Copyright Modernization Act
The Copyright Modernization Act (French: Loi sur la modernisation du droit d’auteur), also known as Bill C-11, was introduced in the House of Commons of Canada on September 29, 2011 by Industry Minister Christian Paradis. It was virtually identical to the government's previous attempt to amend the Copyright Act, Bill C-32. Despite receiving unanimous opposition from all other parties, the Conservative Party of Canada was able to pass the bill due to their majority government. The bill received Royal Assent on June 29, 2012 becoming the first update to the Copyright Act since 1997.
| Copyright Modernization Act | |
|---|---|
| Parliament of Canada | |
Long title
| |
| Citation | S.C. 2012, c. 20 |
| Territorial extent | Canada |
| Passed by | House of Commons of Canada |
| Passed | 18 June 2012 |
| Passed by | Senate of Canada |
| Passed | 29 June 2012 |
| Royal assent | 29 June 2012 |
| Commenced | 7 November 2012 |
| Legislative history | |
| First chamber: House of Commons of Canada | |
| Bill citation | C-11, 41st Parliament, 1st Session |
| Introduced by | Minister of Industry and Minister of State (Agriculture) Christian Paradis |
| First reading | 29 September 2011 |
| Second reading | 13 February 2012 |
| Third reading | 18 June 2012 |
| Second chamber: Senate of Canada | |
| First reading | 18 June 2012 |
| Second reading | 21 June 2012 |
| Third reading | 29 June 2012 |
| Summary | |
| Legislative Summary | |
| Status: In force | |
The Act's anti-circumvention provisions have been called "the most restrictive in the world" and student groups compared it to the controversial Stop Online Piracy Act that was proposed in the United States. Ottawa lawyer Kathleen Simmons stated "If we take out the digital lock provisions, the bill appears to be very balanced. It introduces some additional protection for different rights holders and performers but it’s also introducing a lot of user-friendly exceptions." After the Copyright Modernization Act passed, debates over its digital lock provisions continued in House discussions on Bill C-56, the Combating Counterfeit Products Act.