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U.S. group wants Canada blacklisted over piracy

BARRIE MCKENNA

From Wednesday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 2:36 AM EDT 14/02/07

Powerful coalition says failure to modernize copyright rules makes country a global hub for bootleg movies, pirated software ...Read the full article

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  1. Bruce Rideout from Phoneyland who's who??? B.C., Canada writes: whaa whaa ....... Pokin you in the eye Big Brother Sharing is caring REMEMBER???
  2. spicydoc redux from beachesarenicein, Kiribati writes: Canada will not have its policies dictated by Americans!!!! ( Quick!! Someone call Gore or Dean to tell us what to do!!)
  3. Andrew Fergusson from Vancouver, Canada writes: Today I call out the editors. This story is completely unbalanced, and fails to point out the bull spewed by this profiteering cartel. Canada doesn't supply one-quarter of the world's video-screener bootlegs -- and that number was made up when people called foul on the original 50%. Furthermore, Canada's copyright laws are quite balance. Cudos to our justice minister for saying 'I do point out to people that the country is not completely bereft of laws in this area.' He has it right. A National Post article complete refutes this entire piece, and I sincerely hope that the Globe and Mail walks away from the promise of conversation when one side is simply fabricating statistics.
  4. Gord Adams from Okanagan, Canada writes: Bruce Rideout and Spicydoc don't seem to realize that pirating is theft. They obviously do not care if someone's property is stolen, but if their own property was stolen I'm sure they'd be slightly upset. Based on their immature comments would it be a stretch to assume they take pride in stealing someone else's property?

  5. p m from vancouver, Canada writes: What's the problem here? The Canadian Government is adamant that there be 'artistic productions' in Canada.
    This stuff is going out with a 'made in canada' label and is counted as 'Canadian Content' in the industry.
    Of course the government wouldn't want to lower that number!1
  6. spicydoc redux from beachesarenicein, Kiribati writes: Gord Adams--my Liberal Party was stolen by Gore and Dean and I want it back!! If Canada clones a mod chip for detecting blatant sarcasm I'll send you one.
  7. paul moore from Canada writes: Does this mean we are being threatened with the denial of watching and listening to insipid American cultural offerings? If so, praise be!
  8. Peter Walker from Calgary, Canada writes: Quote 'Once put on notice, failure to address U.S. concerns could result in trade challenges at the World Trade Organization, plus possible sanctions.' End Quote.

    Funny isn't it, that the USA shoots for sanctions and penalties from the WTO, when it suits them!!

    All the rulings that have gone against them mean nothing, all the Free Trade wars that they have lost mean nothing, and yet they want to threaten us with the very tools from the Courts that they have rejected in their entirety!!

    How convenient for them to pick and choose when they will expect others to abide by the very rulings that they have rejected outright.
  9. Spiny Norman from Georgetown, Canada writes: Organisations like the RIAA and MPAA have a proven track record of lying about everything, all the time; from inventing statistics to misinterpreting data in their favour. The fact that a couple of recent RIAA extortion cases not only failed but resulted in judgements and penalties in favour of their innocent victims, with a host of other cases having been thrown out of court, means that they and their cohorts are growing increasingly desperate to find new revenue streams (such as the proposed levy on mp3 players). Canada's copyright laws were changed in the 1980's to more closely jibe with (then) recently ammended US law, after a massive lobbying effort by Disney to protect the Mouse who was about to drop into the public domain. More recently we've seen the advent in the US of the draconian DMCA (which if nothing else has made the SCO v. IBM case a source of endless amusement). Such efforts, in addition to the nuisance litigation of the past few years, are solely in aid of the shareholders and executives of member corporations; if an actual artist or creator were to benefit from their tactics then they might be worthy of some level of support. Alas, this is neither how things work nor why they do. OF COURSE piracy is bad, but the biggest pirates continue to be the multi-billion dollar entertainment and software industries. Oh, irony, they name is 'Intellectual Property'.
  10. Donal Lafferty from Cambridge, United Kingdom writes: Dear BARRIE MCKENNA, Put your credibility where your mouth is. Do you agree that Canada is a global hub for bootleg movies and pirated software? Yes or No. RSVP
  11. the dude abides from Austria writes: 'Canada remains far behind virtually all of its peers in the industrialized world with respect to its efforts to bring its copyright laws up to date'

    Britain is ranked last in industrial countries as a place to bring up your children and first for youth alcohol abuse.

