Tim Lougheed
At first glance, discussions about copyright would seem to be the stuff of dreary legal papers, published in the kinds of journals that only an academic could love. However, when law professor Michael Geist begins talking about copyright, the whole field becomes relevant, important, and utterly compelling.
In fact, his passion for the subject is downright infectious. Geist has made a busy avocation out of showing Canadians how aspects of copyright are infiltrating our everyday lives. At the same time, his experience and understanding of this complex field has placed him at the forefront of debates over how copyright principles should be applied.
Those debates might have stayed within the confines of law schools had it not been for his ongoing efforts to heighten public awareness of the growing role of copyright in our society. Having dealt with the matter on his website, in regular newspaper columns, and on numerous radio and television interviews, Geist has kicked up his efforts another notch.
In early December, he launched Why Copyright?: Canadian Voices on Copyright Law, a 47-minute documentary video readily accessible at www.copyrightvoices.ca. Produced in collaboration with filmmaker and law student Daniel Albahary, this work explores the many different ways in which copyright affects all of us, as told by some of the key individuals currently affected.
Twenty-four individuals appear providing a wide range of perspectives and intriguing personal accounts. Toronto lawyer Jeremy Teplinsky, a Faculty of Law alumnus, recounts how he first encountered the anti-copying software that Sony hid on otherwise typical music CDs, the now notorious “rootkit” that fundamentally changes a computer’s operating system, in some cases crippling the entire machine. British Columbia artist, Gordon Duggan, defends his ability to appropriate other works in order to create new forms of expression. As well, University of Ottawa librarian, Leslie Weir, envisions how the nature of her job could be irrevocably compromised by copyright restrictions.
For Geist, this diversity of views is essential. “Part of the goal was to ensure viewers heard from people that typically don’t get heard from on this issue, and to demonstrate just how pervasive this issue is,” he explains. “It isn’t just a few law professors or some “downloaders” that we are talking about it. But rather the implications of the kind of copyright reform that’s being considered has implications for such a broad spectrum of people, from creators to education. Almost everybody is touched in some way.”
In Canada, such reform took specific form last June in the form of Bill C-61, legislation that mirrored the harsh restrictions imposed by the US Digital Millennium Copyright Act. The move prompted a broad public outcry, since the proposed law would restrict the potential uses of popular technologies such as digital video recorders and music players, as well as hemming in various sorts of artistic or scholarly projects.
Geist cites his own reaction as his incentive for creating the documentary, which showcases the full extent of the bill’s impact. More than 5,000 people viewed the video during the first week that it was available, confirming the widespread interest in copyright. As part of the feedback he has received, different people cite examples especially pertinent to them, underscoring the significance of the topic.
He adds that the documentary uses a creative commons license, enabling its content to be shared more extensively. That move also reflects his ultimate goal, which is to continue raising public consciousness in preparation for further attempts to alter copyright legislation.
