Blogs

Michael Froman has just been appointed chief negotiator for the Trans-Pacific Partnership—an international agreement that could criminalize many everyday uses of the Internet.

If you haven't already, send him a message at http://openmedia.org/froman and help spread the word by sharing this image:

Froman now has the unique ability to put an end to the TPP's Internet criminalization plans, but he needs to hear from citizens like us before the Big Media lobbyists get under his skin. Read more »

Vancouverites have an exciting opportunity to reimagine copyright at an event taking place on Thursday, May 16. Remix This: A Copyright Cabaret has been organized by FreshMedia (a project of OpenMedia.ca), and takes place at the Wise Hall, 1882 Adanac Street, Vancouver.

Doors open from 6 PM with the event starting at 7 PM. Tickets cost just $5 and are available on the door, or in advance from http://remixthis.eventbrite.com

The event will be emceed by Kai Nagata and will feature a range of well-known artists, storytellers, copyright experts, and engaged citizens. So join us, bring your friends, and share your ideas as we consider: Read more »

“The Biggest Global Threat to the Internet”: That’s how legal experts describe the controversial international agreement known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).¹

The TPP agreement threatens to criminalize use of your favorite websites—including YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and your favourite blog—and even your online comments.² But you can stop it if you act now >>>

A man named Michael Froman has just been appointed as the new TPP chief negotiator. Froman now has a unique ability either to put this secretive, global Internet criminalization plan to an end – or to cement it into place for generations. Read more »

Did you know that the high prices in our cell phone market mean that you can own about four phones in Portugal for the same price as having one device in Canada? Learn more here.

Help spread the word by sharing this image:

Citizens can stand up for affordable and accessible wireless choices in Canada by signing our Demand Choice petition at http://DemandChoice.ca Read more »

Last year telecom giant Bell unleashed a new $3.4B plan to take control of Astral Media, one of Canada’s largest media companies. Canada already has one of the most highly concentrated media systems in the industrialized world, and this deal would only make this situation worse by giving Bell a monopolistic share of the media market. Now, it seems that the takeover would also give Bell millions in public funding from the Canada Media Fund (CMF), making the deal bad for Canadians on all possible fronts.

The CMF was designed to provide broadcasters with public funding to promote new and innovative Canadian content in a way that levels the playing field and reflects the rapidly changing media landscape. But rather than being used to encourage media innovation, it appears that a whole bunch of CMF funding is going to help Bell further cement its power over Canada’s media system. Read more »

The 17th round of negotiations for the TPP, a secretive and extreme trade agreement that would criminalize your daily activities on the Internet, are fast approaching. More info: http://bit.ly/112TiNG // Our voices are stronger together. Let's stand up and fight for our online freedoms at http://StoptheTrap.net

Article from the EFF:

The United States and ten governments from around the Pacific are meeting yet again to hash out the secret Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement (TPP) on May 15-24 in Lima, Peru. The TPP is one of the worst global threats to the Internet since ACTA. Since the negotiations have been secretive from the beginning, we mainly know what's in the current version of this trade agreement because of a leaked draft [PDF] from February 2011. Based upon that text, some other leaked notes, and the undemocratic nature of the entire process, we have every reason to be alarmed about the copyright enforcement provisions contained in this multinational trade deal. Read more »