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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.
is this something good for swiss business, or something bad?
I mean tax havens are doing great as well.
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."
Yup. Just moved all my personal stuff to hostpoint.ch.
They give you free SSL, ssh access, and they need a warrant before they'll release anything, *and* they'll tell you if a warrant has been issued.
I've got nothing to hide. My life is disturbingly normal and boring, but it's the principle of the thing. I don't think government should rifle through every piece of my postal mail, and I don't think they should do the same to my email / digital data either.
Physicists get Hadrons!
Swiss and Slashdotters: We are shocked. Shocked!
Bittorrent: Your files, sir.
(-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
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.
its means they are afraid of the extra freedom/rights your country affords you. That also means they are trying to take away those freedoms, like they took away from their own citizens. Best to just ignore them and let them squawk.
by TheSpoom (715771) Uncaring Linux user here. I have nothing to add to this but please continue. *munches popcorn*
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.
News @ 11
Wow, didn't take long for Godwin's law to be fulfilled this time. Yes, like all tax havens, the Swiss have provided secrecy and safe haven for the worst of humanity and continue to do so. That's along with Panama, Bermuda, Camen Islands, Jersey & Guernsey, etc. And that's where American billionaire's and corporations hide the fruits of their illegal and immoral activities too. You should check out Jane Mayer's book, "Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right" to see just how depraved it gets and US' involvement in the Nazi holocaust.
...is probably that the whole copyright shit is based on the Berne Convention.
Take a guess where Berne is. Hint: It's in the link.
We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.