Re: [fsfc-discuss] Petition to protect Information Technology property rights (Was: Re: "FSF Canada" )

[Richard Stallman]

    Petition for Users Rights

The conclusion of this petition is good.
I have a criticism of an important premise, though.

    THAT the Copyright Act is properly recognised as being a careful balance 
    between the rights of creators and the rights of the public (including 
    viewers, readers and listeners);

I disagree with that understanding of copyright: it makes an
unwarranted concession to copyright holders.

See http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/misinterpreting-copyright.html for
an argument that it is a misinterpretation of the US Constitution.
I don't know how much that argument would apply to Canadian law,
but I think the conclusion is morally valid anywhere.

    THAT the Supreme Court of Canada unanimously affirmed this view in CCH 
    Canadian Ltd v Law Society of Upper Canada;

You know something about about what the court said, and I don't.
However, it could be interesting to study it to see if it cn be
interpreted as endorsing the stronger position I take -- that the
purpose of copyright law is primarily for the sake if the readers.

-- 
Dr Richard Stallman
President, Free Software Foundation
51 Franklin St
Boston MA 02110
USA
www.fsf.org  www.gnu.org
Skype: No way! That's nonfree (freedom-denying) software.
  Use free telephony http://directory.fsf.org/category/tel/