Opposition to Bill C-61 is steadily mounting – Michael has details on an Angus Reid poll here, and on newspaper editorials, Facebook group membership growth and other indicators here. Prentice’s response? To run and hide under the covers – presumably to hide out until some deputy-of-whatnot can rescue him.

There are no pitchforks and torches after him – only legitimate questions about the content of his Bill and the process by which he produced it. But still, the man seems unable to fairly and squarely deal with questions raised by citizens and is developing a habit of running away when the going gets tough. I’m not sure what’s more shocking – the seeming cowardice of running away from Canadians’ questions, or of surrendering to the lobbyists who wanted the Bill he gave them. Mr. Prentice is seriously underestimating the power of this file to damage his Government.

As of the time of writing, the Globe’s initial story on the CanDMCA had 681 comments – about as many as I’ve ever seen on a Globe piece, and the vast majority are angry – many bitterly so. Michael’s initial piece has 230 comments, and the Fair Copyright for Canada Facebook group is closing in on 50,000 members – thousands of people have joined since the CanDMCA bill was introduced. Update: The CBC covers the growing backlash online. Updater: Another 1,000 members – in under 7 hours.

This is both hilarious and sad – Minister Prentice’s staff have yet to learn what US Congressional staffers have known for years – their apparent attempts to spin his wikipedia entry can be traced back to origin. Let’s hope this ineptitude and self-indulgence doesn’t appear in Prentice’s draft CanDMCA expected shortly.

It would be easy, amid all of fufflegubble about Mr. Bernier, to lose sight of more important matters emanating from Ottawa – such as the storm of protest over the Government’s Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement.

I love William Patry. There, I said it. This is why.

Michael has the details. To be honest, I’m well past sick of being lied to by people in authority. We should be better than this.

I spent yesterday evening at a meetup at the Gladstone’s Melody Bar for members of the Facebook group for the Toronto chapter of Fair Copyright. We had a nice turnout, and the evening was a great opportunity to engage with people who are concerned about copyright law and eager to learn more and connect with people of like mind.

My main takeaway from the evening was much more than I’d expected – I met several young people who are deeply interested in this issue and startlingly well-informed. Honestly, if you’d told me 20 years ago that a day would come when copyright reform would figure prominently as a public policy issue for young Canadians I’d have scoffed. But here we are, and here they are, and they’re bright, focused, well-informed – and they care. I left the event with a spring in my step, convinced that tomorrow is going to be a better day. The best idea I heard last night: a campaign to inform Canadians that the “Canadian Recording Industry Association” is more or less ironically named.

Next takeaway? It’s been said before, but if your business involves selling media to young people, chances are you need to rethink your business model much faster than you think. There’s a Thelma and Louise moment approaching. Oh, and while you’re at it, hands off their internet. They are going to have no patience at all for games. It’s not merely a source of media, or entertainment – it’s becoming the intermediary for every important relationship in their lives. They are simply not going to tolerate any gamesmanship with something so important.

Thanks to my group co-admins Jason Crocker, Ren Bucholz and Mike Craigen for the effort in making last night happen.