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US Group Calls Canada a Top Copyright Violator

eldurbarn tips a CBC story reporting that the US-based International Intellectual Property Alliance claims Canada has joined Russia and China among the biggest violators of US copyright law. Quoting: "The group's report is the latest to urge the US government into pressuring Ottawa to reform copyright laws." As we have previously discussed here, the current Conservative government had planned to introduce a new copyright law, but dissent from the privacy commissioner and a groundswell of public protest delayed that action. eldurbarn adds, "What makes this story so important now is that this pressure is being applied at a time and in a manner that may cause the Canadian government to fall, forcing an election." Meanwhile, on the other side of the rapidly heating debate, Michael Geist blogs about the forces arrayed against a Canadian DMCA. The Business Coalition for Balanced Copyright, which includes a who's who of the telecom, Internet, retail, and broadcast communities, has outlined a list of its copyright reform demands.

10 of 293 comments (clear)

  1. Too bad they don't have that much oil... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    ... otherwise an invasion could have taken care of this.

    1. Re:Too bad they don't have that much oil... by Intron · · Score: 2, Funny

      You can have Alberta. I'm volunteering to invade Montreal.

      --
      Intron: the portion of DNA which expresses nothing useful.
  2. This seems familiar somehow ... by dkleinsc · · Score: 2, Funny

    Blame Canada! Blame Canada!
    Because our copyrighted swill
    gives us the right to kill

    Blame Canada! Blame Canada!
    We need the right to sue
    for a case of LaBatt Blue

    (further verses are left as an exercise to the reader)

    --
    I am officially gone from /. Long live http://www.soylentnews.com/
  3. Re:FUCK copyright law. by Yetihehe · · Score: 4, Funny

    Seriously, isn't that what you want to hear a politician just come out with? I'm so sick of greedy pricks in suits going around attacking anyone and everyone for infringing on their precious IP, and getting quoted in the media. Ignore them, for god's sake.
    --
    == yetihehe ==
    "My totem is too great for your desperate fighting techniques!" - T. Hawk (Super Street Fighter II)

    --
    Extreme Programming - Redundant Array of Inexpensive Developers
  4. Re:Breaking American Laws by SimonGhent · · Score: 5, Funny

    The RIAA and MPAA are not welcome to a single cent of the tax we pay on blank media. It's a Canadian tax. It goes to the CRIA ( you know, the Canadian Recording Industry Association) (and presumably other Canadian organizations).

    Which presumably goes to support the likes of Bryan Adams and Celine Dion?

    I'd rather it went to the RIAA, MPAA, Microsoft, Al-Qaeda or hell... pretty much anyone!

    --
    simon
  5. Re:Breaking American Laws by tbannist · · Score: 1, Funny

    Actually, from what I hear, the CRIA holds on to all of the money, "in trust" to pay for bribes to politicians to raise the levy.

    --
    Fanatically anti-fanatical
  6. Yeah! Canada wins again! by loftwyr · · Score: 5, Funny

    We're number one! We're number one! We're number one!

    You other American law breaking countries never had a chance!

  7. I believe I speak for Canada when I say by Coraon · · Score: 2, Funny

    Get your Lobbyists off me you damn dirty DMCA!!!

    --
    -Ours is the wisdom of Solomon, the magic of Merlyn, the fall of Icaris.
  8. Sovereignty is overrated. by Jesus_666 · · Score: 4, Funny

    If I was a Canadian politician I would point out instances where US citizens inside the USA violate Canadian law.


    As a German, I can just point out that many Americans are in gross violation of German road traffic law (for example, they're overtaking on the right side all the time) as well as German gun regulations. Also, no American carries an ID card compliant with 1-2, PersAuswG (the German ID card law). Those violations have to stop immediately!

    Also, most American laws are not written in the German language, which is at odds with the German basic law. What kind of rogue country are the USA?

    --
    USE HOT GRITS WITH STATUE OF NATALIE PORTMAN (NAKED AND PETRIFIED)
    1. Re:Sovereignty is overrated. by Max+Littlemore · · Score: 2, Funny

      As a German, I can just point out that many Americans are in gross violation of German road traffic law (for example, they're overtaking on the right side all the time) as well as German gun regulations.

      As an Australian, I'd like to point out that driving on the right side of the road is illegal, dangerous and incredibly stupid. You are likely to kill yourself and the poor soul you collide with.

      I will be lobbying my goverment to tell your goverment to get into line immediately.

      Oh, and overtaking on the right is perfectly legal if it is safe to do so, overtaking on the left is a no no.

      --
      I don't therefore I'm not.