From "Radical Extremism" to "Balanced Copyright" : Canadian Copyright and the Digital Agenda
Chapter Three
History in the Balance: Copyright and Access to Knowledge
Myra Tawfik
Copyright law is generally understood to encompass within its policy em- brace the interests of three constituent groups: users, creators and copy- right industries. Each of these groups has found enough support in the history of copyright law to argue that its interests should predominate within the legal framework. As interested parties, their advocacy position is to be expected. The role of Parliament is different however. It is the legis- lature’s responsibility to be dispassionate, to mediate between these often competing interests in order to craft appropriate legislation in the name of the greater good. And by “appropriate,” I mean balanced in setting the ap- propriate parameters between adequate protection and adequate access.

