Proposed Canadian Copyright Reform — Bill C-61

After much anticipation, the federal government released Bill C-61, An Act to Amend the Copyright Act. If passed, the Bill will (i) amend the Copyright Act in order to implement the World Intellectual Property Organization Copyright Treaty (WCT) and Performances and Phonograms Treaty (WPPT), (ii) create exceptions for certain uses of copyright material for private purposes, (iii) create exceptions for Internet service providers (ISPs), and (iv) permit certain uses for educational and research purposes of Internet and other digital technologies.

Bill C-61 passed its first reading in the House of Commons on June 12, 2008, but died on the order paper when the Conservative Party called a federal election on September 7, 2008. Thus it met the fate of its predecessor, Bill C-60, which also attempted to reform copyright law consistent with the WCT and WPPT treaties.