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US Group Calls Canada a Top Copyright Violator

Posted by kdawson on from the got-tubes-and-not-afraid-to-use-them dept.

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.

9 of 293 comments (clear)

  1. What makes them think... by IceRa · · Score: 5, Insightful

    that US copyright law applies in Canada??

    --
    Sig? Where I go, I don't need ... sigs.
    1. Re:What makes them think... by Ubergrendle · · Score: 5, Insightful

      This issue is that lobby groups in the US are trying to influence trade policy, to force Canada to fall in line. Canada has had to keep up with alot of WIPO / WTO copyright changes over the years just to stay a member. The US could easily say "well if you don't honour our IP, we won't let you trade lumber...".

      The US, being the largest economic superpower (still!), and our largest trading partner, has alot of leverage that they're not afraid of using. You know that softwood lumber dispute? The one that the US lost at NAFTA, WTO, etc time and time again? The US just stonewalled Canada...we eventually conceded some tariffs in the interest of saving our domestic industries, even though by every treaty under the sun we were free and clear.

      Canada has a number of laws making copyright work for the benefit of society. I don't agree with all of them, but I understand their purpose. The first is CANCON, laws promoting the distribution of Canadian generated media based on quotas. e.g. Don't meet a quota, you lose your broadcast license.

      There's practical exceptions too. Copyright is null-and-void for organisations translating media into formats that make them accessible to visually or audio-impaired individuals. e.g. Library can MAKE books on tape for subjects that might not be commercially availably; or they can reprint large font editions.

      I worry that our relaxed personal use copyright laws are in jeopardy on a daily basis. Fortuntely the Canadian government is slightly more accessible to the public than the US congress, so we hve some safeguards in place. (note: i said ~slightly~)

      --
      John Maynard Keynes: "When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do?"
  2. How dare Canada introduce the DMCA? by Malevolent+Tester · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It's the British government's job to kowtow shamelessly to American commercial interests. Who do these colonials think they are? They'll be wanting to extradite innocent people next.

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    If you haven't made a developer cry, you've wasted a day.
    1. Re:How dare Canada introduce the DMCA? by Tony+Hoyle · · Score: 5, Informative

      You're not up to date. The US no longer has to apply for extradition.. in fact it's perfectly legal for them to send bounty hunters over here, grab who they want, and ship them back to the US for tort.. err, sorry.. humane treatment. (Source).

      It is of course not legal for the UK to reciprocate.

  3. In other news.... by Sepiraph · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Canadian Group Calls U.S.A. a Top Humans Rights Violator.

  4. Violator of US Law by whisper_jeff · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Canada is one of the biggest violators of US copyright law? That's ok - the US is one of the biggest violators of Canadian tax law. Oh, wait. What's that? The US isn't bound by Canadian tax laws? Oh. Interesting that. I guess that sort of thing tends to happen when your a different country and make your own laws...

  5. 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!

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    simon
  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. Re:FUCK copyright law. by Midnight+Thunder · · Score: 5, Insightful

    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.

    There are some politicians in the US who don't seem to understand the Canada is a soverign country, not under US rule. Maybe they do understand and are simply peeved about it. As a soverign country we do as we please, and we believe that copyright holders can either charge a copyright levy or sue copyright violators, but not both.

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    Jumpstart the tartan drive.