright infringers in one go. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media …
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Federal Court orders content pirates to pay millions to Bell, Rogers, Videotron
A Federal Court judge ordered three pirate TV services to pay more than $29 million in damages to major broadcasters which claimed the sellers were cutting into their business by marketing pre-loaded set-top boxes and IPTV services to customers, allowing them to bypass paid TV subscriptions and access free content. This content is available to …
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Federal Court of Appeal dismisses BDUs’ appeal of distant signal tariffs
The Federal Court of Appeal ruled Friday partially in favour of a group that challenged a tariff increase by the Copyright Board of Canada for over-the-air distant signal retransmission while dismissing an appeal of the same decision by six of the country’s largest TV service providers. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a …
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CIRA opposes ISP-level website blocking in “all but extreme” circumstances
The Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) is opposing internet service providers (ISPs) being allowed to unilaterally block websites from users in the name of copyright protection — unless absolutely necessary — saying a government proposal to do just that would “violate the principles of net neutrality that underwrite a free and open internet.” This content …
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Alberta judge denies injunction in Super Channel piracy suit
An Alberta judge shot down a request from Allarco Entertainment 2008 Inc. for an injunction against Best Buy Canada Ltd., Staples Canada ULC, Canada Computers Inc., and London Drugs Limited as part of its suit against the retailers whose employees allegedly recommended to customers that they pirate content using media boxes. This content is available …
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Supreme Court to hear making available right dispute
The Supreme Court of Canada has decided it will hear an appeal from Music Canada and the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN). This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. …
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GoldTV site-blocking order runs “roughshod” over parliament’s authority: TekSavvy
Is a Nov. 2019 court order mandating a number of internet service providers to block a “pirate IPTV” service a draconian imposition of an authority best reserved to parliament, given that it serves to curtail freedom of expression and steps on the toes of the CRTC? Or is the court order simply a logical outgrowth …
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Federal Court judge appointed to head Copyright Board
The federal government has appointed Federal Court judge Luc Martineau as the chair of the Copyright Board of Canada for a five-year term. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial …
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SkyChoice urges Federal Court to throw out Bell’s trademark injunction suit
A small Ontario telecommunications provider has told Federal Court it should be able to continue to market its wireless home internet service as “WiFibe,” urging it to deny a trademark injunction request filed by BCE Inc. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the …
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Bell argues site-blocking doesn’t need CRTC approval
BCE Inc. has asked a Federal Court of Appeal judge to throw out an appeal of Canada’s first ever site-blocking court order, saying that TekSavvy Solutions Inc.‘s appeal of the order is grounded in “policy reasons.” This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the …
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Bell files for trademark injunction against SkyChoice’s WiFibe
BCE Inc. has asked Federal Court to order a small Ontario telecom to stop using the name “WiFIBE” for its wireless fibre internet service. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free …
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Rights holders, advocacy groups can intervene in site-blocking case
In a closely-watched appeal of Canada’s first-ever site-blocking court order, the Federal Court of Appeal will allow six different sets of intervenors to file three different interventions, according to a decision issued Wednesday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …
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Federal Court of Appeal eliminates making available right for downloads
The Copyright Board was wrong in extending the making available right to downloads in 2017, the Federal Court of Appeal has ruled. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial or …
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Allarco ordered to pay retailers’ court fees after dropping piracy lawsuit
After dropping its lawsuit in Federal Court against four retailers whose employees it accused of recommending pirating content from media boxes sold in stores — and subsequently launching a similar proceeding in the Alberta courts — Allarco Entertainment 2008 Inc.’s Super Channel must now pay the legal costs of the retailers it sued. This content …
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Rovi’s STB suit against Quebecor will proceed via Zoom
A Federal Court proceeding between Quebecor Inc.‘s Videotron and Rovi Guides Inc. that was halted in early March as the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns began, will resume via Zoom, over the objections of Videotron, a judge has ruled. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all …
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Premier League and Dazn support site blocking order
A consortium of rights holders — including the top tier of English soccer, the Premier League, sports streaming service Dazn and industry trade groups for book publishers — wants the Federal Court of Appeal to uphold Canada’s first ever site blocking order. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot …
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Super Channel takes piracy fight to Alberta court
Allarco Entertainment 2008 Inc.’s Super Channel has dropped its Federal Court lawsuit against four major retailers, whose employees allegedly recommended pirating content from media boxes sold in the store, only to launch similar action seeking $50 million in damages in the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already …
