US Trade Rep: Blame Canada For Piracy!
from the oh-come-on dept
It's still entirely unclear why the entertainment industry so dislikes Canada. There's almost no evidence that "piracy" in Canada is any bigger than anywhere else, but for some reason, every year, the industry goes on a big campaign to get Canada listed alongside countries like China and Russia as places where unauthorized reproduction of copyrighted works thrives. This year, finally, the industry succeeded, and the US Trade Rep has added Canada to its "Priority Watch List" as opposed to just the "Watch List," where it has been the past few years. Michael Geist covers just why this is absolutely ridiculous. Canada already has quite stringent copyright laws, and it has even passed stricter copyright laws over the past few years at the urging of the entertainment industry. It's difficult to see this new announcement as anything other than a condemnation of the US Trade Rep's process for putting together such a list.Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Filed Under: canada, copyright, us trade rep
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
Because Canada does not have a draconian and anti-consumer law similar to the DMCA.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Broken promises
Also, the thrust of the linked article seems to be that Canada is not living up to its agreements regarding copyright enforcement. Fair enough if you want Canada to repeal these agreements, but even though I don't agree with the effects of the agreements, it seems fair for organizations in other countries to ask Canada to live up to them. If Canada doesn't want to enforce these agreements, then why did they approve them in the first place?
This is an honest question, but how can the TD statement that Canada has enacted stricter copyright law be reconciled with the Globe and Mail's statement that Canada has "repeatedly broken promises" regarding enforcing copyright?
I'm guessing that these "agreements" are somehow bogus, but if that's what TD is suggesting, I guess I'd like some more information on why it holds that position.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
meaning?
do they write a stern letter to our mom or what?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Bullies
Copyright enforcement is really low on the list of priorities. We'll just move on with our lives and you can keep ading to the watch list and priority watch list and super priority watch watch list.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: meaning?
Next you'll be put on double secret probation.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
American Right
And Americans wonder why people in other countries think us Americans think we're better than everyone. Next time someone wants to make a statement blaming Canada for something, can we just blame the French Canadians, at least then most of the world may agree with us. (I kid, I kid)
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Hrm.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
And if I have to pay a tax on blank CDs to compensate for piracy, shouldn't I be allowed to pirate?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Can anyone point me to how I do that? Please make sure that it is a Cdn site.
Thanks... eh!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Ahhhhhhhhahahahaha
And if I have to pay a tax on blank CDs to compensate for piracy, shouldn't I be allowed to pirate?"
hahahahahahaha good one!
*breath*
hahhahahahahhaha
Yes, the *IAA industries got laws passed about 15 years ago to tax blank media to COMPENSATE THEM FOR PRESUMED PIRACY, which everyone who ever buys media pays, whether they pirate or not. However, its is blindingly hilarious that you would apply logic and reason to laws that have none. You ALREADY pay compensation for piracy, but OF COURSE that doesnt mean you get to HAVE what you pay for! Silly rabbit, tricks are for lobbyists.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Bullies
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
They won't obey their parents, they just wanna fart and curse!
Should we blame the government, or blame society?
Or should we blame the images on TV?
NO! Blame Canada, Blame Canada
It seems that everything's gone wrong,
since Canada came along
Blame Canada, Blame Canada
We need to form as full assault, it's Canada's fault
Don't blame yourself for your son Stan,
He saw that darn cartoon and now he's off to join the Klan!
and my boy Eric once had my picture on his shelf,
but now when he sees me, he tells me to (gasp) myself
Blame Canada, Blame Canada
Because when Canada is gone,
There'll be no more Celine Dion
Blame Canada, Blame Canada
They're not even a real country anyway
Kenny could've been a doctor or a lawyer, it's true
instead he burned up like a piggy on the barbecue
Should we blame the matches? Should we blame the fire?
or the doctors who allowed him to expire?
HECK NO! Blame Canada, Blame Canada
with all their Hockey hallabaloo, and that bitch Anne Murray too
Blame Canada, Blame Canada
all I can say is oy Gevalt, it's Canada's Fault
EVERYBODY!!
Blame Canada, Blame Canada
With Brain Adams' Beady Eyes
Margret Trudeau's friendly thighs
Blame Canada, Shame on Canada!
For the smut we must stop!
The trash we must smash!
The laughter and fun,
this will be undone!
We must blame them and cause a fuss
before somebody thinks of blaming us!!!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Piracy and Canada
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Piracy and Canada
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: blank media levy
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
:)
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Blame Canada...
Apparently, the the trade rep is a South Park fan...
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/428397/south_park_blame_canada/or
http://en.wikipedia .org/wiki/Blame_Canada
[ link to this | view in thread ]
I'm sure this article is highly accurate and meets the highest quality of research, such as Janet Napolitano's statements that the 9/11 hijackers entered the US through Canada.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
The main problem that the industry has with Canada is that Canada requires a certain percentage of all broadcasts to be Canadian-national broadcasts. That cuts into the marketshare no matter HOW much the industry complains. And they're so sure that EVERYONE must watch their crap all the time that the only reasonable conclusion is piracy. I mean, what else could people be doing other than pirating good wholesome American content when that required Canadian content is on?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Piracy and Canada
I'm inferring that you're promoting generalizations here. Fair enough.
All Canadians chop the heads off of the people they ride busses with. Yay.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
watch me ignore it
before I got here I was reading related new on arstechnica and I think someone form that board is right, it's time for US to stop policing the world. To be honest, I don't give a damn on what the US "big coperate controlled" organization/government branches says or do. To US citizens and the government in general, I pay my respect, but the slow corruption of the government from big businesses of late is really making me sick from the stomach.
I don't think piracy is out of control, on the other hand, I think coperate influence is out of control and to think that the US citizens are watching this slowly happening without knowing or able to something about it, and being powerless, makes me sad.
I think we Canadians should start pirating more. I mean, come on, if I am to be accused of something that I haven't done, I might as well start do it and get the benefits.
again, watch me ignore this and go on with my lift. And btw, watch me burn more CDs since I already paid a levy. :P
[ link to this | view in thread ]
The above thought is
[ link to this | view in thread ]
The above thought is
[ link to this | view in thread ]
The inventiveness
[ link to this | view in thread ]
P2P MUSIC
PHUCK DA RIAA AND US! P2P HERE TO STAY
[ link to this | view in thread ]
US Trade Rep
[ link to this | view in thread ]
entertainment of kids
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Blame Canada
[ link to this | view in thread ]