Huffington Post: Is Canada about to sell out on copyright law?

The latest round of talks on the Trans-Pacific Partnership may have concluded, but the controversy continues on the effects the TPP may have on Canadians' Internet use. When we presented your comments and messages from OpenTheTPP.net directly to TPP lobbyists last week, Canada's chief negotiator refused to comment on whether the TPP would overwrite current copyright laws. The silence and secrecy surrounding this devastating trade agreement needs to end. Join us in speaking out at StopTheTrap.net and stay tuned for a full report-back of OpenMedia's presentation to TPP officials. Article by Daniel Tencer for The Huffington Post A prominent consumers’ advocate says he’s worried Canada will sell out its new copyright law in favour of tough new restrictions on consumers as part of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal. Steve Anderson, executive director of OpenMedia, says Canada’s chief negotiator at the TPP talks, Kirsten Hillman, would not answer a question on whether Canada would fight to maintain the copyright policies it put into effect earlier this year.

Anderson says he asked Hillman during a stakeholders’ question-and-answer session in New Zealand last week if she would commit to not overwriting copyright laws as part of the TPP agreement.

“She just sat there without reply,” Anderson told The Huffington Post Canada during an online chat. “The audience of mostly lobbyists, and TPP bureaucrats erupted with laughter.”

OpenMedia and other consumer advocates groups have previously warned that the TPP represents an “internet trap” that would potentially make small-scale file-sharing a matter of criminal law, and would criminalize some other common uses of the internet such as mash-ups.

Anderson concluded from Hillman’s response that “our digital policy is on the chopping block in the TPP.” Read more »

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