Act to Amend the Copyright Act

We, the undersigned, are concerned that Bill C-61, an Act to Amend the Copyright Act, upon first reading, could discourage information technology professionals from conducting research into computer and network security. Specifically, we are concerned the exemptions in Section 41 are too narrow, and would put researchers who circumvent technological measures at risk of legal or criminal action. Therefore we are asking the government to prohibit the circumvention of technological measures only in cases where the party is circumventing them for the purpose of copyright infringement. We are asking for an amendment to Bill C-61 that would change section 41.1 of Bill C-61 to read “No person shall circumvent a technological measure within the meaning of paragraph (a) of the definition “technological measure” in section 41 for the purpose of violating the rights of a copyright owner …” and to remove sections 41.1 through 41.21.