Episode 35: Allen Mendelsohn on Canada's Copyright Site Blocking Saga

October 24, 2021 00:36:17
Episode 35: Allen Mendelsohn on Canada's Copyright Site Blocking Saga
Law Bytes
Episode 35: Allen Mendelsohn on Canada's Copyright Site Blocking Saga

Oct 24 2021 | 00:36:17

/

Show Notes

Site blocking has been on the policy and regulatory radar screen for several years in Canada, starting with the Bell-led Fairplay proposal to the CRTC and demands for site blocking as part of the copyright review. With both the CRTC and elected officials rejecting site blocking proposals, rights holders have turned to the courts. Last month, a Federal Court of Canada judge issued a major website blocking decision granting a request from Bell, Rogers, and Groupe TVA to block access to a series of GoldTV streaming websites.

The case is an important one, representing the first extensive website blocking order in Canada. I’ve argued that it is also deeply flawed from both a policy and legal perspective, substituting the views of one judge over Parliament’s judgment and relying on a foreign copyright case that was rendered under markedly different legal rules than those found in Canada. Allen Mendelsohn, a Montreal based Internet lawyer and sessional lecturer at McGill University joins the podcast this week to help sort through the issues.

The podcast can be downloaded here and is embedded below. Subscribe to the podcast via Apple Podcast, Google Play, Spotify or the RSS feed. Updates on the podcast on Twitter at @Lawbytespod.

Show Notes:

Site blocking! Reverse class actions! It’s the internet and copyright law jurisprudence last two weeks in review

Credits:

House of Commons, March 27, 2018
BNN Bloomberg, Landmark ruling to block piracy site among the only legal remedies: Lawyer

Other Episodes

Episode

February 26, 2024 00:34:01
Episode Cover

Episode 193: The Online Harms Act is Nearly Here - A Backgrounder and Preview

The government plans to introduce the Online Harms Act later today, bringing forward long-delayed legislation that will include new responsibilities and liabilities for Internet...

Listen

Episode

February 12, 2024 00:36:56
Episode Cover

Episode 192: Kate Robertson on the Privacy, Expression and Affordability Risks in Bill C-26

Bill C-26, alternately described as a cyber-security, critical infrastructure or telecom bill, remains largely below the radar screen despite its serious implications for privacy,...

Listen

Episode

February 05, 2024 00:25:54
Episode Cover

Episode 191: Luca Bertuzzi on the Making of the EU Artificial Intelligence Act

European countries reached agreement late last week on a landmark legislative package to regulate artificial intelligence. AI regulation  has emerged as a key issue...

Listen