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.'"

Comments

Ummm....

[Anonymous Coward]

"Debunking" means that you've demonstrated that something is false, not that you think it should be disregarded.

Re:Ummm....

[ShieldW0lf]

If we are trading a billion dollars worth of minerals, water, energy, lumber and manufactured goods out for a billion dollars worth of permission to something that would be free for the taking if we changed our laws, it makes it pretty fucking clear what we should do.

We should dump the laws entirely. If that means trade drops such that we keep our billion dollars worth of stuff for ourselves and don't receive a billion dollars worth of empty "permission to copy" notes, we are much better off.

The fact that it isn't happenening speaks to the motives of our elected officials.

The Shat you say?

[xxxJonBoyxxx]

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

Is that with or without William Shatner?

Re:The Shat you say?

[Bearpaw]

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.

Re:The Shat you say?

[PFI_Optix]

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

Re:The Shat you say?

[Znork]

Unless it's protected by intellectual monopoly legislation. Then you get to count it until the monopoly expires.

Really tho, Industry Minister Maxime Bernier and Canadian Heritage Minister Bev Oda should take a good hard look at how multiple hundreds of millions of dollars transferred out of the Canadian economy, and consequently the loss of a fair number of jobs, would serve Canadian industry or Canadian cultural workers.

What Canada should say to the US

[kilgortrout]

You need our oil more than we need your movies:

http://www.eia.doe.gov/pub/oil_gas/petroleum/data_ publications/company_level_imports/current/import. html

Now go piss off.

Re:What Canada should say to the US

[ahsile]

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!

Re:What Canada should say to the US

[dykofone]

I'm an American, but it's this oil thing that has made me actually consider moving to Canada:

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0872964.html

Canada has the world's second largest oil reserve after Saudi Arabia. Why are they importing instead of exporting right now? Because oil is currently dirt cheap, compared to what it will be in 20 years. Canada is just sitting back, watching the world tear itself apart over oil, all the while not sharing what they have.

Watch it, Canada will be the new superpower in a couple decades. That, or we'll just invade them.

Re:What Canada should say to the US

[Bullfish]

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.

Re:What Canada should say to the US

[TubeSteak]

Why are they importing instead of exporting right now? Because oil is currently dirt cheap, compared to what it will be in 20 years. Canada is just sitting back, watching the world tear itself apart over oil, all the while not sharing what they have.

If you knew anything about the oil business, you'd know that Canada's oil reserves are locked up in tar sands and under peat bogs. Oil prices have to stay over $60/barrel for Canada to remain a viable source of oil.

Watch it, Canada will be the new superpower in a couple decades. That, or we'll just invade them.

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1614 000,00.html
Estimates of Iraq's oil reserves have recently been doubled.
The US already invaded them, so I think Canada is safe for a while yet.

Cultural?

[ingo23]

"the U.S. is a major exporter of cultural products"

I think the word you are looking for is "entertainment". Unless you forgot the quotes.

Boo!

[Itninja]

Good thing the headline isn't slanted or editorialized. Oh wait....

Extending copyright is important

[$RANDOMLUSER]

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.

Re:Extending copyright is important

[cpt kangarooski]

No, what determines the term length is the nature of the author. Terms run for the life of the author plus 70 years, except for anonymous works, pseudonymous works, and works made for hire, which run either 95 or 120 as you describe. Who holds the copyright has nothing to do with the term length. An author can assign his copyright to a corporation, but the term is still measured based on his life.

Re:A billion-dollar cultural deficit?

[Lockejaw]

Using the term "cultural deficit" doesn't seem quite right -- it implies that the USA has a cultural surplus.

Damn Canadians

[Bullfish]

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

Re:A billion-dollar cultural deficit?

[ohearn]

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

Re:the U.S. is a major exporter of cultural produc

[teh_chrizzle]

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 :-)

The USA... of course.

[asninn]

Just out of curiosity, what business do the USA have criticising other country's copyright laws, anyway? If Canada - for example - told the USA that their copyright laws are inadequate and need to be overhauled, they'd quickly be told to mind their own damn business and not meddle in other countries' internal affairs - and rightfully so, too. Why do the USA think that they have the right to do the same thing?

Or, more specifically: why don't the PEOPLE see anything wrong with it when the administration(s) (both past and present) think they have the right to meddle in the affairs of other countries?