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Court must consider Charter rights in site-blocking case: BCCLA
Court mandated website-blocking is an “extraordinary” remedy and should only be granted sparingly, according to a court filing from the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a …
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CRTC chair, commish toured Rogers’ ‘piracy lab’
As part of their ongoing effort to fight content piracy, two of Canada’s largest media and telecom companies have, or are considering setting up, “piracy labs” to demonstrate to visitors including regulators and government officials what infringement looks like. Rogers Communications Inc. has established a piracy lab which CRTC chairman Ian Scott and commissioner Monique …
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Court docs detail expansion of Canadian website-blocking order
Fresh documents are shedding light on how Canada’s first piracy case involving court-ordered website-blocking is playing out — revealing methods used by BCE Inc. to keep up with an expanding list of sites, and that Bell, Rogers Communications Inc. and Quebecor Inc. sent a letter asking third-party ISPs to keep mum about their request for …
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Recent ‘expanded’ disclosure order shows ‘worrying’ trend: expert
A recent Federal Court order for two internet service providers to disclose the personal information of alleged copyright infringers diverged from previous precedent by expanding the type of information that is allowed to be released — a cause for concern, according to one expert. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign …
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Rovi’s STB suit an attempt to extract royalties, Videotron says
Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron will argue in Federal Court later this month that a years-long legal battle over patent infringement levelled against its set-top box products is not directed at the proper parties, including itself, according to court documents. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock …
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TekSavvy files appeal against site-blocking order
Internet service provider TekSavvy Solutions Inc. has appealed a Federal Court order requiring ISPs to block a pair of websites selling allegedly pirated content. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free …
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Voltage drops appeal in disclosure cost case
Voltage Pictures LLC and Rogers Communications Inc. have both agreed to drop their appeal and cross-appeal, respectively, against a decision by the Federal Court to award the telecom costs to dig up personal information of alleged infringers of the movie studio’s copyright. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here …
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Alberta court bans station from using Corus trademark legacy
An Alberta court has sided with Corus Entertainment Inc. in banning the use of the broadcaster’s lapsed trademark by a radio station that just rebranded this summer. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. …
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Court orders Canadian ISPs to block pirate website for the first time
In a precedent-setting decision, a Federal Court judge has ordered internet service providers to block specific websites hosting copyright-infringing TV content. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial or subscribe …
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Voltage’s choice of defendant made ‘difference’ in class action failure: expert
The movie studio that has for years sought to sue alleged copyright infringers in Canada has been denied by the Federal Court the ability to sue thousands of Canadians at once, in a case that one expert said may have rested on who the plaintiffs chose as the lead defendant. This content is available to …
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MediaTube asking Supreme Court to review Bell Fibe case
Six years after first filing suit alleging BCE Inc. infringed on its patent in the making of the telecom’s Fibe TV — and along the way suffering a number of decisions against it — MediaTube Corp. is asking the Supreme Court of Canada to review its case. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? …
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CRTC has no jurisdiction over site-blocking request, big telecoms argue
BCE Inc., Quebecor Inc. and Rogers Communications Inc. are arguing in Federal Court that TekSavvy Solutions Inc. was wrong when it said the request by the large vertically-integrated telecoms to order a pirate “IPTV” site to be blocked is the domain of the CRTC. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign …
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Site-blocking is domain of CRTC, TekSavvy tells court
Even if the large telecoms satisfy the court’s threshold to move forward with forcing internet service providers (ISPs) to block a website involved in alleged copyright infringing activity, it should not grant the application because it would usurp the authority of the CRTC, TekSavvy Solutions Inc. is arguing in fresh documents filed in Federal Court …
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IP addresses don’t necessarily link to individuals, CIPPIC argues
In asking the Federal Court to deny certifying a class of defendants in a copyright infringement case, an advocacy group is arguing that an IP address is insufficient in proving an individual has committed infringing activity — a point that has proved successful in United States courts. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already …
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Distributel asks court for ability to challenge future site-blocking
In the event Federal Court allows a site-blocking application brought by three of the country’s largest broadcasters, Distributel Communications Ltd. wants to ensure internet service providers (ISPs) can challenge subsequent orders brought to their doorstep and be compensated for any legal action taken against them for complying. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already …
