TY - JOUR T1 - A Rallying Moment for Canadian Open Source Software JF - Open Source Business Resource Y1 - 2007 A1 - Andy Kaplan-Myrth AB - In the Canadian copyright reform arena, the events of early December, 2007 changed everything. In late November, it was widely anticipated that new copyright legislation would be introduced in the model of the controversial American Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). The bill was rumored to include harsh anti-circumvention laws, which grant software distributors the right to seek legal remedies for circumvention of technological locks on content. In response, veteran Canadian copyright advocates issued an appeal to Canadians to take an interest in the bill and to call for fair and balanced copyright. Canadian citizens answered that call in unexpected numbers, both online and offline. A Facebook group, called Fair Copyright for Canadians, grew to over 25,000 members within two weeks, and provided grassroots advocacy tools to citizens. A new website, called CopyrightforCanadians.ca, established itself as a centre for news on the bill and consumer advocacy. Using these tools, Canadians wrote letters, met with politicians, and demanded balance. With their words and their actions, not only did Canadians delay the introduction of the bill until next year, but they put copyright in the spotlight and showed legislators that fair and balanced copyright can capture the public imagination. PB - Talent First Network CY - Ottawa UR - http://timreview.ca/article/104 IS - December 2007 U1 - University of Ottawa Andy Kaplan-Myrth is the Manager of the Law and Technology group at the Faculty of Law at the University of Ottawa and an Associate of the Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic. As a joint Project Lead with Creative Commons Canada, Andy speaks on open source, free culture and the sharing economy and promotes the use of OSS whenever the opportunity presents itself. ER -