Astral To Launch Online Service In December
Astral Radio will be launching a online music service in December, which will be followed by a mobile compatible service in January.
The bilingual on demand streaming music and music video service will feature major and independent recordings and will be compatible with the major social media sites.
Additional information on this service can be found on this press release.
Interesting British Report
A British firm has published an interesting report in which many Internet provider provider myths are dispelled.
Plum Consulting has found that many of the claims used to justify internet access fees are exaggerated, echoing numerous other reports that came to the same conclusions.
In regards to Canada, OpenMedia.ca has discussed the issue with several Members of Parliament in the hopes something can be done to keep the internet open and affordable. A copy of their report is available for Canadians to send to their local MP.
Bell To Phase Out Throttling
Bell has stated that they would be phasing out throttling in a letter to its business partners :
“Effective November 2011, new links implemented by Bell to augment our DNS network may not be subject to Technical Internet Traffic Management Practices (ITMP).”
The letter then continues to mention that there will be higher speeds for users, including users who use peer to peer services.
TVO Documentary on Record Collectors
Just thought I’d bump an interesting documentary on record collectors called “Vinyl“, which will air tonight on TVO at 9 PM Eastern and tomorrow at 12 AM Eastern.
It is also available for viewing online by Canadians via the TVO web site.
Bill C-11 Debate Scheduled For Today
Bill C-11 is scheduled to be debated in the House Of Commons today, apparently under time restraints according to the Projected Order Of Business.
Hopefully the questions on the technological protection measures will be blunt and to the point :
- In what manner are artists and copyright owners harmed by private copying from copy protected works ? And why does this harm not exist in private copying from works that are not copy protected ?
- In what manner are film makers harmed by the private viewing of legally purchased films that failed to be distributed in Canada ? And does the sale of this material to Canadians by legitimate retailers and distributors not imply consent to their private use by Canadians ?
The Private Copying section of our Copyright Act distinguished private use from piracy and in my opinion the technical protection measures provisions in Bill C-11 are a step back.
Associations Against Digital Locks
Here is a short list of Canadian groups that are against the technological protection measure provisions in Bill C-11 :
- The Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada
- The Business Coalition For Balanced Copyright
- The Canadian Association of University Teachers
- The Canadian Consumer Initiative
- The Canadian Council Of Archives
- The Canadian Federation of Students
- The Canadian Library Association
- The Canadian Teacher’s Federation
- The Documentary Association Of Canada
- The Retail Council of Canada
- RICE – Jones Graduate School of Business
All of the parties in opposition in Parliament had voiced concerns about these provisions on November 2nd, 2010.