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Ordering pirate site blocking would ‘leapfrog’ BTLR: TekSavvy lawyer
OTTAWA — On the second and final day of a potentially precedent-setting court hearing on site-blocking, a Federal Court judge gave the parties until Wednesday to negotiate a revised draft site blocking motion. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and …
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Disclosure cost to Rogers based on ‘irrelevant’ evidence: Voltage counsel
Counsel to Voltage Pictures LLC and a number of movie studios is asking the Federal Court of Appeal to review a case that found Rogers Communications Inc. is owed $67.23 to disclose the personal information of five IP addresses tied to alleged copyright infringement. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign …
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Japanese comics publisher wants info on alleged infringer from ISPs
Shueisha Inc., a Japanese publisher of comic books, has filed an application in Federal Court to compel two Canadian internet service providers to fork over the personal information of subscribers they allege have infringed on their copyright. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all …
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Federal Court rules Rogers entitled to $35 per hour for subscriber disclosure
The Federal Court is setting at $35 the hourly rate that Rogers Communications Inc. can charge rightsholders for the work it takes to identify and disclose the personal information of alleged copyright infringers. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …
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Federal Court grants injunction against GoldTV
OTTAWA — A Federal Court judge has granted an interim ban on what the big telecom companies are calling a “pirate” IPTV provider, which operates under the names GoldTV.ca and GoldTV.biz. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media …
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Broadcasters suing pirate ‘IPTV’ provider
Three of the nation’s largest broadcasters are suing the owners of a service that is allegedly selling live TV service packages and on-demand content without a licence or authorization. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news …
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Close growing ‘value gap’ by eliminating safe harbour: Music Canada
Music Canada, the trade organization which represents the Canadian divisions of some of the world’s largest record labels, has declared that the gap between what artists create and what they are paid for it — what they call the value gap — has reached “staggering” proportions. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? …
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Another MediaTube appeal request against Bell denied
The Federal Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal request by MediaTube Corp. to present new evidence in a six-year-old patent infringement case brought against BCE Inc. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. …
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Change safe harbour exemptions in Copyright Act, industry committee says
The House industry committee is asking the Heritage committee to study whether or not they can compel online service providers like Alphabet Inc.’s YouTube and Facebook Inc. to provide some level of remuneration to the content producers whose work is hosted on their platforms. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign …
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Re:Sound seeks to double CBC radio royalties to $3M a year
An organization representing sound recording rights holders wants to more-than double the royalties it bills CBC/Radio-Canada to play music on traditional radio — to the tune of $3 million per year. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital …
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Long-time TekSavvy lawyer appointed to Federal Court
Nicholas McHaffie, who served as counsel to TekSavvy Solutions Inc. in its long-running legal saga against movie studios looking to get the personal information of Canadians in copyright cases, has been appointed to the Federal Court. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the …
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Music orgs suing public establishments to recover royalties
While the Canadian music industry aims to address revenue shortfalls in the face of increasing internet competition, amalgamators of their content rights have been filing lawsuits against public establishments who they allege have been playing their music without a license. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot …
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Federal Court says disclosure motions need ‘best available evidence’
Key evidence relied upon by movie studios in a substantial chunk of copyright infringement cases that have yielded vast sums of money from settlements has been ruled insufficient by a Federal Court judge who reversed a disclosure order on Thursday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot …
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Public music should feature Canadian content, Stingray says
Music in public establishments such as malls, bars and restaurants should be required to include Canadian content, resulting in additional revenue for homegrown artists, Stingray Group Inc. is suggesting. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news …
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Rogers cost for disclosure case set for April
The Federal Court has set a spring date to determine how much Voltage Pictures LLC must pay Rogers Communications Inc. to hand over personal subscriber information after the Supreme Court found the telecom was entitled to “reasonable” disclosure fees. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? …
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Bell asked gov’t to ban some VPNs: documents
BCE Inc. urged the federal government to make virtual private networks (VPNs) used to circumvent copyright illegal, ahead of the renegotiations of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). VPN services, normally offered at a monthly rate, mask users’ real IP address via encryption, allowing them to surf the internet without being traced. It is a tool used …