    USA is ranked first for hommicide crimes or last for safety.

    Australians are the leaders in number of cases of Skin cancer.

    We're pirating too much material? Ok...This is supposed to make Canada look BAD? Canada did not take part in the Illegal war that Iraq is. Which country do you want to live in?
  12. Bobby K from LoveSpace, Canada writes: once again technology advances faster than our cultural sensitivities, and we are left to catch up.

    most of our responses so far have been old fashioned. when some asks, 'how would you like it if someone stole your property?'
    what they forget is that this 'property' can be duplicated an infinite number of times. that is, if i had a loaf of bread and you took it, i'm out one loaf of bread. but if i make you a copy of a digital file, i still have the same file. not only is nothing lost, something is easily replicated.
    how are you going to stop it?
    like it or not we need new copyright laws.
    and there are people who understand the issue making recommendations. the politicians aren't listening because governments are always woefully behind progressive trends and ideas. dig this:

    http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7661663613180520595&q=23c3

    and i agree with the sentiments that there is too much US bashing going on. but my goodness, you don't think the US government or American based companies have NEVER stolen intellectual property?
    you don't get that much power by being honest, not in this world.

    and to point out further hypocrisy, the music industry especially has ripped off a great many artists over the years, it was (and sometimes still is) standard practice in the industry. destroyed lives and careers, taken from gifted performers in the most unethical ways. where was the outrage then?
    and where are all the government committees making efforts to set things right?

    and no, it doesn't justify theft today. but it does seem to me to be a sort of karmic balancing. the entertainment industry is reaping what it has sown.
  13. R. Carriere from Canada writes: Gord Adams from Okanagan,: You have to remember in a socialist/communist society, all property belongs to all comrades.

    Anyway, we couldn't hold a candle to China or India. Gimmee a break!

    What jumped out was the following:

    'The time has come for the United States to send a stern warning to Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government.' Didn't Iraq, North Korea, and Iran ( I must have missed several others) also get 'stern warnings?'

    'Once put on notice, failure to address U.S. concerns could result in trade challenges at the World Trade Organization, plus possible sanctions.' Hmmm-here we go again......challenges and sanctions? What could that mean?
  14. J Harvey from Canada writes: What this amounts to is a publicity campaign based on fraud that the CRIA (Canadian Recording Industry Association) has been mounting over the last several months. I request that the G
  15. Jan Johnstone from Kincardine, Canada writes: aah...SOFTWOOD LUMBER....
  16. J Harvey from Canada writes: What this amounts to is a publicity campaign based on fraud that the CRIA (Canadian Recording Industry Association) has been mounting over the last several months. I request that the G
  17. Gabriel Solomon from Xizhi, Taiwan writes: What does this mean exactly?
    And why does the general public care?
  18. Jeff Gulley from Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic, Canada writes: Oh my god, if the US thinks that Canada is the big bad wolf when it comes to piracy they should give their heads a shake. They should be concentrating their efforts on middle and central Europe, such as where I live: the Czech Republic. NOBODY buys CDs and DVDs here...absolutely nobody. Doesn't stop them from copying and trading though. Also, the Middle East and Asia are much bigger hotbeds, I'm sure. But, unfortunately for Canada, these are regions of the world that don't always lick the mother teat of the USA like we do, so they concentrate their efforts on us. Canadians are by no means innocent in the piracy controversy, but I'm also pretty sure we don't deserve the incessant badgering from the US on the scale that we're getting it too. Show a little perspective.
  19. Paul F. from Toronto, Canada writes: This is a lobbyist piece pure and simple. Let's talk about software piracy.

    A study by the BSA, a corporate anti-piracy organization, states that the value of pirated software in Canada is $735.8 million, in the US $6,496.0 million. The US has the highest value of pirated software of any nation. What is interesting about that stat is that the US value is nearly double that of China. Actually, Canada, according to the study, is BELOW the international average of piracy rates. So why are we being promoted to some blacklist? Clearly, the G&M has decided to be advocate for some lobbyist group here.

