It’s a new term to many people - a “green copyright”. According to a recent Bill C-61, a new bill being introduced into the Canadian government, makes moves toward establishing new boundaries regarding the reuse of electronics. If the bill is approved, it would prohibit the unlocking of mobile phones, forcing many consumers to toss out their old phones should they choose to switch providers.
It has been estimated that Canadians discard 184,000 tonnes of computers, mobile phones, and ink cartridges each year. To combat the waste, the Ontario government recently joined several other provinces in instituting a new electronic waste fee to encourage recycling of outdated devices.
The concept of “green copyright” may sound a bit odd. However, some have pointed out that the policy choices found in Bill C-61, the controversial bill proposed by Industry Minister Jim Prentice, runs directly against the current emphasis on saving the environment.
There have been issues with a similar U.S. version of the bill which has resulted in lawsuits regarding the legal rights of companies that have to programmes in place to recycle printer ink cartridges.
The desire to “reorient long-standing practices” makes sense when dealing with largely ignored environmental issues. Yet, laws not traditionally linked to the environment need to be examined to determine whether or not they are consistent with promoting “greener” behaviour.
If the public consensus is any indication, Canadian politicians can expect to get an earful about the bill from their constituents.
To learn more, visit: canada.gc.ca
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