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U.S. Copyright Report More Rhetoric Than Reality

Posted by Zonk on from the more-bark-than-bite dept.

CanuckGamer writes "Michael Geist has up a great article debunking the U.S. 'Special 301' report that is set to be released this week. The annual copyright report criticizes dozens of countries on their copyright practices, yet Geist notes that the policies are subject to growing criticism within the U.S. and that few countries are actually listening since most ignore the recommendations. 'While the report will generate media headlines and cries for immediate action from Industry Minister Maxime Bernier and Canadian Heritage Minister Bev Oda, the reality is that Canada's record on intellectual property protection meets international standards. Moreover, differences between the U.S. and Canadian economies - the U.S. is a major exporter of cultural products and has therefore unsurprisingly made stronger copyright protection a core element of its trade strategy while Canada is a net importer of cultural products with a billion dollar annual culture deficit - means that U.S.-backed reforms may do more harm than good.'"

13 of 123 comments (clear)

  1. The Shat you say? by xxxJonBoyxxx · · Score: 5, Funny

    Canada is a net importer of cultural products with a billion dollar annual culture deficit...


    Is that with or without William Shatner?
    1. Re:The Shat you say? by Bearpaw · · Score: 3, Funny

      I think William Shatner was born in Canada but lives in California. If true, I believe that would mean he's part of the US cultural deficit.

    2. Re:The Shat you say? by PFI_Optix · · Score: 3, Funny

      Once you export something, it stays exported. You don't get to count it every year just because it was made in your country.

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    3. Re:The Shat you say? by Pollardito · · Score: 2, Funny

      Once you export something, it stays exported. You don't get to count it every year just because it was made in your country. maybe we only have a William Shatner license, did anyone read the EULA?
    4. Re:The Shat you say? by Battle_Ratt · · Score: 2, Funny

      You've had Celine Dion in Vegas for a couple of years. Is she yours now? If so good, you can keep her.

  2. Re:What Canada should say to the US by ahsile · · Score: 3, Funny

    Oh crap... they're going to invade us next!

    I guess we should hide because that's what we do best. So, uh... let's see. Roughly 10 million square kilometers and about 30 million people. I don't want to see anyone else within 300 square meters of me!

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  3. Damn Canadians by Bullfish · · Score: 5, Funny

    They just keep acting like they are a whole other country!

  4. Re:A billion-dollar cultural deficit? by ohearn · · Score: 4, Funny

    Heck it assumes the US has a culture. //takes toungue out of cheek

  5. Re:the U.S. is a major exporter of cultural produc by teh_chrizzle · · Score: 4, Funny

    the U.S. is a major exporter of cultural crap.

    the U.S. is a major exporter of crap.

    there, i fixed it for you :-)

    --
    sarcasm:
    -noun
    1. harsh or bitter derision or irony.
  6. Re:A billion-dollar cultural deficit? by Opportunist · · Score: 2, Funny

    Of course not anymore since they gotta export every bit of it.

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  7. Re:What Canada should say to the US by Bullfish · · Score: 4, Funny

    The republicans wouldn't stand for invading and annexing Canada. If you consider that the Canadian conservatives are to the left of the US democratic party, in the long run, it would lead to the addition of about 30 million democrat voters. Better to buy them out.

  8. HTTP Status 301 - http://copyright.ca by javaxjb · · Score: 2, Funny

    Moved Permanently Use http://copyright.us/

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    Programmers in mirror are brighter than they appear
  9. Re:Canada should thank Bush by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Watson Ladd is still an idiot.