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Canadian Government Moves to Outlaw Modchips and Flash Carts

The Canadian government is trying to pass legislation to effectively make the purchase and/or use of modchips, flash cartridges, and other modding software and hardware illegal.

The members of the GBAtemp.net community have called for, and started an online petition to save these rights.
My fellow Canadians, a matter of the greatest importance has come to our attention. TOMORROW new laws will be passed by the Canadian government which will effectively OUTLAW the use of modchips and flash carts, among other things.

This new copyright reform in the form of the Canadian DMCA has been influenced by US lobby groups rather than the voice of the Canadian people. What we're faced with is legislation that is potentially even more extreme than that of the US DMCA which is what allows the RIAA, MPAA, etc to function in the United States as they do.

This would be a blow not only to Canada, civil rights, and copyright law, but also YOUR rights, this fine community, and all of the businesses that make their living by selling said products. Our digital way of life would effectively come to a stop. They're even going as far as proposing a minimum $500 fine per incident. While copyright reform is an important issue, this is not the way to go about it.

In response to this backdoor policy-making a growing movement and coalition has been actively pursuing making the Canadian voice heard in this legislative process. All is NOT lost; they previously attempted to impose similar legislation back in December but this very movement's response stopped them in their tracks. We MUST speak up! We MUST make ourselves heard before it's too late!

As such the Canadian Coalition for Electronic Rights has created a simple pre-written letter sending service that will allow for us to be heard. I implore any and all Canadians to use this service to send a letter to Prime Minister, Stephen Harper; Jim Prentice, Minister of Industry; and Josée Verner, Minister of Canadian Heritage TODAY before we have no tomorrow.
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  • 0 thumbs!
    DusktoDawn | June 04, 2008
    WOW...............................
  • 0 thumbs!
    yugiRULER | June 04, 2008
    Whats R4??? I have never heard of that.
    • 0 thumbs!
      Big A2 | June 05, 2008
      It's homebrew for DS. You can download illegal (and legal) games and shit.
  • 0 thumbs!
    Razentsu | June 04, 2008
    Well, I don't use an R4, so I don't really care...

    Some of my friends are gonna be pissed though.
  • 0 thumbs!
    Deathsythe | June 05, 2008
    Its not a matter of the legality of the usage - its a matter of principles of freedom. If I wish to dev on my DS and create homebrew applications - I should be allowed to.

    Just because one can exploit a software for illegal and deemed "evil" use - doesn't mean it is the software's problem.

    Its like how it is not the fault of the the gun or the bullets for murdering someone - it is the fault of the user who used it improperly.

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