Title: Technological Protection Measures (Digital Locks)

Learning Objectives

- Define the scope and provide examples of “technological protection measures” (TPMs) as they are defined in Canada’s Copyright Act
- Understand how the Copyright Act protects TPMs from circumvention

Copyright Act changes re TPMs – 2024
Effective 07 Nov 2024, the definitions of circumvent and technological protection measure in s. 41 were revised to add specific reference to computer programs, s. 41.12(1) was revised to allow for making computer programs interoperable, and s. 41.121 was added to allow for diagnosis, maintenance and repair.

Copyright Act changes re TPMs – 2024
Effective 07 Nov 2024, the definitions of circumvent and technological protection measure in s. 41 were revised to add specific reference to computer programs, s. 41.12(1) was revised to allow for making computer programs interoperable, and s. 41.121 was added to allow for diagnosis, maintenance and repair.

Canada’s Copyright Act defines technological protection measures, or TPMs, as “any effective ________, ________, or ________” intended to control access to a work.” Drag and drop the 3 correct answers into the boxes below.

- Technology
- Wall
- Device
- Riddle
- Nuisance
- Component
- Force field
Q: Drop zone
A: Technology; Device; Component
Q: Drop zone 2
A: Technology; Device; Component
Q: Drop zone 3
A: Technology; Device; Component

An example of a technological protection measure might be any of the following except:

Q: An example of a technological protection measure might be any of the following except:
- A paywall
- A username and password system
- An encryption system
- A bodyguard (correct)

Users risk violating the Copyright Act by:

Q: Users risk violating the Copyright Act by:
- Circumventing any technological protection measure to gain access to copyrighted material, whether or not you copy it. (correct)
- Looking for any technological protection measures that control access to a work.
- Revealing the presence of a technological protection measure that controls the use of a work.
- Yelling at kids to get off their lawn.

Users may rely on Fair Dealing as a valid defence to bypass or break a digital lock on copyright-protected material.

Q: Users may rely on Fair Dealing as a valid defence to bypass or break a digital lock on copyright-protected material.
A: false

Choose the correct statement.

Credits: Technological Protection Measures (Digital Locks); by University of Alberta; 2020; licence CC BY 4.0