Why Canada Does Not Belong On the US Piracy Watchlist

An anonymous reader writes "Each year, the U.S. government places Canada on its piracy watch list, claiming that it is a pirate country similar to China or Russia. This year, Professor Michael Geist and Public Knowledge teamed up to respond to myths about Canadian copyright law with a submission to the USTR focusing on how Canadian law provides adequate and effective protection, how enforcement is stronger than often claimed, why Canada is not a piracy haven, and why Bill C-11 does not harm the interests of rights holders (critics of Bill C-11 digital lock rules will likely think this is self-evident)."

Comments

Simple - Politics

[Anonymous Coward]

(Posting AC because I'm at work)

The reason Canada is on the piracy watch list is simple - Canadian politicians want us to be there so they can have a reason to craft draconian laws that appease big media's wishes. Really, it's that simple - it's political manoeuvring in an effort to get the public to support legislation that is "clearly needed" because, you know, we're on the US's piracy watch list so things must be bad in Canada! We need to fix it. Now just accept these laws that allow warrantless searches and other things that are obscene so I can get my phat payoff cash from Big Media Corp.

Really, it's that simple. And pathetic.

Re:Simple - Politics

[Anonymous Coward]

The ARTISTS have been the only ones saying that piracy DOESNT hurt them. It's the crooked publishers and distributors that are actually hurting the artists.

Did you forget about the scandal where Canadian labels were ACTUALLY PIRATING MATERIAL FROM ARTISTS they didnt have contracts with?

http://www.zeropaid.com/news/93594/canadian-record-labels-settle-royalty-suit-for-50-million/

It happened for YEARS and the case took forever just for the artists to get a FRACTION of what was owed. They were on the hook for ***$6 BILLION*** and they bled the case out long enough to settle for a measly $50 million paid out over a few YEARS. WHAT THE FUCK.

If you take a look around, you'll realize that the tired "sharing music hurts artists" line flat out wrong. The labels are the ones fucking them right out of money....then paying back a FRACTION.

but we DO according to Zoe Addington

[denis-The-menace]

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/1048993--leaks-show-u-s-swayed-canada-on-copyright-bill?bn=1

A U.S. Embassy cable written in April 2009 describes a meeting between
Zoe Addington, director of policy for then industry minister Clement, and U.S. officials.

In contrast to the messages from other Canadian officials, she said that
if Canada is elevated to the Special 301 Priority Watch List (PWL), it would not hamper
and might even help the (government of Canada's) ability to enact copyright legislation,

the cable says.

Days later, Canada was elevated on the piracy watch list.

NOTE: entire post shamelessly stolen from guidryp