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U.S. Copyright Report More Rhetoric Than Reality
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.'"
"Debunking" means that you've demonstrated that something is false, not that you think it should be disregarded.
Life of the author plus 70 years. For corporate works, 95 years from date of publication or 120 tears from date of creation, whichever is shorter. Of course, most authors are incorporated and the corporation holds the copyright. The whole world needs to use this formula - because Sony and Disney and George Lucas aren't making enough money.
No folly is more costly than the folly of intolerant idealism. - Winston Churchill
Geist raises interesting points, as always. But for a more in-depth look into the sordid history of the Special 301 report, please read Peter Drahos and John Braithwaite's Information Feudalism, if you haven't yet. It's kinda like The Empire Strikes Back, with intellectual property lawyers and the content industry as the Empire, and not only one, but 50+ Darth Vaders.
...that US policymakers don't listen to some guy who serves as an advisor to the Canadian government.
Oh, never mind. We don't even listen to our own scientists who repeatedly tell us about global warming.
blah blah blah
reserves have recently been doubled.
Believing that there will always be more oil somewhere, and as technology advances, there will always be more is like believing that there is pirate treasure in your front yard, and someday someone will invent a metal detector advanced enough for you to discover it.
Peak oil is a reality, the best we can do is continue to push it off while oil gets more and more expensive. You can bet that if oil had remained mere dollars a barrel, we'd be done by now. When oil gets to be $120 a barrel, it'll still be "farther off".
I'm pretty sure the oil companies are making a profit in the tar sands at $30+ /barrel. You may call it "locked up", but as someone who lives in Alberta I can tell you there is a lot of work happening right now to get that oil out of the tar sands.
You also imply that all of the oil in Canada is in the tar sands... That is completely untrue.