Creators coalition takes out full-page ad demanding changes to C-32 copyright bill

In a last ditch attempt to influence the outcome of current discussions about C-32, amending Canada's copyright legislation, a coalition of organizations representing creators' groups have paid for a full-page ad in the first section of today's Globe and Mail.The open letter addressed to Tony Clement and Heritage Minister James Moore is signed by dozens of Canadian writers and artists. 

The ad is underwritten by the Canadian Authors Association, the League of Canadian Poets, the Writers' Union of Canada, the Professional Writers Association of Canada, the Playwrights Guild of Canada, the Literary Translators Association of Canada and the Canadian Society of Children's Authors, Illustrators and Performers.

It says the draft law expropriates income that sustains Canadian writers and artists and threatening to provoke years of expensive litigation.  (The coalition's is critical of the inclusion of "education" in the "fair use" provisions, which would effectively exempt educational institutions from copying books and articles, although that's not the only one of problems it identifies.)

The ad calls on supporters to e-mail and write the special Parliamentary commitee on C-32 demanding changes to the law and to go to Copyrightgetitright for further information. The central, boldfaced message of the ad is:

"The legislation is unacceptable. There's still a chance to do the right thing. There's still a chance to get copyright right. Don't do it for us. Do it for Canada."