The recently unveiled copyright law in Canada that aims to provide a US-style DMCA has recieved significant criticism from one of the groups it claims to protect. Canadian musicians, through their music creators coalition have some harsh words for the law which could criminalize everything from sampling to moving media from CD to an iPod if passed.

Brendan Canning of Broken Social Scene made this statement through the group:

The question is, who gains from this bill? It's not musicians. Musicians don't need lawsuits, we don't need DRM protection. These aren't the things that help us or our careers. What we do need is a government that is willing to sit down with all the stakeholders and craft a balanced copyright policy for Canada that will not repeat the mistakes made in the United States."

The Canadian musician group includes Avril Lavigne, Sum 41, Billy Talent, Stars, The Weakerthans, Sloan and many others. Along with criticism of the bill itself, the group notes that the entire bill was produced without any involvement from Canadian stakeholders, instead focusing on requests from American lobbyists and groups like the MPAA.

One particularly controversial section is the anti-circumvention clause that will make it illegal to break digital locks on copyrighted material. The controversy arises from the fact that this anti-circumvention clause will override existing rights, so the "fair dealing" right to backup, copy, cite and analyze commercial works will be restricted at the whim of copyright holders. Moreover, mashups and satire will be criminalized by the bill if they "distort or mutilate a copyright performance."

Along with musicians, citizens are critical of the bill and law professor Michael Geist has compiled some citizen complaints here.