    Here is the study:
    http://www.bsa.si/global-piracy-study-data-sheet.pdf

    So which country is a hub for pirated software? Why don't we put the US at the top of the list.
  20. Vince Porter from Canada writes: Intellectual property? Intellectual? Whatever we do to 'protect' it, let's find a better word to describe it. Most of this stuff is to intellectual as Dr. Suess is to Dr. Einstein.
  21. Gerry Pankhurst from Westport, Canada writes: Where are the Harper/Bush conspiracy freaks and the regular Harper/Conservative party bashers when we need them? Surely they are missing an opportunity here. Go for it!
  22. Eric from Toronto from Canada writes: http://www.thestar.com/article/178181 and www.michaelgeist.ca
  23. Eric from Toronto from Canada writes: Yet another example of the U.S dictating to Canada how it should conduct its affairs.
  24. Martin A from Regina, Canada writes: So, the USA is threatening to put Canada to the same status as China? Are we talking the same China who is the USA's biggest trade partner, and bigger bond-holder? If that's the case, that's really good news for Canada!
  25. Andy Garrett Candidate for President of the USA from West Palm Beach, United States writes: R. Carriere: Are we going to have to sanction you guys too? Sounds like you do want your house overran
    with rats. Then again when The Panthers beat the Canadians 1-0 and take the series for the year 3-0-1 then
    something is seriously wrong. Have a good one. Temp here is about 72F for the day, no snow. Andy
  26. Ozzy Rules The World! from Canada writes: Awww I hope they stop selling us their crap then. What the RIAA/MPAA doesn't understand is that people may have cared about this thret 10 YEARS AGO but now with all the garbage coming out of Music and Movies industries I could hardly care if we see another one of their products again and I am sure I am not alone. When they copywrite/DRM anything we should just simply not bother with it (I don't touch it). I own NO copywrited CD's.
  27. R. Carriere from Canada writes: Andy Garrett Candidate for President: Looks like it! 72F with no snow? How's the campaign going? Don't seem to see you an TV. Thought you had enough money by now?
  28. Todd Temple from Barrie, writes: Hey this situation could work to our advantage. I say Harper hold out on new copyright laws until we get oh lets say a quarter million tons of heavy fuel oil.
  29. Anthony B. from Sydney, NS, Canada writes: Intellectual property? Anyone see any 'intellect' in the stuff that comes out of Hollywood?

    If you've ever seen one of those 'camcorded' copies of a movie, you'd realize it's no threat to a legitimate DVD.

    So, the IIPA wants Canada put on the watch list? Why stop there. Now that North Korea has signed the nuclear weapons deal with the US, isn't there a vacancy on the Axis of Evil list?

    But wait, can someone tell me if we still pay a surcharge on the purchase of blank recordable media? Wasn't this supposed to compensate the industry for any losses due to piracy? Good to know I'm paying the folks in Hollywood to record my home movies, but I'm wondering who the real pirates are.
  30. Thomas Price from Whitefish, Canada writes: To the complainants. Research the softwood lumber issue. Try it on and if it fits wear it in good health. The US has about as much credibility in trade issues as they have in 'intelligence' (read GW Bush CV for that reference). At the same time, take a look at domestic pirating that allows both on-shore and off-shore pirated products to be sold in the US and even allows legal importation of the products. Clean up your mess at home then give us a call.
  31. Phlegmatic Pundit from Here and There, Canada writes: We're number one! We're number one! Ca - na - da Ca - na - da!
  32. JimmyO from Ottawa from Ottawa, Canada writes: This article says: 'Unlike in the United States and most other developed countries, videotaping movies in theatres is not illegal in Canada.' Camcording is making a copy of a copyrighted work for purposes of sale or rental so it's a copyright infringement. The MPAA agrees as shown on thier own website http://www.mpaa.org/piracytheatricalcam.asp: 'For example, in Canada camcording is an infringement under the Copyright Act, regardless of whether it is for the public or personal use of the person making the copy.'

