The opinions expressed in this editorial are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Decima Reports.

Earlier this month Guy Mayson, president and CEO of the Canadian Film and Television Production Association (CTFPA) responded to the CRTC’s call for submissions on mobile video services and the possible application of the New Media Exemption Order to them (PN 2005-82). In his letter, excerpted below, Mayson argues the proposed services from Bell, Rogers and Telus are clearly broadcasting undertakings, and therefore fall outside the exemption order.

Vancouver-based mobile entertainment content developer Mobile Operandi has a new chief executive. Bill Bryant is a veteran of online shopping firm Netbot Inc. as well as Qpass, a digital content management software firm, and has been involved with more than 20 high-tech and Internet firms over the past 10 years. Bryant will head up the firm’s new U.S. headquarters in Seattle, to open later this year.

Montreal’s FNC film fest gets Sympatico site
The Festival du Nouveau Cinéma de Montreal (Montreal New Film Festival) will partner with web portal Sympatico MSN and interactive content marketer Tribal Nova to bring the experience of web TV to the festival. Sympatico’s High Speed Zone/zone haute vitesse will host a festival microsite featuring technical information and extracts from more than 60 of the works appearing at the festival, which takes place October 13 to 23, as well as a daily schedule of events. The Sympatico presence will augment the festival’s main web site at www.nouveaucinema.ca.

In Ottawa this week to kick off a campaign to protect "products of the mind," the Canadian Recording Industry Association’s president urged the federal government to adopt tougher measures against unauthorized file sharers, in line with other nations, when it considers a bill to revise the Copyright Act this fall.

A panel of new media practitioners issued a clear message to the traditional broadcast animation industry at the recent 2005 Ottawa International Animation Festival: get ready for the future.

A tax credit program launched in 2003 for BC-based new media small businesses has survived a provincial election – and its own success – to grow to serve nearly twice as many firms this year.