Observers read call to copyright reform in Valenti’s Canadian speech February 7

A recent speech by chief Hollywood lobbyist Jack Valenti, aimed at Canadian politicians and trade negotiators, may have contained a veiled call to this country's government to adopt American-style digital copyright legislation, industry observers say. Both Valenti and his Canadian counterpart, however, deny any involvement by Valenti's organization, the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), in Canada's copyright reform process.The comments were made during Valenti's much-anticipated keynote address to the Canadian Film and Television Production Association (CFTPA) annual conference in Ottawa February 7. Observers are tying comments about ICraveTV.com Inc., and international efforts to fight the company's operations, to the MPAA's vocal support for the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) in the U.S., and similar calls by the closely-related Canadian Motion Picture Distributors Association (CMPDA) for identical action in Canada.Valenti, chair and CEO of the MPAA, used the occasion of his speech to congratulate the CFTPA for its part in shutting down start-up Internet retransmitter ICraveTV. He told the audience: "When a web site in Canada called ICrave started taking Canadian and American TV station signals without permission, reducing the size of the program on the screen and then selling advertising in the blank space without any compensation to anyone, the CFTPA and Canadian broadcasters joined American producers and broadcasters in a fight for creative integrity. ICrave was forced to shut down."It was a great victory for copyright protection. It was a special triumph for Canada's creative legions. That is the kind of international cooperation which must be on display as the Internet and broadband access grow exponentially." He added that, "Canada, like every other country, must protect its creative property because, in the digital age, that property is always prey to thievery."While many observers view the whole of Valenti's speech as a warning of tough talks at upcoming World Trade Organization discussions, some say his comments about copyright protection are also significant. "I don't see how there can be any doubt that Valenti and the MPAA is strongly supportive of the DMCA and will push for similar legislation in Canada," Michael Geist, University of Ottawa law professor and Internet copyright expert, tells Canadian NEW MEDIA. "The choice of ICraveTV as an example is illustrative - two legal systems addressing the issue in different ways, but Valenti says the international cooperation (read U.S. enforcement) is needed on copyright issues."Valenti himself, however, says Canadian legislators shouldn't read too much into his comments. Asked following his speech whether he has taken an active involvement in the current Canadian round of copyright reform, he told CNM: "I'm not aware of it. I'm not trying to tell them, either. I'm just telling them today, you are producers and distributors of Canadian films and you better have some way to protect your material or everybody is going to steal it on you."Douglas Frith, head of the CMPDA, agrees, telling CNM: "(Valenti's comments) were more in terms of the combined efforts of the CMPDA, MPAA and broadcasters and the CFTPA ensuring that in response - just on the limited issue of ICraveTV, that we got the government to understand the value of copyright, and what it meant to public policy in Canada if it weren't to be upheld. But don't read into it more than that."However, several sources have indicated that they view Valenti's remarks as support for DMCA-style reform of this country's copyright laws. The CMPDA was one of hundreds of organizations and individuals to respond to a first-round comment phase on proposed changes to the Copyright Act undertaken by the departments of Canadian Heritage and Industry Canada. Valenti is considered one of the prime architects and supporters of the American legislation.

Observers read call to copyright reform in Valenti’s Canadian speech February 7

Broadcast | February 22, 2002

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