Canada may Criminalize CD Copies, iPods at Border Crossings

From DailyTech
Under the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) at Canadian border crossings laptops, discs, and iPods will be subject to search, destruction, and fines if infringed copyright material is found.

Additional ramifications of the deal of interest to American and Canadian citizens are the new restrictions on travel. The new act will make border agents essentially "copyright regulators". They will be authorized under current provisions to search those crossing for illegal copyright materials. Laptops, iPods and even cellular phones are among the devices that would be searched for illegal content.

If they found infringed content such as ripped copies of DVDs or CDs they could detain the person. The penalties are still being ironed out, but a fine for any materials found is planned. It would be at the discretion of the border agents to determine what infringement is and what isn't. Under the new act, even legally copied DVDs or CDs would be open to scrutiny.

For some users the new act may be "bye bye" to their iPod or laptop. Under the new act the border agents could destroy any devices found to hold copyright content that is deemed infringed.

The new agreement states that it’s oriented towards increased "civil enforcement" measures. And don't plan on having a lawyer present; the act includes "authority to order ex parte searches" (searches without a lawyer present) and "and other preliminary measures".

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