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There is a behind-the-scenes campaign underway to bring laws such as the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in the United States northward, warns a noted Canadian digital policy expert.

Michael Geist, a law professor at the University of Ottawa and Canada Research Chair for Internet and E-Commerce, said in a post to his personal blog that Ottawa’s reintroduction of copyright reform legislation makes the country “a prime target for SOPA style rules.”

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The U.S. Congress’ proposed SOPA legislation and the Protect Intellectual Property Act (PIPA), its Senate equivalent, would make it possible for American copyright holders to have any Website anywhere in the world blocked in the United States if they are alleged to be infringing on those copyrights. Both bills were halted in Washington last week following a widespread online protest, though are expected to be revived as early as February.

In the meantime, with Bill C-11 — which would update the Copyright Act for the digital age — set to once again come before the House of Commons in the coming weeks, Mr. Geist expressed what he argues is cause for Canadians to be concerned.