Queen’s English professor Laura Murray says a defense of user’s rights in copyright is necessary to our democratic, intellectual, and cultural fabric, and is entirely distinct from defending piracy. She warns the Conservatives' proposed copyright law will largely benefit corporate rights-holders and will hurt Canadian educators, students, artists, researchers, consumers, and taxpayers.
Specifically Dr. Murray says that the recently tabled Copyright Bill could affect the way Canadians use digital media.
According to Dr. Murray, Canadians are not aware of what they stand to lose with this new legislation because of the differences in Canadian and U.S. copyright laws.
An expert in Canadian copyright law and cultural practice with particular interest in how copyright affects education, the arts and democratic participation, Dr. Murray recently co-authored a book entitled “Canadian Copyright: A Citizen’s Guide” in defence of users rights in copyright. She also runs www.faircopyright.ca, a public interest resource on Canadian copyright.
To arrange an interview with Dr. Murray contact Alissa Clark at (613) 533-6000 ext. 77513, alissa.clark@queensu.ca or Molly Kehoe at (613) 533-2877, molly.kehoe@queensu.ca.