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ARIN CEO rejects legislative ask for IP address record rules
A regional internet registry is going to walk-back a controversial request it made to Parliament asking for federal rules on IP address record-keeping, which the head of the organization said wasn’t approved by its own board of trustees or CEO before it was submitted and was never officially their position. This content is available to …
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ARIN asks Parliament to require ISPs to maintain Whois info
The organization responsible for allocating IP numbers to intermediaries in Canada is raising concerns there may no longer be a strong incentive for companies to keep updated records on IP number allocation or Whois information, and it wants Parliament to address the issue. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in …
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CEO says Copyright Board to ‘run tighter ship’
OTTAWA — The Copyright Board will work to address long-standing criticism over how long it takes to issue decisions, including by implementing new regulations, CEO Nathalie Théberge told members of the House industry committee. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, …
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Bar Association tells committee notice-and-notice falls short
OTTAWA — The Canadian Bar Association told MPs Monday Parliament should introduce a new regime to deal with online piracy in the Copyright Act because the current notice-and-notice regime is ineffective. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital …
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Google asks MPs for ‘flexible copyright exemption’ for AI
OTTAWA — Alphabet Inc.’s Google wants members of Parliament to include a “flexible copyright exemption” for AI and machine learning copying in the Copyright Act, adding to a chorus of voices from digital companies calling on Parliament to address the issue. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? …
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Budget bill risks ‘compromising’ copyright board autonomy, committee hears
An expert in copyright law is asking senators to nix a reform measure in the Liberal government’s latest budget implementation bill that allows the federal cabinet to set timelines over copyright board matters, warning the move risks putting the board’s independence in jeopardy. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in …
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Ottawa paid $2K settlement after consulate shared copyrighted image
The federal government paid a $2,000 settlement to a Barrie, Ontario photographer, according to the 2018 public accounts, because bureaucrats shared a copyrighted image on a government Facebook page. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news …
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Voltage reverse class action motion moving ahead
A reverse class action case that has been stalled for nearly two years over the issue of costs will now move forward, after plaintiff Voltage Pictures LLC put up $75,000 in security for defence costs. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian …
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Liberal government fills last two vacancies on Copyright Board
The federal government has named two new members to the Copyright Board of Canada, a move that fills the last vacancies on the board and comes alongside Ottawa introducing new board reform measures. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …
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Consumer groups warn MPs against site-blocking pitches
OTTAWA — Consumer advocacy groups are cautioning MPs against proposals that would make site-blocking in Canada easier, after a push for those anti-piracy policies failed at the CRTC failed last month. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media …
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Bell, Rogers re-raise site-blocking request to MPs
OTTAWA — BCE Inc. and Rogers Communications Inc. are asking the House heritage committee to amend parts of the copyright and telecommunications acts to compel a number of intermediaries to take down websites that make available pirated content, resurrecting a request the companies spearheaded that was denied by the CRTC earlier this month. This content …
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Google Canada asks MPs for Copyright Board reform
OTTAWA — Alphabet Inc.’s Google wants to see the Copyright Board of Canada tariff setting process simplified, its government relations counsel told members of Parliament Thursday, but at the same time he said a legislative overhaul of the Copyright Act isn’t necessary to deal with artist remuneration. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a …
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Federal Court orders ban on ‘Mr. Blamo’ Kodi add-on software
Nearly a dozen content producers have obtained a court order banning set-top box software developed by an individual in Canada that allows users to watch their content for free, according to court documents. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …
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More than half of internet traffic is encrypted: Sandvine
Internet traffic is “more encrypted than ever,” with a “conservative estimate” suggesting more than half of all internet traffic is encrypted, according to Sandvine Corp.’s 2018 Global Internet Phenomena Report This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media …
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As CRTC rejects FairPlay, proposal could move to legislative reviews
The CRTC has no jurisdiction to implement a system to block websites allegedly engaging in piracy, it said in a highly-anticipated decision Tuesday, cracking open another debate as to whether the federal government will consider doing so flush in the middle of its reviews of related legislation. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already …
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Allow ISPs to apply notice-forwarding costs to deter abuse: Telus
OTTAWA — Fraudulent copyright infringement claims made through Canada’s notice-and-notice system can be dealt with by forcing the party making the claim to pay a fee to internet service providers (ISPs), Telus Corp. told a parliamentary committee studying the Copyright Act on Monday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign …
