Using your VCR and/or DVR may soon be legal

Few people realize that under current copyright law, using a VCR and/or DVR to record programs is typically illegal in Canada, but those days may soon be over as apparently today a copyright bill covering this finally passed the Canadian parliament.

The new bill bans circumventing digital locks though, meaning that any "fair use" rights granted are basically irrelevant if the producer of said media wishes them not to be there. (Which you can find confirmation of in a CPAC clip).

Per one of the government's members of the Standing Committee on Industry (with Industry being where this legislation originates):

If a digital lock is broken for personal use, it is not realistic that the creator would choose to file a law suit against the consumer, due to legal fees and time involved. (source)

What a wonderful way to encourage respect for the law.