Goals
To hold a roundtable discussion on the problems with Canada's defamation & libel laws preventing online freedom of speech, threatening bloggers with frivolous, hard-to-defend lawsuits. Invite media to raise awareness. Short presentations from speakers followed by a Q&A discussion.
Stop the Blog Suit
Where & When
Centre for Social Innovation
215 Spadina Avenue, Suite 120
3 rooms booked via Phillip Smith, from 3 - 5PM. Three rooms can hold about
30 - 40 (tight) people theatre style.
Post-roundtable, there is a fundraiser being held around the corner at the Rivoli, organized by Fading Ways Music's Neil Leyton, for Jon Newton (p2pnet)'s defence fund. Jon is being sued by Kazaa's Nikki Hemming, for libel. Performers at the Rivoli are: Kobotown, Neil Leyton, Lindy, Aceface, Dennis O'Toole, and Jon Newton.
Participants
In addition, Michael Pilling of OpenPolitics.ca is being sued in a case very similar to mine (thanks, Jason and Rob). I had a brief chat with Michael today (July 15) and we're going to have a longer talk tomorrow to see what we can come up with in the interests of using our difficulties to highlight Freedom (Not) of Expression in Canada.
AND Russell McOrmond told me chances are he'll be at both August 5 events.
Suggested Topics
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- US journalism libel exception/protection extended to bloggers; UK government loses "McLibel" suit at the European Court of Human Rights; and how these international precedent-setting cases might apply to Canadian law.
Planning Notes
- Room configuration and facilities
- Set up should include a podium or head table
- Questions about mic'ing participants for a real-time stream or podcast
- Wireless access - provided by WirelessToronto
- Press releases and publicity
- The goal should be to cross-promote the concert/fundraiser event at the Rivoli along with the round table
- Access to traditional PR services, including Canadian Newswire
- Non-traditional sources including Joey deVilla and Cory Doctorow
Links to resources
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