|
August 25, 2010: Freelancers Day, September 24th!
PWAC Vice-President Craig Silverman sent us this link to an online conference you may not wish to miss.
Read here: http://www.internationalfreelancersday.com/
August 11, 2010: Keep up and help PWAC lobby for fair copyright
Writers need to understand what's at stake in the proposed new law governing copyright administration in Canada. As you know, one of the dangers in the bill as drafted threatens the very existence of an organization PWAC founded along with other writers organizations and our publishing partners. Former PWAC Executive Director John Degen is deeply engaged in the public discourse on the issue, even directly challenging those who advocate for positions that threaten writers' income. PWAC needs our members to help us challenge decision makers to amend the draft bill to achieve balance and preserve the value of our works. In a recent blog John makes a very reasonable and accesible analysis of the issue:
"On his Excess Copyright blog, lawyer Howard Knopf is advocating to have folks complain to the Copyright Board about a recent Access Copyright tariff proposal. Notice the clever similarity between Knopf's blog-name and the name of Canada's Copyright Licensing Agency. It's no accident. Knopf is a long-time critic of collective copyright licensing in Canada."
Please read the rest here: http://johndegen.blogspot.com/2010/08/real-cost-of-education.html
August 09, 2010: What is a book?
Thank your favourite deity for John Degen's eagle eye on copyright issues. As we continue to call for amendments to Canada's proposed new copyright act, our former ED tracks developments that have major implications for authors and publishers. For instance, this peice describes a new tool for pirates and gives a good lesson on fundamental principles:
http://johndegen.blogspot.com/2010/08/soul-stealing-contemplating-book.html
August 06, 2010: A voice of sanity on copyright...from academe!
Canadian copyright expert Barry Sookman sourced a paper everyone should take into account as we move toward a new copyright act:
"Professor Alina Ng, Assistant Professor of Law at the Mississippi College School of Law, recently published a paper arguing that the protection of individual rights in literary and artistic works besides encouraging creativity for progress also brings into the copyright system a normative order for social conduct that advances society towards the goal of progress."
http://www.barrysookman.com/2010/08/05/blog-property-and-progress-made-possible-by-respecting-copyrights/
August 05, 2010: A change has gotta come...
Rebecca Rosen Lum, a colleague from the US, reports on a recent survey that reminds us (and the publishing community if they'll listen) that the often touted "new business model" for quality journalism in the 21st century better come along soon or their won't be anyone left to provide the content.
http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/site/?q=node/7889
| 
