CNM Update

Canadian Heritage earmarks millions for copyright portalsCanadian Heritage will spend $2.7 million to develop online copyright clearing portals in conjunction with three organizations: Access Copyright (formerly CanCopy), COPIBEC and Alberta-based RightsMarket Inc. The funding will go toward a sophisticated new online system to facilitate access to and use of existing copyrighted works. Access Copyright will receive $962,889, COPIBEC $868,876 and RightsMarket $914,765. The funding is a second round for RightsMarket, which received $787,392 last winter to develop a prototype system for the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (CNM Update, March 13/02). That trial system is now up and running. Finance committee recommends bolstering R&D, reducing regulatory burdenThe House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance tabled its report November 20 with several recommendations to boost R&D spending and make it more equitable, as well as taking a close look at the regulatory burden that might be stifling innovation.Its recommendations include: The federal government should increase funds for the federal granting councils and, in so doing, ensure that the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada receives an appropriate share of the allocation. Moreover, the federal granting councils and the Canada Foundation for Innovation should consider the concerns of smaller universities and colleges when disbursing funds, and should ensure that they do not face discrimination. The federal government, in the next budget, should provide a permanent program for financing the indirect costs of federally funded research. A permanent program financing 40% of the indirect costs of federally funded research should be implemented in the next budget. The federal government should simplify the process by which firms access the Scientific Research and Experimental Development investment tax credit. Moreover, a change should be made that would allow the credit to be better utilized by a company during periods that are not profitable so as to act as a continuing incentive to invest in research and development. The federal government should create a commercialization office within Industry Canada. The mandate of this office would be efforts leading to the commercialization of research undertaken in Canada. The federal government should ensure that the rights embodied in patent and copyright protections are vigorously defended. The federal government should develop a mechanism by which existing and future policies and programs would be assessed to determine their impact on productivity and the incentive to undertake research and development in Canada. Particular attention should be paid to the impact of regulations in these areas." Snuff film results in obscenity fineThe Globe and Mail reports that Donald Smith of Northern Ontario has been fined $100,000 for selling simulated snuff films online. The prosecution is a first for Internet obscenity, according to the Globe. The fine was imposed by the Ontario Superior Court judge Helen Pierce. The conviction lends weight to the arguments of those who feel hate laws in Canada are adequate to prevent illegal content from being accessed online. Ontario digital media fund announcement comingOntario Ministry of Enterprise, Opportunity and Innovation official David Kennedy says an industry rumour about a mid-December announcement about Interactive Digital Media Fund winners is likely premature but that an early new year announcement is forthcoming. Several projects are expected to win some large grants, likely for a total of around $3.6 million. The fund has been on hiatus since the spring of 2001 while government officials reviewed the project and how it could best invest its remaining dollars (CNM, July 25/01). The fund was first launched in 1999 with a $10-million envelope. Six projects, including the Liberty Village New Media Centre, were among the early winners. Kennedy is tight with details at this point but says the January announcement will be a first step in disbursing the rest of the funds. The ministry received 17 applications in its latest call for proposals, which are currently under review. BPCI changes name to reflect mandateThe Bureau des producteurs en contenu interactif (BPCI) has changed its name to le Regroupement des producteurs multimédia (RPM) to better reflect the activities of its members. In a media release, president René Lepire said the interests of the group’s 200-300 producers are across a broad range of media, as reflected in the new name. Lepire also confirmed at the group’s AGM that it would receive $150,000 in funding over two years from the Alliance NumériQC to carry out its lobby efforts. Lepire has previously told Canadian NEW MEDIA that funding would be used to hire legal staff as it conducts negotiations with groups such as the Union des Artistes (CNM, July 10/02). Bill C-11 before Senate December 5The Senate Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology will examine on December 5 Bill C-11 – formerly Bill C-48 – dealing with amendments to the Copyright Act to deny Internet retransmitters the protection of a compulsory licence. Witnesses will include representatives of Canadian Heritage and Industry Canada, the Canadian Association of Broadcasters, the Canadian Film and Television Production Association, the Canadian Motion Picture Distributors Association and the Canadian Cable Television Association. The committee members are expected to proceed to a clause-by-clause examination of the bill immediately following presentations by witnesses. Sheridan to hold open houseStaff and students in Sheridan College’s interactive multimedia program are holding an open house featuring the school’s new SMART boards – video projection screens that are also touch pads. The open house will be held on December 10 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. in rooms S138 and S139 of the Oakville Trafalgar Campus SCAET building. For further information, contact Dan Zen at (905) 840-9430. STTA signs up new content memberThe newly named SMART Toronto Technology Alliance has signed up Left of Centre Productions as a new member, just weeks after the organization absorbed the Liberty Village New Media Centre and promised content players a strong voice (CNM, Nov. 14/02). Left of Centre is an animation and filmmaking partnership whose works are currently being featured on Skydome’s Jumbotron and the Air Canada Centre’s suspended scoreboard. Holiday "Thank U" from Bell to subscribersBell Canada and Sympatico.ca have announced a free, exclusive webcast on December 15 of Alanis Morisette’s Toronto concert for Sympatico high-speed Internet subscribers. The concert will be a test of Sympatico’s new "Virtual Stadium" technology to manage traffic and streaming quality to a broad audience. The system restricts, opens and segments Internet traffic based on variables including the speed and access provider. "This is new territory for sympatico.ca, and an Internet traffic segmentation project of this magnitude is a first in Canada," reads a media release announcing the webcast. Delvinia, Salvation Army launch donor drive siteDelvinia Inc., Splashworks.com and the Salvation Army have launched an e-marketing campaign in support of the Salvation Army’s annual Christmas donation drive. A new web site allows people to create and send animated virtual Christmas trees to friends and family while also gently reminding people to give to the campaign.

CNM Update

Broadcast | December 4, 2002

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