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U.S. Senators Pressure Canada on Canadian DMCA

Posted by Hemos on from the the-creeping-fingers-problem dept.

An anonymous reader writes "The U.S. copyright lobby brought out some heavy artillery last week as it continued to pressure Canada to introduce a Canadian DMCA. U.S. Ambassador to Canada David Wilkins gave a public talk in which he described Canadian copyright law as the weakest in the G7, while Senators Dianne Feinstein and John Cornyn wrote to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to urge him to bring in movie piracy legislation."

15 of 466 comments (clear)

  1. go home... by udowish · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Sometimes I think the US should just leave the rest of the planet alone. Just because "they" think one thing, doesn't mean it is the case...

    --
    when in doubt press enter and we'll figure it out later..
    1. Re:go home... by Azarael · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Especially because often, when Canada brings it's own complaints to the US, the reponse is, 'other countries don't dictate our policy' or 'stay out of our business'. Let him waste his breath as far as I'm concerned, until he wants to address a legitimate issue.

    2. Re:go home... by cmat · · Score: 5, Insightful

      If Canada wants access to US movies and music then they have to play by our rules. You're also welcome to not shoot your movies up here in Canada to save money, thanks. It'll help us improve our independent movie industry.
      --
      -- Humans, because the hardware IS the software.
    3. Re:go home... by Roger+W+Moore · · Score: 5, Insightful

      The last time I checked there weren't any US tanks rolling through Canadian streets.

      Perhaps not but there are a good few rolling wherever they are using fuel made from Canadian oil. So lets make a deal: you don't tell us what we can do with your movies and we won't tell you what you can do with our oil.

  2. May I be so presumptuous? by Kimos · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I think I can speak for most Canadians when I say:
    Please, leave us alone. We can run our own country just fine without you.

    1. Re:May I be so presumptuous? by Pojut · · Score: 5, Funny

      I think I speak for many Americans when I say:
      Please help us, we can't run our country!

      --
      Living With a Nerd
    2. Re:May I be so presumptuous? by chazard · · Score: 5, Informative
      The quote from David Wilkins,

      "There's a lot of pirating that goes on, a lot of counterfeiting of movies and songs" and "it really does cost the Canadian economy a huge amount every year, estimated to be from some 10 to 30 billion (dollars) per year,"

      30 million Canadians

      $30 Billion per year

      $1000 per Canadian

      Seems a little excessive!

      Also to claim that it is costing the Canadian economy is actually the opposite of the truth. If Canadians were spending that much and the money was going towards US companies, then the amount of money exported would increase and the value of the Canadian dollar would drop.

      While if the money is spent on Canadian based items, or investments, it actually benefots the Canadian economy more than anything else.

      Scary thing is that Stevie the Cowboy will likely agree to this...

    3. Re:May I be so presumptuous? by cHALiTO · · Score: 5, Funny

      Heh That would be:

      "Fuck off! / Tabarnak ton camp, criss d'asti de chien sale, man!"

      --
      "Luck is my middle name," said Rincewind, indistinctly. "Mind you, my first name is Bad." -- Terry Pratchett
  3. Hmmmmmm by 6-tew · · Score: 5, Insightful

    As a Canadian and a copywrite holder I say, you do what you like there, and we'll do what we like here. It's your country, have fun! But this is our country and we'll do as we damn well please.

    We have more pressing problems. Social problems, economic and political problems. Copywrite? We've got bigger fish to fry.

  4. The US Ambassador is a TROLL by Fox_1 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Every week he seems to make a few comments bashing Canada, usually at public events, and typically without any real justification. Some of these comments are patently false, or non-applicable to the Canadian reality, many of them are mean spirited and seem to be designed to damage the historically good relations between Canada and the US. The guy is single handedly responsible for 78% of the anti- american sentiment in Canada.

    --
    The rock, the vulture, and the chain
  5. Re:While I can understand Canadians taking offense by Dr+Caleb · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "It seems to me (and I know I'll get flamed for this) that the US is only trying to protect its exports. This is not an example of bullying or trying to run the whole world."

    Yes, that's exactally what it is. (Of course, you expected to get flamed!). Do you not recall the Slashdot story, where the claim that movies are generally pirated in Canada was false? The RIAA's own information contradicts that assertion:

    http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/02/05/16 6216

    So, this is the RIAA, using it's bought and paid for Senators to try to influence politics in another country. Guess how much US Senators like Canadian politicians giving them advice? (Like 'don't go to Iraq'). About the same as we like US 'Ambassadors' telling us what we should do in our own country.

    --
    "History doesn't repeat itself, but it does rhyme." Mark Twain
  6. I'm American by rolfwind · · Score: 5, Interesting

    and I want to apologize for my country's behavior.

    Canada - please urge your politicians to tell our politicians to go f*** themselves.

  7. Everyone sing along now... by basic0 · · Score: 5, Funny

    AMERICA! Fuck yeah! Comin' again to save the motherfuckin day yeah! AMERICA! Fuck yeah!

    I'd post the rest of the lyrics, but they're copyrighted.

  8. Thanks, USA, this will help keep things the same! by BemoanAndMoan · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Never has it been more true than during this shining era of Bush Administration that the world at large has been inclined to take America's advice to change, to "jackboot themselves into line", as an indication they are doing something right. This will only make us Canadians way more likely to loosen, rather than tighten, legislation.

    The thing about your World Stage move from friend to bully is that nobody will take you seriously any more, not unless you pull out your big stick. For 'friends' this stick has always been your deep pockets, but thanks to your recent choices in leadership has been whittled away.

    Before Bush: $1 US = $1.68 CDN. Today: $1 US = $1.16 CDN (and its been as low as $1.10).

    Not such a big stick anymore...top that off with your rough foriegn policy and the increasing ease of global commerce, and suddenly we don't really care so much anymore when you get mad at us.

    And, to be clear, dear Americans, this isn't "the politicians" talking, this is America talking...you vote for them, you let them run your country, they are your voice as surely and purely as anything you say yourselves. Only citizens of a dictatorship get to cry innocent.

    Sooner or later you guys are going to have to take back what your elected weasels have taken from you. Until then, come on up North, we'll watch some downloaded movies, smoke some fine Cuban cigars, do some online gambling, throw rice at a couple of ladies getting married and freeze our asses off (hey, it's still Canada).

  9. Re:Money talks by multisync · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The US is a huge net exporter of copyrighted materials.


    They are also a net importer of oil from Canada. Maybe it's time to turn off the tap.
    --
    I don't care why you're posting AC