US Trade Rep: Blame Canada For Piracy!

from the oh-come-on dept

Thu, Apr 30th 2009 4:26pm — Mike Masnick

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

37 Comments

If you liked this post, you may also be interested in...

Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread

Ima Fish, 30 Apr 2009 @ 4:37pm

"It's still entirely unclear why the entertainment industry so dislikes Canada."

Because Canada does not have a draconian and anti-consumer law similar to the DMCA.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Pitabred, 1 May 2009 @ 7:52am
  
  Re:
  Nope. They're worse laws... they industry got a levy on ALL blank media, not just audio CD's.
  
  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 chronology ]
Hulser, 30 Apr 2009 @ 5:02pm

Broken promises
I hope the US Trade Rep's criteria for adding a country to the black list is actually a bit more stringent than a country where "unauthorized reproduction of copyrighted works thrives" (TD's workding) or where "Internet piracy flourishes" (the linked article's wording) or else practically every country that has Internet connectivity would qualify.

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 chronology ]
Rajio, 30 Apr 2009 @ 5:04pm

meaning?
so what does it mean now that we're on this priority watch list? what happens next?

do they write a stern letter to our mom or what?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Hulser, 30 Apr 2009 @ 5:20pm
  
  Re: meaning?
  so what does it mean now that we're on this priority watch list? what happens next?
  
  Next you'll be put on double secret probation.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
RockDJ, 30 Apr 2009 @ 5:14pm

Bullies
It seems the U.S is becoming quite the bully when it comes to copyright and enforcement of copyright. The U.S has been responsible for one of the worst financial disasters since the great depression.

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 chronology ]
- bigpicture, 30 Apr 2009 @ 7:47pm
  
  Re: Bullies
  No more bullies, they are in the toilet and China has it's hand on the lever.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Zaven (profile), 30 Apr 2009 @ 5:20pm

American Right
Hey, it's our right as right as Americans to blame Canada for everything. Isn't it?

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 chronology ]
Osno, 30 Apr 2009 @ 5:26pm

My guess is Canada is very receptive to the entertainment industry, so they put them in the watch list as a sort of black list, so they'll do anything to get out of it. Way easier than China or Russia (specially since they speak english, mostly). Once Canada agrees to whatever they want, then they can start the charade of "international responsibility towards our neighbors". That's just my guess.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 30 Apr 2009 @ 6:11pm

Is the US on that list? I heard a lot of piracy goes on there.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
(Unkie) Reamus, 30 Apr 2009 @ 6:12pm

Hrm.
You know what's really entertaining is that I live in Honduras, and it is literally impossible for me to buy legitimate DVDs here. If I want to buy a movie, my only option is to buy a burned copy from a guy off the street for 100 Lempira (~5 USD), and Honduras not only doesn't appear on the Priority Watch List, it's absent from the Watch List as well (At least 2005, when I know the situation was identical. [I'm not spending more than 30 seconds with Google to find up to date information for this, sorry.]) (Unkie) Reamus
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 30 Apr 2009 @ 6:36pm

The IP industry is constantly playing one country against another. They talk the US into passing DCMA, then use that to bully Canada. They get Canada to pass a law about cutting off your hand if you record a snippet of a movie on your cell phone so they can point at Canada when they lobby for it in the US. Whatever country passes the most draconian version of anything becomes the standard the industries say other countries should use as a model.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 30 Apr 2009 @ 6:44pm

Doesn't Canada already have an unfair tax on blank cds/dvds, even if those discs are going to be used to back up non-copyrighted data?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Les Kerekes, 1 May 2009 @ 5:30am
  
  Re: blank media levy
  i think our blank media levy is only on CD's, not DVD's. I can't remember how long ago it was that I actually bought blank CD's for anything. I have enough CDRW's from a decade ago that work fine for moving MP3's to my car
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
rjk, 30 Apr 2009 @ 7:09pm

Doesn't Canada already have an unfair tax on blank cds/dvds, even if those discs are going to be used to back up non-copyrighted data?

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 chronology ]
Overcast, 30 Apr 2009 @ 7:12pm

As long as they continue to finger point and not address the real issue - value for the consumer - the problem won't be solved.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Hugh G Rection, 30 Apr 2009 @ 7:33pm

well sh*t then... I'm Canadian... I better start pirating stuff.

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 chronology ]
RD, 30 Apr 2009 @ 7:38pm

Ahhhhhhhhahahahaha
"Doesn't Canada already have an unfair tax on blank cds/dvds, even if those discs are going to be used to back up non-copyrighted data?

