U.S. Adds Canada to Piracy "Priority Watch List"

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 30, 2009 - 9:50am.

Washington - The U.S. Trade Representative on Thursday placed Canada, Algeria and Indonesia on its Priority Watch List of nations seen as havens for piracy.

The new "Special 301" report marks the first time Canada was placed on the list, due to "increasing concern about the continuing need for copyright reform, as well as continuing concern about weak border enforcement."

"In this time of economic uncertainty, we need to redouble our efforts to work with all of our trading partners -- even our closest allies and neighbors such as Canada -- to enhance protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights in the context of a rules-based trading system," said Ambassador Ron Kirk in the report.

The USTR also removed Korea from the Watch List, "in recognition of the significant improvements it has made during the past year, and the Korean Government's policy direction of continuing to place a priority on improving its IPR regime."

Related Links:
http://snipurl.com/h3xrn (USTR statement)

http://theesa.com/newsroom/release_detail.asp?releaseID=61

Published in DMW Daily, April 30, 2009

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Comments

DRM are illegal to start with

Submitted by Mectron (not verified) on April 30, 2009 - 10:51am.

International crime organisations such as the MPAA/RIAA are not happy about canada putting the rights if it's citizen before the the rights of know extremly dangerous criminals gangs(MPAA/RIAA). What the Obama just did if proving to the world that he is just a puppet in the hand of the most dangerous cartel of illegal companies operating in the world today: The MPAA/RIAA. Now that we are on "the List" maybe we could get our DVD at a fair price? (less then 5$ each like in other members of the pretigious list)

US double standards

Submitted by anonymous (not verified) on April 30, 2009 - 1:31pm.

With the U.S. Special 301 Report set for release today, Consumers International has released its own IP Watchlist. This list of 16 countries found that consumers benefit most from the laws in India and South Korea, while the UK is the most restrictive. It also noted that the U.S. applies a double standard, with "far more flexibility for U.S. consumers than for people in the countries they criticize."

When the USofA says

Submitted by anonymous (not verified) on May 1, 2009 - 8:46pm.

When the USofA says something we should all bend! and say YES. This is the rule of today until changes happen we submit to will of the USofA. "You are either with us or against us" G.W. Bush.