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New NAFTA allows Super Bowl simsub ahead of SCC review
The new trade pact forged by Canada, the U.S. and Mexico to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) holds onto a key exemption for Canada’s cultural industries but contains a range of revisions to intellectual property, digital trade and broadcasting policies, including the overturning of a controversial CRTC decision preventing substituting American ads …
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Big telecoms ask MPs for beefed up anti-piracy measures
Some of the battles taking place before the CRTC related to site-blocking are now playing out on Parliament Hill, as big telecoms ask MPs studying the Copyright Act to strengthen anti-piracy measures to respond to a new wave of commercial piracy. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN …
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Broadcasters slam music industry copyright proposal
OTTAWA — Canada’s private broadcasters are defending Canada’s existing copyright laws and tariff rules and say a proposal to nix a radio royalty exemption in the Copyright Act is an attempt at a cash grab by the recording industry. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock …
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Bryan Adams asked Trudeau, Harper to change Copyright Act
OTTAWA — Canadian rock legend Bryan Adams is asking Canadian lawmakers to change the Copyright Act so it gives artists more control over their copyright. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a …
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Rogers can recover some costs to disclose customer info, SCC rules
OTTAWA — In a decision that could serve as a deterrent to copyright infringement lawsuits against Canadians, the Supreme Court of Canada said Friday that internet service providers (ISPs) can charge “reasonable” costs to comply with court orders requiring them to divulge the personal information of Canadians who allegedly engage in piracy. This content is …
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Broadcasters’ association, Corus, add new lobby registrations
The Canadian Association of Broadcasters registered to lobby the federal government on its review of the Copyright Act in July, which was otherwise a sleepy month in telecom and media government relations. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and …
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Canadians agreed to pay at least $200K to settle copyright suits in 2018
More than a dozen movie studios have sued Canadians in recent months in a flurry of cases that has so far yielded over $200,000 in settlement agreements from individuals, court documents show. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital …
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Court nixing Que. site-blocking ‘helpful’ against FairPlay: advocates
The Quebec Superior Court has ruled against a plan by the Quebec government that would have forced Internet service providers (ISPs) to block unauthorized gambling websites, in a decision that could be relevant for an anti-piracy proposal currently in front of the CRTC. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in …
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12.5% Canadians watched pirated content in past month: MTM
One in eight Canadians have watched pirated TV or movie content online in the past month, according to the Media Technology Monitor’s latest report. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free …
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EU committee approves internet filtering copyright directive
A European Union committee has approved a controversial copyright directive that critics say could interfere with the sharing of online content. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial or subscribe …
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‘Rare’ music industry consensus on key issues at Copyright Act review
The House industry committee heard some familiar suggestions from a number of music industry groups Thursday, as they asked the MPs to take action on a radio royalty exemption, the private copying levy and rules for royalties on soundtracks. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? …
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ACTRA backs Music Canada asks on copyright reform
The Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) asked a parliamentary committee reviewing the Copyright Act to take action on the so-called “value gap,” and seconded a trio of reforms put forward by Music Canada. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all …
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Rightsholders facing ‘blasé’ attitude toward piracy, committee hears
The popularity of fully-loaded set-top boxes, such as Kodi devices, is illustrative of an attitude of indifference toward piracy, the House of Commons industry committee heard Thursday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. …
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26% of Canadians access pirated content, new report shows
A government-commissioned report is shedding light on the extent of copyright infringement in Canada, with data showing about a quarter of online Canadians consume infringing content, and 10 per cent report having received notice-and-notice letters — which led about a quarter to stop infringing activity. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? …
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Copyright Act review shifts gears to radio, TV
The ongoing review of the Copyright Act will begin focusing on the music, radio, television and film sectors next month. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial or subscribe to …
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FairPlay hits back, claims piracy cost TV providers as much as $761M
The FairPlay coalition has responded to the laundry list of criticism directed toward its proposal to implement a website-blocking regime to fight piracy, arguing, among other points, that the thousands of comments from individuals against the proposal aren’t representative of Canadians’ views. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here …
Continue reading "FairPlay hits back, claims piracy cost TV providers as much as $761M"