    On my first read of this article I thought that sources were missing for statements such as 'Canada's chronic failure ...' and 'The time has come...' (ie I thought that they were statements from some muckedity-muck at RIAA or MPAA or whatever) but then I realized it was this 'reporter' making these statements on his own as if this was a news story rather than just an opinion piece triggered by some complaints by the MPAA. Good work G&M, good work.
  33. bob crier from Toronto, Canada writes: Interesting to see one sided support of Canada and its policies and such strong feelings for our sovereignty. Is it to protect our rights to steal? I think it is about time we get slapped around a little for allowing piracy to flourish on our spoil. Profiteering or not, these companies have a right to charge for their products and services. We don't have to buy if we feel that they charge too much, but it does not mean we start stealing. I hope this gets escalated and US imposes sanctions. It is sickening to see that every time a new movie is released, someone gets it on DVD in a few days. Check amongst all your friends and I am sure you will find all the latest movies and you won't have to pay a cent for it. If this is not illegal, then I am not sure what else is!! Lets not call this digital revolution against the big corporations, this is nothing more than theft, and people should be punished for it. We need to own up our mistakes in this global society.
  34. Andy Garrett Candidate for President of the USA from West Palm Beach, United States writes: Funding continues to be a major struggle. Talk about operating on a shoe string. Hard to get your message out
    and smear your honourable opponents. But if I should win, I'll drop this issue until Hollywood actually produces
    something worth giving legal protection too. As far as legitimate software producers we can work together on
    updating the rules and regulations. I think technology outruns the legal framework we live under. Andy
  35. J L from Ottawa, Canada writes: This article could stand to be re-worked. Canada doesn't have specific camcording laws, but it certainly is illegal. A criminal conviction stemming from an indictment for making available for sale or rental a work in which copyright exists (the Act specifically mentions cinematographic works as eligible) carries a maximum fine of 5 years in jail and a $1m fine. More as quibbles, Industry shares responsibility for copyright with Heritage - a not unimportant point as the two departments serve different interests, which has added to the time it's taken to draft new legislation. Finally, Ottawa is in the process of taking a second stab at copyright legislation since a first bill died with the last government, and is hardly just floating around doing nothing. The last bill was a good compromise, but even in the intervening couple of years since it hit the Commons, the potential for service providers and companies like Apple to provide music and video that can be used across cell phones, PCs, televisions, PDAs, etc. has become clearer, complicating the drafting of legislation that fairly serves both users and creators. Copyright is tough to report on, I know. But this article is one-sided and the absence of any nuance does a disservice to G
  36. Keith M from Kincardine, Canada writes: chretien / harper can't pass / reform an Accountability Act for otherwise honest M.P.s that has any use or teeth .
    chretien / harper can't pass / reform an Election Act that can guard taxpayer money from misuse outside an election campaign and exempts advertising from the Act .
    The Americans know this. How do they expect any legislation unless the politians get their cut ?
  37. The Religious Left from Canada writes: How the Harper government reacts to this will be a good measure for how much they are in the pocket of American business interests. I'll reserve my judgement on the government until I see their policy, but I'm not hopeful.

    In the US, customer laws are such that you never actually own what you buy. Buy an electronic console? You are forbidden by law from changing the circuitry. Did you buy a DVD? No you didn't, you bought the rights to watch it in whatever way the MPAA choses, to be revoked at any time.

    If you care about this issue and don't want American companies controlling your media content, make your voices heard. Mail your local MP, and mail the opposition MP too just for good measure. Let them know that you don't want our copyright laws pandering to American interests.
  38. Al , from Halifax`, Canada writes: Fine, the US blackballs us and we sell our oil to China.
  39. David Bakody from Dartmouth, writes: Not sure about all this, but What's the name of that big American Company that says: 'We don't make the product we just make it better 'Not to worry though 'Dubya' has a birthday soon and Steve will send him yet another cool Billion $'s.... And in the interim he can buy parts and mechanics to fix our aging Coast Guard. Now as far as the WTO, they do accept anything not in their favor period. Shame shame on Canada soon we will be on the Axis of Evil list! History to repeat itself here, could it be 1812!
  40. Lee Turner from Canada writes: So, the big worry here is that since mod chips aren't illegal, gangs are making money off of them? And making mod chips illegal would stop gangs from doing it? That is the argument they are trying to make. Why, in that case, why don't we make drug dealing illegal, and gun trafficking illegal too! That way, we'd put gangs right out of business.
  41. john chuckman from Toronto, Canada writes: Americans have no memory.

    During the 19th century, America was the worst intellectual-property pirate nation in the world.

    It was the regular practice of American publishers to get copies of new books from Europe and print quickie editions without paying the authors or original publishers a cent.

    Charles Dickens, who was both fascinated and repulsed by America, was extremely upset over this practice, attempting to get some satisfaction on his tour of America but with no success.

    Some of the thieving publishers were ones who would become big names in the 20th century, firms who wouldn't dream of doing what they once did.

