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Shifty-eyed internet law expert saying things on national TV again

Defamation

can am marci ienLibel! Tweets! Hockey! If there was ever a story the media would come calling to yours truly, it’s this one. Quick background for those too lazy to read the linked article – TSN rebroadcast a defamatory tweet on TV. Whoopsie! Said tweet involved two Toronto Maple Leafs and Elisha Cuthbert, and is rated NC-17 for language and sexual situations. Here’s some defamation background for you. The players and Cuthbert want to sue TSN and the original tweeter. TSN is owned by Bell, who also partly own the Leafs. Awwwwkward.

Unfortunately still no embeddable video from CTV, so you’ll have to click over there to watch it. Please ignore the blinking and “you know”s. Ugh.

Oh and btw, the delightful Marci Ien refers to me as “legal specialist on all things internet, lawyer Allen Mendelsohn” in her intro. Please put that on my tombstone.

Bell wants to appeal “net neutrality” decision

Regulatory regime in Canada, The Courts

All bits are equal - fucking A

Net neutrality is VERY important dammit. For the internet legal types (hello!) it’s always one of the most important topics of discussion around the ol’ water cooler. So when a communications behemoth like Bell decides to appeal a big neutrality decision, it should be a huge story. Like earlier this week, when it was widely reported that Bell Mobility filed some appeal documents in the Federal Court of Canada. But there are some real misconceptions about all this that yours truly is here to clear up in my usual irascible way.

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All malware in Canada disappears today! w00t!!!!!

Internet law basics

mbam-antimalware-goI could not let today pass without commemorating this historic occasion. As of today, thanks to our government’s efforts, malware, and indeed all unwanted software, is disappearing forever. All hail the glory!

As you know because you read this blog diligently, today is the day that the computer software provisions of CASL (the Anti-Spam Law) come into force. I already explained all this late last year, so I will not do it again. I will remind you that section 8 and related provisions of CASL that are in force as of today are designed to eliminate malware and indeed, all unwanted software and software updates and upgrades from your computers and devices. No doubt the government’s sledgehammer approach is working, and we can say goodbye to malware forever.

The people of Canada never thought it would be possible for the government to abolish malware and other unwanted software. However, they managed it and all Canadian businesses and digital users are over the moon. For the rest of the world, there are still many countries impacted by malware and other viruses that can cause big problems for businesses. Many companies still have to ensure their devices have been protected against unwanted malware by using the services offered by https://www.fleetsmith.com/, and other companies similar. By doing that, companies feel more secure when using their devices and handling client data. Hopefully, other countries will follow in Canada’s footsteps soon.

I would type more, but this weird pop-up box keeps showing up on my screen every time I hit enter. Maybe this Ask.com toolbar will have some answers as to how to fix that. Where did that come from?

Internet law expert says things on TV

Copyright, Site meta

canada am screen shot3This morning noted internet law expert Allen Mendelsohn (who?) appeared on CTV’s Canada AM to opine about the update to the Copyright Act that came into effect today. It’s called the “notice and notice regime” and I’ve written about it before. Wow, 3 years ago! Everything I wrote is still valid though, as the government did not change or add one word to the law since then. Lazy government.

Anyway, god forbid CTV should have an embeddable video player, so here are some links:

Just the video

Actual news story with quotes from somebody you know (plus the video)

My new year’s resolution is to media whore like it’s 1999. So far so good. I’ll be on CJAD tomorrow at 7:10 AM, CKNW on Sunday at 4:30 PM (EST) and on other radio stations Monday morning. Just waiting on The National. Call me, CBC!

Happy Holidays and Goodbye 2014

Site meta, Uncategorized

AM_colbert_card2014Wow, 2014 is coming to end quickly! I barely had time to stop writing 2013 on my checks. I’ll always remember 2014 as the year spam disappeared forever, thanks to the Canadian government.

This here is my annual Happy Holidays post, wherein I thank all of you awesome loyal (and semi-loyal, and disloyal) readers for being there, for reading, for commenting, and for generally being awesome while I wish you the religious or secular Happy Holidays of your choice. So, uh, done I guess.

See you in 2015. I hope the internet will still be around.

Rough waters for the Pirate Bay this week

Commentary, Copyright

rough waters pirate bayYou know an internet law story is real news when the national media calls me. I’m obviously the most important and telegenic internet law expert in Canada. While my CTV Canada AM appearance was cancelled at the last minute, CBC online contacted me yesterday for a comment on the Pirate Bay raid and torrents in general for an article that should be up soon (update – voilà). Is the Pirate Bay sunk? Let’s review. And speculate wildly! My specialty!

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The Anti-Spam Law isn’t just about spam – let’s install some computer programs

Internet law basics, Regulatory regime in Canada

Floppy_disk_2009_G1Oh sure, we’ve written about how stupid CASL (Canada’s Anti-Spam Law) is around here many times. Basically because it’s stupid. But we’ve always focused on the actual spam parts of the law. However coming very soon, another part of the law is going to come into effect. And finally, last week the CRTC provided some guidelines on the subject. So we better take a look at this business about installing computer programs. Is it as stupid as the spam parts? We’ll see! Maybe you would like to consider computer repairs after reading this article then you may want to consider Steve’s computer repair service, it is always important to make sure that you do have a working healthy computer when installing computer programs to make sure that you do not get any viruses.

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The CRTC vs. Netflix – POW! SOK! BLAM!

Regulatory regime in Canada

netflixcan

What do you get when you mix Canada’s broadcasting regulator and the company that defines the future of “television”? Fisticuffs! Well, not really, we’re talking about bureaucrats here. But we do get a heated discussion, and Netflix sticking it to the man. We also get internet lawyers on TV. What’s this all about? ONLY THE FUTURE OF BROADCASTING AND INTERNET VIDEO IN CANADA. Which is why they put me on TV I guess. Lemme explain.

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This hugely important Google case will be going on for a while…

The Courts

guilty guilty guilty

Within 14 days of the date of this judgment, Google Inc. is to cease indexing or referencing in search results on its internet search engines the websites contained in Schedule A…

– Supreme Court of British Columbia

I would not blame you if you thought that order above was from the Google Right to be Forgotten case. It is not. It is from Canada. And it will be seriously precedent-setting. Well, if the appeals don’t gut it first. We’re a long way from this being over, but we’ve had two important decisions so far, the most recent one last week, so I guess I better chronicle them so when we end up in the Supreme Court of Canada in three years, I can just refer back to this post because I’m lazy. Let’s dive in.

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Happy Anti-Spam Day!

Commentary

spammmmmmm

Sure, it’s Canada Day, but well, this is much more important. CASL is in effect as of today! Yay! Booooooo. I have absolutely no desire to write about this stupid fucking law again, so go read the archives. I might also suggest this excellent substantive FAQ from Barry Sookman he posted yesterday.

I am pleased to report that in all seven of my email accounts, I have yet to receive a single piece of spam today! Well done, government! It works! Oh wait, here’s one. Larger penis, eh? Ooh look, some pharmacy-grade viagra to go with it! Well that was fun while it lasted.