14 DAY TRIAL // iPod owners living in Canada are now allowed to copy "legally acquired" content to their iPods as well as to their computers, the updated Copyright Act says. Users, however, are banned from circumventing DRM on other media, facing penalties for doing so ranging from $500 to $20,000.
"Canadian consumers could face damages of $500 and upwards for owning bootleg copies of music, books and other copyright material, under legislative reforms introduced today," reports The Star. "There would be fines of up to $20,000 for public infringements of copyright law, such as posting music to the Internet or even giving an iPod loaded with your music."
The source also notes there was "broad acknowledgement" that current laws have been "outpaced by technology." A good example is the iPod owner who, under the existing copyright legislation, cannot copy music onto his / her devices. As a result of this, Industry Minister "Prentice and his officials have been working on the first major overhaul of the legislation in a decade," the publication reveals. An update was clearly in order for the legislature, since digital technology now allows users to easily swap all kinds of files between devices, wirelessly and with great ease.
Under the reforms, you will be allowed to copy a book, newspaper or photograph that you have "legally acquired," but you mustn't give away the copies. And you can't make copies of materials you have borrowed either.
As a Canadian resident, you will also be allowed to copy music that you have "legally acquired" onto devices you own, but you won't be permitted to copy music you have borrowed or rented, nor can you give away copies.
It would be illegal to post a copyright work - picture, song or film - on the Internet without the permission of the copyright owner, the new reforms claim, while it is illegal to "hack" the digital locks placed on material to prevent their illegal distribution.
Another highlight says Internet service providers would be compelled to notify subscribers accused of infringing copyright laws by uploading copyright works to the Internet, so be careful out there. Although the bill also reduces the $20,000 fine Canadians' would be slapped with for making illegal copies of media for private use, the huge penalty still applies should you hack past DRM or other digital locks, or make your purchased media available through file-sharing services.