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 chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 30 Apr 2009 @ 8:37pm

Maybe someone should re-write the South Park song 'Blame Canada' with references to piracy, music, and video...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 30 Apr 2009 @ 8:49pm

Oh this is just going back to the 1897 battle they had with Canada and are still worried about their sheet music being sold for 2 to 5 cents a copy as apposed to the recording industries price of 20 to 40 cents :P
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 30 Apr 2009 @ 9:09pm

Times have changed, our kids are geting worse.
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 chronology ]
Just Lucy, 30 Apr 2009 @ 9:26pm

I think the President should declare war on Canada. The RIAA can underwrite the cost of the ammo, and US Marines will go house to house, busting down doors and taking everyone's CD collections. After the President flies a bomber jet over the capital city and declares Victory, CNN will broadcast the burning of Canadian-owned CDs, tapes and record albums in the town square.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Jersey Joe, 1 May 2009 @ 5:50am
  
  Re:
  Question. If the RIAA underwrites the ammo, but you decide to reload your own ammo, is that piracy?
  
  :)
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Rick Charron, 30 Apr 2009 @ 10:09pm

Piracy and Canada
I used to like Americans, but I'm just sick and tired oftheir endless Bull$**t.It never ceases to amaze me at the level of, and/or lack there of intelligence that is attributed to the elected politician and officials in the United states of America. What is really astounding is that they are elected! It is a daily occurrence to read what those uneducated imbeciles preach and believe. As a Canadian, I would like a 25KM. buffer zone between Canada and the USA extending from the 49th Parallel south. This ribbon of land can be used to house the offices required to analyze and return all information and / or exports headed north from the USA. It can be used to tax-the-hell-out-of all Canadian exports to the USA, including, water, petroleum products, grain, meats, minerals and wood products. (Canada doesn't need any American exports, we have enough guns and pollution as it is.)This 25km. area could also house all the asylums used to correct and educate the multitude of dysfunctional US Politicians and officials. It would also offer an area that Canadians headed south could change their minds, have a big laugh about their error and then return home without being thought of as an idiot.Canada would be better off with the 25km. ribbon of no-mans-land than having the USA as neighbours. Oh, km. is an abbreviation for kilometer, it's a metric form of measure that the entire world, except the USA uses.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 30 Apr 2009 @ 10:47pm
  
  Re: Piracy and Canada
  See there you go grouping people all in one basket. Now what if we started grouping all the bad people in Canada with the good ones.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Tgeigs, 1 May 2009 @ 9:46am
  
  Re: Piracy and Canada
  "I used to like Americans, but I'm just sick and tired oftheir endless Bull$**t"
  
  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 chronology ]
Terrance Phillip, 1 May 2009 @ 6:11am

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 chronology ]
phosphor, 1 May 2009 @ 6:25am

How come the US don't top their own list. MS in the last year has lost more then a billion dollars to lawsuits based on patent infringement, including pirating anti piracy technology. Is this not a concern to the alliance, as to me this worse theft of intellectual property then listening to music someone recorded for people to listen to. Thats right MS is part of the alliance that determines the list of offenders. Then I'm sure the list is fair and impartial.
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 chronology ]
Brent, 1 May 2009 @ 7:41am

The canadians are trying to take all of our "internet money" for themselves. We cant let them have it buddy
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
William, 1 May 2009 @ 11:45am

watch me ignore it
and go on with my life...

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 chronology ]
sean, 4 May 2009 @ 2:31am

The above thought is
The above thought is smart and doesn’t require any further addition. still every dark night is followed by a bright sunny day. So, patience and attention is required and things will be fruitful in near future. ----- sean Drug Intervention New Hampshire
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
sean, 4 May 2009 @ 2:31am

The above thought is
The above thought is smart and doesn’t require any further addition. still every dark night is followed by a bright sunny day. So, patience and attention is required and things will be fruitful in near future. ----- sean Drug Intervention New Hampshire
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
sean, 4 May 2009 @ 2:32am

The inventiveness
The inventiveness taken for the topic is very serious and need an awareness of every one. This is the concern which exists in the people and needs to be eliminated from the society as soon as probable.----- sean Drug Intervention New Hampshire
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
anonymous, 9 May 2009 @ 11:17pm

P2P MUSIC
OH WHERE SCARED! BEEN SHITLISTED BY US 'FOR PIRACY'
PHUCK DA RIAA AND US! P2P HERE TO STAY
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
US Trade Rep are bunch USA ASSHOLES, 9 May 2009 @ 11:37pm

US Trade Rep
Dear. US Trade Rep. PHUCK YOU - ALL YALL HAIRY FAGITS COULD DO IS TALK CRAP BUT CANT BACK IT UP. GO SUCK OFF RIAA DICK
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
shankar, 23 May 2009 @ 12:53am

entertainment of kids
The kidgurus.com is a great place to chat with people all over the world and make new friends, to learn about every subject possible and to have a great deal of fun and entertainment. The kids can post free stories, essays and they can upload free videos, photo albums, and games. Always keep your personal details (name, address) private. It's like giving out the keys to your house! Your personal password is your own special identity, so keep it secret and don't share it - even with your best friend or someone who sounds official. visit the website http://www.kidgurus.com/
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
anonymous, 20 Jun 2009 @ 8:18pm

Blame Canada
RIAA probably get rammed up the ass /w JAR VASELINE every night by music industry. OH PLEASE DON'T SUE ME RIAA 'KICK IN MY DOOR AND TAKE MY COMPUTER' PHUCK U RIAA.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]