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 0

October 28, 2021 00:41:18
Episode Cover

Episode 69: Bram Abramson on the Government's Plan to Regulate Internet Streaming Services

Last week, Canadian Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault introduced Bill C-10, legislation that would significantly reform Canada’s Broadcasting Act. A foundational part of what he...

Listen

Episode

December 12, 2022 00:16:45
Episode Cover

Episode 150: How Will Canada Regulate News and Streaming - My Appearance on TVO’s The Agenda

The government’s two big Internet bills - Bill C-11 and Bill C-18, both made significant advances late last week. The Senate Transport and Communications...

Listen

Episode 0

October 28, 2021 00:28:00
Episode Cover

Episode 52: Fair Dealing for Film Makers - Bob Tarantino on the Copyright Implications of the Room Full of Spoons Case

Dubbed by some as the worst film ever made, The Room has become a cult-like film classic. Written, directed, produced and starring Tommy Wiseau,...

Listen