Will You Be Burned For Burning CDs?

Sorry for the delay, folks. I had some issues with a new desk I wanted for the meme.ca office. Took longer than expected to set up and get things together. Everything is OK, now.

CBC.ca is reporting that fair use provisions in copyright law may soon go the way of the horse and buggy:

With changes to Canada's copyright laws expected as early as next month, these mundane 21st century activities could theoretically be open to prosecution — unless the Conservative government steps in with expanded "fair use" or "fair dealing" protections for consumers.
Close observers of the file say all signs point to a new regime that will improve safeguards for major music, film and media companies and artists for unpaid use of their material, but neglect to make exemptions for personal use of copyrighted content.

I'm of two minds with this. I burn CDs for personal enjoyment, and also to expose friends to new music. However, I also am a writer and content producer. I like being paid for my work. Seemingly, with the Internet, a lot of media publishers have moved towards not compensating their creative talent in lieu of not being able to generate revenue from online sources these past few years. There's a lot of deflation in the market -- which Toronto blogger/journalist Paul Lima talks about over here. So I can only imagine what it must be like to be a struggling musician.

I'm hopeful, at least, that whatever changes are made will improve the market for content generators, while ideally respecting the individual's right to use that content fairly respectably -- especially if it helps to get the word out about a particular author or musician.

What do you think on this issue?

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Will You Be Burned For Burning CDs?

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