The United States has added Canada to its piracy Priority Watch List, calling the nation one of the worst "offenders of copyright piracy."
Adds the US Trade Representatives (USTR): "In this time of economic uncertainty, we need to redouble our efforts to work with all of our trading partners - even our closest allies and neighbors such as Canada - to enhance protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights."
ESA (Entertainment Software Association) of Canada CEO Michael Gallagher approved of the move adding: "Canada's weak laws and enforcement practicies foster game piracy in the Canadian market and pave the way for unlawful imports into the US."
The ESA believes Canada need to strengthen its lax rules on piracy, ban mod chips completely, "provide Customs officials with the authority to seize counterfeit products on the Canadian border" and create "incentives" for ISPs to stop piracy at its source.
"Canada contributes significantly to the development of today's leading games - creating thousands of high-paying jobs along the way," Gallagher added. "We are eager to see Canada become a full partner in protecting these products on the way to market."
The other nations on the Priority Watch List are Argentina, Chile, China, India, Israel, Pakistan, Russia, Thailand, Venezuela, Algeria and Indonesia. __________________
THANKS NALIN FOR SCARING US ALL WITH THOSE BS POSTS AMERICA IS THE BIGGEST PIRATE OF THE WORLD. AND BIGGEST PIRATE PERSON IN THE WORLD IS BILL GATES WHO IS PIRATING ALL OF INDIA'S TALENT AND SELLING IT TO THE WORLD. GUESS WHO ARE THE MAKERS OF WINDOWS 7. THEY R ALL H1B VISA INDIANS. LIVING IN AMERICAN SLUMS. AND GETTING PAID $8/HR
Sam: I am not trying to scare you or anybody. What America says about Canada does not matter to me. One of the senior financial official of TD Bank said that it is about time Canada attempted to remove the poverty of foreign professionals, who come to Canada with tremendous skills and are forced drive a taxi to make a living. And he made this kind of comments in a luncheon where the Mayor of Toronto was chief guest.
Do you see the point that I am trying to make? Canada 30-40 million are such the problem. US will not look inside to see the problems. It is always the Other.
The United States has added Canada to its piracy Priority Watch List, calling the nation one of the worst "offenders of copyright piracy."
Adds the US Trade Representatives (USTR): "In this time of economic uncertainty, we need to redouble our efforts to work with all of our trading partners - even our closest allies and neighbors such as Canada - to enhance protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights."
ESA (Entertainment Software Association) of Canada CEO Michael Gallagher approved of the move adding: "Canada's weak laws and enforcement practicies foster game piracy in the Canadian market and pave the way for unlawful imports into the US."
The ESA believes Canada need to strengthen its lax rules on piracy, ban mod chips completely, "provide Customs officials with the authority to seize counterfeit products on the Canadian border" and create "incentives" for ISPs to stop piracy at its source.
"Canada contributes significantly to the development of today's leading games - creating thousands of high-paying jobs along the way," Gallagher added. "We are eager to see Canada become a full partner in protecting these products on the way to market."
The other nations on the Priority Watch List are Argentina, Chile, China, India, Israel, Pakistan, Russia, Thailand, Venezuela, Algeria and Indonesia.
here is the rest ....... China and Russia have been on the priority watch list for a number of years because of ongoing concerns about what the U.S. sees as rampant piracy of movies, music, computer programs and other copyrighted material.
Kirk said he was "particularly troubled" by reports that Chinese officials are urging more lenient enforcement of intellectual property rights laws because of the financial crisis and the need to protect jobs.
"China needs to strengthen its approach to IPR protection and enforcement, not weaken it," Kirk said.
The other countries on the watch list in this year's report were Argentina, Chile, India, Israel, Pakistan, Thailand and Venezuela.
Another 33 trading partners were placed on a lower-level watch list, indicating the administration is concerned about various copyright issues in those countries but does not view them as the largest threats to U.S. businesses.
The 33 trading partners placed on this year's watch list are: Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Colombia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Finland, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Italy, Jamaica, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mexico, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.
from this date on. C/P From Wednesday's Globe and Mail
E-mail Barrie McKenna | Read Bio | Latest Columns February 14, 2007 at 2:00 AM EDT
WASHINGTON -- A powerful coalition of U.S. software, movie and music producers is urging the Bush administration to put Canada on an infamous blacklist of intellectual property villains, alongside China, Russia and Belize.
Canada's chronic failure to modernize its copyright regime has made it a global hub for bootleg movies, pirated software and tiny microchips that allow video-game users to bypass copyright protections, the International Intellectual Property Alliance complains in a submission to the U.S. government.
The time has come for the United States to send a stern warning to Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government, which has failed to deliver on a promised overhaul of copyright laws and a policing crackdown, said the Washington-based group that represents companies such as Microsoft, Apple and Paramount Pictures.
Yet another feeble atempt to intimidate the masses into full submission so that the Bill Gates of this world can keep robbing people blind with total impunity and justify its legitimacy!
For example, DRM: who do you think profit from DRM? The creators? You must be kidding! Artists average only 5% of any given sale, while the top brass of these big media corporations get rich on their back!
About Satellite TV piracy: the fact users would even be charged for watching programs that are already paid for by publicity or by donations (PBS) is UNCONSCIONABLE. I sincerly cannot see this stand a supreme court ruling. This is pure and simple robbery. But no, in our society, this is called a "Business Model".
OTOH, I can certainly understand and agree with the providers about premium (no publicity) channels.
It's about time people woke up and realised this is pure BS and a weak attempt to justify US style terror tactics and hegemony on the world, just like Germany did in the 1930.
I have absolutely no qualms about piracy whatosever. It's a way overblown issue (how many of you did NOT pay for your computer OS when you got your new computer?! Gaw!!!) and its premises are pitiful (Poor Bill Gates! He'd be forced to downsize the company he had to found for the sole purpose of finding ways to spend the money he makes, because he can't spend it all by himself! That would be so awful)
Dish also infringes on copyright. Namely, PPV movies. Next time pay attention to the intros. Some say for NON-COMMERCIAL SHOWING, for private use only. Just like when You buy a DVD from the store. Any Comments ???
