Breaking Links: December 5

Via Boing BoingIndustry Minister Jim Prentice is refusing to discuss or defend the new Copyright bill he's introducing. If Prentice should change his mind Michael Geist has some good ones .

"I believe the Minister is running scared because he knows that the last two Ministers who tried to bring down a Canadian DMCA lost their jobs. Industry Canada has notified Search Engine that despite the overwhelming amount of concern expressed on this site by the Canadian public (see below), Minister Jim Prentice will not come on to our program to answer the people’s questions before his new copyright bill is introduced."

The MPAA has been forced to take down it's University Spyware because of a copyright violation.

"The MPAA refused multiple requests to provide the sources for their spyware, so an Ubuntu developer sent a DMCA notice to the MPAA's ISP and demanded that the material be taken down as infringing. "

Via Michael Geist: The songwriters association of Canada has called for Legalized P2P file sharing.

"The Songwriters Association of Canada has released an important new proposal calling for the legalization of peer-to-peer file sharing.  The SAC has proposed the creation of a new right - the Right to Equitable Remuneration for Music File Sharing.  The new right would make it legal to share music on peer-to-peer networks. "

Ouimet has a nice wrapup of the whole Chris Haddock/ Intelligence fiasco.

"The question is why would they be so hostile to the show? Who is feeling threatened by it? Is it the fact that I'm talking about dope, the narco-economy? Well, there are lots of people who would be offended by that. Or is that I'm talking about money-laundering? Well, there are lots of people who don't want it talked about because they're practising it. Is it the deep integration theme? Is that too politically sensitive for Harper's Ottawa? Is it personal? Who knows?"

DD/MM/YY has posted a recap of their year as well as info on their upcoming shows and what's next for the band.

"As of now we are writing and recording for our next release. We have plans on it being vynl!(with download)  and  seriously we are psyched by our new songs which seem to be taking the whole  DDMMYYYY experience that one step furthur!!"

Via CanCult, Patrick Watson has an interview in the Vancouver Sun about making a living in music. (I have a suggestion or two.

"“It’s kind of a weird place to be in because you know record sales are not enough income to make a living and you can’t tour 12 months a year, so what do you do in that circumstance?” Watson said recently from his Montreal apartment."

Patrick Watson Doesn't Poo Clouds But...

In a country as musically rich and diverse as Canada, even to be nominated for the Polaris Prize is a huge achievement. The Polaris prize is, in my view, the greatest musical honour in Canada. It is not run by the record industry. Sales, marketing, and location have no bearing on the outcome. The prize is voted on by 170 (ish) music journalists - people who love music so much that they have devoted their careers to it.

So, with all of that in mind congratulations to the Arcade Fire, the Besnard Lakes, the Dears, Julie Doiron, Feist, Junior Boys, Miracle Fortress, Joel Plaskett, and Chad VanGaalen on being nominated - I'm sure that all of them will see another Polaris nomination at some point in their careers.

Most especially congratulations to Patrick Watson for actually taking the thing home. If, like most of the world, you couldn't be at last night's Polaris award show - check out the Radio 3 Podcast from it with performances from the Besnard Lakes, Eric's Trip, Julie Doiron, Miracle Fortress, the Joel Plaskett Emergency, Chad VanGaalen and Patrick Watson.