Slashdot Mirror
US Calls Switzerland An Internet Piracy Haven (torrentfreak.com)
An anonymous reader writes: The Office of the United States Trade Representative has published its annual Special 301 Report calling out other nations for failing to live up to U.S. IP enforcement standards. This year European ally Switzerland has been placed on the Watch List for protecting file-sharers and playing host to many pirate sites. "Generally speaking, Switzerland broadly provides high-levels of IPR protection and enforcement in its territory. Switzerland makes important contributions to promoting such protection and enforcement internationally, including in bilateral and multilateral contexts, which are welcomed by the United States," the USTR writes in its assessment.
What, because they refused to bow down and enforce the US's laws in their territory? That's worthy of being placed on an international watchlist now - at the same level as Russia and China, no less?
"Set a man a fire, he'll be warm for the rest of the night. Set a man afire, he'll be warm for the rest of his life."
Good. It's only bad for Swiss business if the products pirated by the Swiss come directly from other Swiss people.
But if they are pirating software from foreigners, then the money is obviously staying within the economy to be spent on more relevant resources that aren't capeshit movie #235, a Justin Bieber album, or another broken EA game that's 90% DLC.
The title is misleading. "US calls "Switzerland..." implies "US population calls Swiss population...", which we all know didn't happen. The correct title of this article is "US government calls Swiss government..."
That is, unless you actually believe in the fairy tale that government and the people are one and the same.
Depends on who you are. Personal rights always look bad to people in control. Just ask China. They call the US a heaven for improper speech.
Welcome Switzerland, we were getting lonely and will enjoy the company on this prestigious list. We have been on it for years now and if our politicians would listen to the people they represent we would be much higher on the ranking.
FFS, the list pretty much says that the countries on the list wont completely bend over for the US. I think its time Canada reminds the US what happened in 1812, the last time they tried to invade our country.. its the same thing now, except the US is doing it through trade, I welcome anyone from the US to come visit and see how many sh!ts we give and if your all butt hurt about it you have my condolences. at least if we get butt hurt we can go to a doctor and get it checked out for free.
People in Switzerland start to be really annoyed by the US behavior. More and more people now consider the US as a big bully. No surprise that more and more people even in Switzerland start to see Russia and China as valid partners (Switzerland even signed a free trade agreement with China). A quick example, the US forced Switzerland to automatically provide information on bank account but at the same is refusing to do the same. Regarding IP laws, any change will be fought by the people and it is certain that it will trigger a referendum. I think that the US will keep Switzerland on their black list for a very long time. Now it is no more a question of IP laws, it is a matter to oppose direct change of Swiss laws by a country that is less and less see a valid ally.
The whole ideology of 'intellectual property' proposed by the Americans is unwelcome in Europe. The Americans need to understand that we do not share their greedy 'IP' maximalist agenda, and that we don't want it here. We should place the United States on a corporate totalitarianism watch list, and tell their corporate rulers where to stick their backward laws. I'd like to see patents abolished, and the reach and term of copyright significantly reduced. I hope more forward thinking countries like China will not pander to US blackmail and bullying.
So you are saying to not condemn Those serial killers because there are Other serial killers doing the same? Bravo!