Reimagine CBC

Reimagine CBC is a solutions-focused community igniting a national conversation to reimagine the role of public media in the age of participation.

The CBC is in the process of conducting a major strategic review both internally and through outside regulators. The question is, who will shape the CBC of the future? We think Canadians should.

Add your ideas to the forum or make a post on social media via Facebook or Twitter. And don't forget to vote for your favourite ideas.

NOTE: Reimagine CBC is a project of OpenMedia.ca and LeadNow.ca and is not officially affiliated with the CBC in any way.

The Copyright Pledge Gains Momentum

The Green Party and NDP Candidates On Board ...

Will you commit to a balanced approach to copyright reform that reflects the views of all Canadians by pledging:

1. To respect the rights of creators and consumers,
2. Not to support any copyright bill that undermines or weakens the Copyright Act’s users rights,
3. To fully consult with Canadians before introducing any copyright reform bill and to conduct inclusive, national hearings on any tabled bill ?
   

• Yes
• No
  

En Francais : Vous engagerez-vous dans une approche équilibrée de la réforme sur le droit d'auteur qui reflète les opinions de tous les Canadiens et Canadiennes en promettant:

1. de respecter les droits des créateurs et des consommateurs
2. de ne pas supporter tout projet de loi sur le droit d'auteur détruisant ou diminuant les droits des utilisateurs face à la Loi sur le droit d'auteur
3. de consulter pleinement les Canadiens et Canadiennes avant d'introduire toute réforme sur le droit d'auteur et de tenir des audiences nationales inclusives sur tout projet de loi proposé.

• Oui
• Non

This was the question being put to politicians last week, as part of the 2008 Election Copyright Pledge that focused on three commitments for copyright reform in Canada :

• respecting both creators and consumers,
• ensuring that any reforms do not undermine or weaken user rights such as fair dealing, and
• committing to full public consultations on any reforms before introducing a bill and inclusive hearings once tabled.

The initial reaction to the pledge has been very strong.
The Green Party (as a party) has agreed to the pledge. In addition, the following NDP MPs have added their names as supporters:

• Charlie Angus, New Democrat MP, Timmins-James Bay, ON
• Olivia Chow, New Democrat MP, Trinity-Spadina, ON
• Libby Davies, New Democrat MP, Vancouver East, BC
  
• Michael Byers, New Democrat Candidate, Vancouver Centre, BC
• Anne Lagacé Dowson, New Democrat Candidate, Westmount, QC
• Phil Brown, New Democrat Candidate, Nepean-Carleton, ON
• John Chan, New Democrat Candidate, Calgary Centre-North, AB
• Tyler Kinch, New Democrat Candidate, Calgary Centre, AB

There is still time before the election to raise the issue with local candidates.

Everyone but Conservative: 4 parties share arts platforms in Ottawa

Last Wednesday, hundreds of people from Ottawa's arts community heard how the federal government will support arts and culture — but only if the Conservatives are NOT elected during the federal election on Oct. 14.

Following noisy rallies in Montreal and Toronto, artists in Ottawa held the bilingual "Vote Culture Town Hall" at the University of Ottawa campus, inviting candidates from all five major parties.

Not one Tory candidate showed up to field questions and hear concerns about arts, culture and heritage policies and funding.

Home Movie Day is just around the corner

Bring your home movies to the Film Reference Library from August 20 to October 3 [2008], for a free inspection and evaluation.

Films will also be considered for the curated programme screening, during the sixth annual Home Movie Day at Cinematheque Ontario in the Art Gallery of Ontario.

Admission is FREE and attendance is not contingent on having a film in the programme. For more information, visit the Film Reference Library website at filmreferencelibrary.ca.

Who owns ideas now?

When you download music or text from the web, you may be innocently breaking the law. Jim Lebans, a producer with CBC Radio’s Quirks and Quarks, looks at the tangled world of intellectual property and how the digital age is challenging ideas about who owns our culture. These legal rights were established over hundreds of years to reward creators of ideas, but at the same time preserve and protect the public's right to access and make use of the expression of ideas.

Click through to listen to a formal discussion about the new reality of intellectual property and copyright.

A picnic-basket full of ideas

From 24 to 26 September 2008, thousands of creative minds from all over the world will come together in Amsterdam for the third PICNIC