Music Technology

Library and Archives Canada’s Secret Deal

I’ve been keeping an eye out for details on this secret deal for several days now, since the Ottawa Citizen broke the story.

Apparently Library and Archives Canada has decided to contract out their digital conversion. And instead of consulting the archivists of Canada, they entered into secret negotiations with canadiana.org in exchange for an exclusive contract that would last ten years.

Unfortunately this deal may translate into user fees for Canadians who want to access anything considered other than “basic” on the database. And the Ottawa Citizen article mentions a $10 per month fee for this online access, making some wonder why Canadians need to pay to access their own material.

Having accessed these services for decades for free, I am concerned that these fees may shut out researchers like yours truly. Will I be able to access this database for free at the Archives in Ottawa ? Will individuals have access through their public library for free ? Will students be able to access the database via their university or college for free ?

Yes, it is quite expensive and time consuming to digitize material. But what will happen after that contract expires ? The public has clearly not been consulted and were not given answers as to what is involved here.
And this is why I signed the openmedia.org petition and may also consider contacting my local Member of Parliament over this issue.

Please consider doing this as well on this Canada Day weekend.

June 29th, 2013 Comments Off on Library and Archives Canada’s Secret Deal Canadian Law, Consumer Information, Music Industry, Music Technology Rob McIntyre

From The Warner Vault

June 27th, 2013 Comments Off on From The Warner Vault Consumer Information, Music Technology Rob McIntyre

Good Morning or Happy Birthday ?

Say, did you know that you can’t sing “Happy Birthday To You” on Youtube ?

That’s right. The age old tune is still copyrighted and to use it you need to pay up.

It doesn’t matter whether it’s an adult or group of children that sings it. And when a film production company called Good Morning To You Productions Inc made a documentary about the songs history, they were required to pay a $1,500 synchronization license fee to use it on their film.

Had this company not paid they would have been liable up to $150,000 in damaged for copyright infringement so they paid up. But of course they also decided to launch a class action lawsuit in the United States District Court representing the Southern District of New York, on behalf of all who were forced to pay to use this song.

The composition was originally entitled “Good Morning To All” and composed in 1893 by Patty Smith Hill and her sister Mildred Hill. And the copyright to that song of course expired in 1921 in the States. But a change in lyrics in 1924 and a different arrangement in 1935 caused the copyright to linger.

Fast forward to 2013.

The plaintiffs claim that they have evidence dating the traditional lyrics to 1911. This would date both the composition and traditional lyrics to over 75 years, rendering both public domain.

They also dispute whether copyright was actually established in 1924 because Robert H. Coleman was only credited for compiling, editing and publishing “Harvest Hymns”, a songbook which featured the melody and lyrics to “Happy Birthday To You”.

The class action lawsuit also alleges that copyright for “Happy Birthday To You” had not been established in several subsequent publications and copyright registrations.

What’s annoying about this is that in Canada there’s no dispute whether this song is public domain with lyrics or not. But everything that is uploaded to Youtube is subject to American law so hold off uploading your birthday videos guys and gals until this is settled.

June 17th, 2013 Comments Off on Good Morning or Happy Birthday ? Canadian Law, Music Industry, Music Technology Rob McIntyre

Privacy Threats Not Limited To The United States ?

Everyone has heard about the Verizon data mining performed by the United States government in the name of national security. But are you aware that it might be happening in Canada as well ?

Communications Security Establishment Canada is a security agency that collects various information to protect national interests and according to Ronald Diebert there is a possibility that they are collecting data right now.

Like in the United States this data is likely just cross referenced because it would take an enormous effort to listen to every call or read every email, for example. But we should ask ourselves if this information is stored securely enough so that it cannot be accessed by someone else and how long this data remain accessible, waiting to be abused.

A June 13th, 2013 press release from Commissioner Robert Décary of the Communications Security Establishment Canada addresses some of the issues and he states that the “CSEC does not direct its foreign signals intelligence collection and IT security activities at Canadians — wherever they might be in the world — or at any person in Canada.” But he also confirmed that the CSEC may “unintentionally intercept a communication that originates or terminates in Canada” and that metadata is being collected by the CSEC “for purposes of providing intelligence on foreign entities located outside Canada and to protect information infrastructures of importance to the government”.

We’ve already had serious security breaches with data stored on hard drives and USB sticks within the past six month courtesy of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, who managed to loose a hard drive containing data on over half a million Canadians in January and a USB key containing private information on an additional 5000 Canadians in December. And in 1999 we had sensitive top secret documents stolen from a CSIS agent’s car while he was at a Toronto Maple Leafs game so Canadians should know what is being stored and by whom.

If you are concerned about this issue contact your local Member of Parliament and/or sign this petition.

Thank you.

June 16th, 2013 Comments Off on Privacy Threats Not Limited To The United States ? Consumer Information, Music Technology Rob McIntyre

News For eBook and App users


Canadians can now pre-order the Kindle Fire HD Tablets and order Android Apps from Amazon.ca..

The standard Kindle Fire HD has a 7″ color display in 720p and comes either with 16GB or 32 GB. The Kindle Fire HD Tablet 8.9″ is also available in 16GB or 32 GB and has an 8.9″ display with a 1080p resolution. Both include Dolby stereo virtual surround sound, a front facing HD camera and unlimited cloud storage for Amazon content.

You will also notice that accessories are discounted on these pre-orders.

May 28th, 2013 Comments Off on News For eBook and App users Consumer Information, Music Technology Rob McIntyre

Redbox Expands In Canada

Redbox kiosks have now been placed in more retailers in Canada.

These kiosks, which are either located in a retailer or outdoors near the retailer’s entrance, offer movie rentals in both DVD and Blu-Ray. But unlike the Zip kiosks, they take reservations online and offer game rentals for Xbox 360, Wii and Playstation 3.

Though more expensive than Zip for DVD rentals at $1.50/day, Redbox also offers Blu-Ray rentals at $2/day so I will probably rent my Blu-rays from them when they decide to expand to my local grocery store or Walmart. The Zip kiosk location I currently rent from is some distance from my home.

May 7th, 2013 Comments Off on Redbox Expands In Canada Consumer Information, Music Technology Rob McIntyre