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House Bill

Bill C-294

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
May 09, 2024
An Act to amend the Copyright Act (interoperability)
  • This is a bill that amends the Copyright Act to allow people to bypass technological protection measures to make computer programs or devices interoperable with other computer programs or components, under certain circumstances. It also includes limitations on the use of obtained information, technology, or components and does not allow benefit from the exceptions if the person commits copyright infringement or contravenes any Act of Parliament or any Act of the legislature of a province. This bill passed the House of Commons on June 14, 2023.
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SteelmanSpren in Favour

  • The amendment of the Copyright Act to allow circumvention of technological protection measures for interoperability purposes is beneficial for innovation and consumer choice. This change allows individuals to make computer programs and devices interoperable with other programs, devices, and components without violating copyright laws. This means that individuals can use their purchased technology with other devices and programs, increasing functionality and flexibility. This amendment will foster competition as companies will not be able to restrict consumers to only their products and will have to offer interoperability. It also promotes innovation as individuals and companies can build upon existing technology to create new products and services. This change strikes a balance between protecting copyright holders' rights and allowing consumers to freely use technology they have legally obtained.

SteelmanSpren Against

  • Many companies invest significant resources in developing technological protection measures to protect their intellectual property rights, including their computer programs. Allowing circumvention of these measures for the purpose of interoperability may undermine these efforts and lead to decreased innovation in the industry. There are already legal avenues for seeking permission to access protected software for interoperability purposes, and this bill may create loopholes for individuals to exploit, potentially harming creators’ ability to profit from their work. Furthermore, the restriction of use of shared information for interoperability purposes may limit the ability of creators to control the use of their intellectual property, leading to increased infringement and diminished incentive to create.
Senate Third Reading
  • May 9, 2024, 2 p.m.
  • In Progress
  • Read
Senate First Reading
  • June 15, 2023, 2 p.m.
  • Passed
Senate Second Reading
  • June 15, 2023, 2 p.m.
  • Passed

House Motion No. 374

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
June 14, 2023, 3:25 p.m.
3rd reading and adoption of Bill C-294, An Act to amend the Copyright Act (interoperability)

House Committee

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
March 29, 2023
Standing Committee on Industry, Natural Resources, Science and Technology (INDU)
Re. Bill C-294, An Act to amend the Copyright Act (interoperability)
  • Report 13 presented to the House
  • In accordance with its Order of Reference of Wednesday, November 30, 2022, your committee has considered Bill C-294, An Act to amend the Copyright Act (interoperability), and agreed on Monday, March 27, 2023, to report it with the following amendment:

    Clause 1

    That Bill C-294, in Clause 1, be amended by

    (a) replacing line 4 on page 1 with the following:

    “1 (1) Subsection 41.12(1) of the Copyright Act is re-”

    (b) replacing lines 7 to 21 on page 1 with the following:

    “son who circumvents a technological protection measure that protects a lawfully obtained computer program for the purpose of

    (a) obtaining information that would allow the person to make the program or a device in which it is embedded interoperable with any other computer program, device or component; or

    (b) making the program or a device in which it is embedded interoperable with any other computer program, device or component.

    (2) Subsections 41.12(4) to (7) of the Act are replaced by the following:

    (4) A person referred to in paragraph (1)(a) may communicate the information obtained under that paragraph to another person for the purposes of allowing that person to make the computer program or a device in which it is embedded interoperable with any other computer program, device or component.

    (5) A person to whom the technology, device or component referred to in subsection (3) is provided may use it only for the purpose of making the computer program and any other computer program interoperable.

    (6) A person to whom the information referred to in subsection (4) is communicated may use it only for the purpose of making the computer program or a device in which it is embedded interoperable with any other computer program, device or component.

    (7) A person is not entitled to benefit from the exceptions under subsection (1) or (6) if, for the purposes of making the computer program or a device in which it is embedded interoperable with any other computer program, device or component, the person does an act that constitutes an infringement of copyright.

    (8) A person is not entitled to benefit from the exceptions under subsection (2), (3) or (5) if, for the purposes of making the computer program and any other computer program interoperable, the person does an act that constitutes an infringement of copyright.

    (9) A person is not entitled to benefit from the exception under subsection (4) if, for the purposes of making the computer program or a device in which it is embedded interoperable with any other computer program, device or component, the person does an act that constitutes an infringement of copyright or an act that contravenes any Act of Parliament or any Act of the legislature of a province.”

    Your committee has ordered a reprint of Bill C-294, as amended, as a working copy for the use of the House of Commons at the report stage.
    A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meetings Nos. 59, 61 and 64) is tabled.
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House Committee

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
March 08, 2023
Standing Committee on Industry, Natural Resources, Science and Technology (INDU)
Re. Bill C-294, An Act to amend the Copyright Act (interoperability)
  • Wed Mar 08, 2023 04:42 - 06:48PM
  • Transcript not yet availabe
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House Motion No. 229

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
Nov. 30, 2022, 3:30 p.m.
2nd reading of Bill C-294, An Act to amend the Copyright Act (interoperability)