<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr"><div style="font-family:comic sans ms,sans-serif;font-size:large"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:small">---------- Forwarded message ----------</span><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">From: <b class="gmail_sendername">Executive Director</b> <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:execdir@ncf.ca" target="_blank">execdir@ncf.ca</a>></span><br>Date: 20 January 2015 at 18:08<br>Subject: New Canadian Copyright Laws<br>To: NCF Members <<a href="mailto:members@ncf.ca" target="_blank">members@ncf.ca</a>><br><br><br>Dear Member:<br>
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On January 2, 2015 important new copyright rules came into force in Canada. These changes have imposed new legal and process requirements on all ISPs, including National Capital FreeNet, and have important implications for our members:<br>
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1. Unauthorized downloading of copyrighted material (e.g., movies, TV shows, music) can result in damages payable from $100 to $5,000 for non-commercial infringements.<br>
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2. ISPs must forward infringement claim notices received from copyright owners to the user of the IP address implicated in the download. Failure to do so can result in damages payable from $5,000 to $10,000.<br>
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Internet downloading activity (e.g., BitTorrent) is continuously monitored by copyright owners (such as movie studios) or their agents to detect copyright infringements.<br>
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When a suspected copyright infringement is detected, the copyright owner sends an infringement claim notification to the ISP that owns the IP address implicated in the download (e.g., NCF).<br>
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Under the new copyright laws, NCF is required to determine the owner of the account who used this IP address at the time of the alleged infringement and then forward the infringement notification on to the owner of the account.<br>
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We are also required to keep these notifications on file in case the copyright owner elects to prosecute at a later date. We do not disclose the identity or personal information of the member without a court order, however.<br>
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NCF cannot comment on the validity of any infringement claim – this can only be determined by a court of law.<br>
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If you receive a notice and require further clarification, you may wish to contact the copyright owner as indicated in the notice. Please be aware, however, that doing so will reveal your identity.<br>
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If you suspect that unauthorized persons have used your wi-fi network to download copyrighted material, you should change your wi-fi password.<br>
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Details of the new laws can be found at <a href="http://balancedcopyright.gc.ca/eic/site/crp-prda.nsf/eng/h_rp01157.html" target="_blank">http://balancedcopyright.gc.ca/eic/site/crp-prda.nsf/eng/h_rp01157.html</a>.<br>
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Sincerely,<br>
Nick Ouzas,<br>
Executive Director<br>
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</div><br><br clear="all"><div><br></div>-- <br><div class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr">David Murdoch<br> East River, Nova Scotia Phone: (902) 277-0766</div></div>
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