Copyright Lobbyists Again Demand That The US Classify Canada As Being A Piracy Hotbed

from the blame-canada dept

Every year, the entertainment industry comes out with some ridiculous report about how Canada is a hotbed of piracy, on par with places like China and Russia. Every year the report asks the US Trade Representative to classify Canada as being on the "Priority Watch List." And, once again, it's that time... the International Intellectual Property Assn., a copyright lobbying group, has again complained about rampant Canadian piracy. In the past, Michael Geist has shown in great detail how silly these claims are. This year, it's gotten so ridiculous that he barely has anything to say at all, but instead simply points back to his responses from the past few years. In the past, the USTR has refused to go along with the IIPA's demands. Let's hope that this doesn't change with the new administration -- who, so far, has appeared much more willing to listen to Hollywood's friends. The only potential good news is that Obama's first choice for USTR (currently representing Hollywood in Congress -- literally) backed away from the job after fearing that "trade" wasn't a priority to this administration. Just imagine what would have happened if he had taken the job.

Filed Under: canada, intellectual property, lobbyists
Companies: iipa