    America also constantly stole designs and plans from European technology. New migrants often brought copies of drawings or even entire versions of some proprietary device with them.

    What happens in China today is an old practice in developing countries, one America mightily benefited from, and Americans' self-righteousness over it is almost laughable.
  42. Sandy G. from Canada writes: Cut off their bloody oil. That should shut them up.
  43. Michael Doyon from Canada writes: I cannot even fathom the gall of these silly Americans. Excuse me for a moment here...Canada is a sovereign nation and not part of your Bush league empire ! Yup....that means the we make our own laws and run our own country the way we see fit. So 'BUD OUT' of our business !
    I have learned that every decision I make has consequences and maybe it’s time these Americans learn that lesson too.
  44. Ryan Peatt from Ottawa, Canada writes: We cannot allow policy to be dictated to us by foreign governments, let alone foreign corporations!
  45. Midtown Bob from Toronto, Canada writes: The powerful International Intellectual Property Alliance??
    I've never heard of them, tell them to take their complaints down the hall to the ' Who Cares' department.
  46. Alexander Slimnich from Canada writes: The problem is not with our copyright laws - they already make much of the activity complained about in the article illegal - but with enforcement. How many times have pirated DVD stores in places like Pacific Mall been busted.. only to reopen weeks later, with no real consequences to the perpetrators?

    The real problem I have with this article is it's really an opinion piece rather than news. It's 'fair and balanced' in a Fox News way. It makes no mention that 'modernizing' our copyright laws means enacting legislation similar to the DMCA in the US.. with all it's inherent flaws (makers of garage door openers and print cartridges have been sued under this absurd law - and it makes it illegal to 'format shift' DVDs for playback on iPods, etc.).

    What we need to do is enforce our current laws, get rid of the legality of downloading music off P2P sites, and get rid of the blank media levies. That, I think, would be the ideal.. not that we'll get anything close to that in reality, unfortunately..
  47. Barry Kojima from Hamilton, ON, Canada writes: Well... seeing as the Hells Angels are the biggest culprit and seeing as how the US sent them up here...

    It's funny that most organized crime in Canada is US based. Well, not funny, but true nonetheless.

    BTW, apparently Canada is also responsible for the snowfall in the eastern United States. At least that's what all their news outlets are reporting.

    Harper better get on this, pronto! Or else... a super-duper giant snow fence?

    All the schools are closed and internet usage is high. Downloading has slowed to a snails pace. US-built technology could fix that, dontchya know.
  48. Sandra Brown from Hamilton, Canada writes: Peter Walker - right on. I'm so sick of this 'holier than thou' and 'better than anyone else in the whole world' attitude of the Americans. Canal Street, New York anyone?
  49. J Law from Canada writes: As a person who lives in or near the world of entertainers I do have to agree with the US on this one.
    People use their talents, their imagination, their money to make a product so to make a living and then some scumbag buys some of what these people produce and burns it and then sells it to others at a cut-rate or just gives it to friends. That is theft. But we have taken stealing from others so lightly we don't even realize we are stealing or care less if people are stealing unless it is stolen from us.
    The US is right, Harper write up some new rules cause theft of others product sucks.
  50. Michael Bowen from Halifax, Canada writes: In an interview last week, Michael Geist, Canada Research Chair on the Internet and E-Commerce, said that the claim that Canada was 'a leading exporter of bootlegged copies of the latest movies' was completely bogus....not supported by data at all. The G&M, in not seeking a more balanced viewpoint on this from a a Canadian source, is being both irresponsible with its journalism and acting as a mouthpiece for American corporate interests. A commenter above provided links to TS article which says that 'AT&T Labs, which conducted the last major public study on movie piracy in 2003, concluded that 77 per cent of pirated movies actually originate from industry insiders and advance screener copies provided to movie reviewers'....there is apparently no evidence at all, other than claims by the organizations with a vested interest, that Canada plays the role this G&M article claims.
  51. been there from Toronto, Canada writes: Well, the real mafia, the IIPA, has now come to Canada demanding that we accept an offer that we can't refuse.

    I am disappointed that in this article, the Globe did not point out, as it had a few days ago, that neutral and sober studies have shown that these claims about Canadian piracy were highly exaggerated, and that the damages are totally inconsequential.

    The tone is nothing but chicken little crying the sky is falling: statements like 'camcorder piracy of movies have reached crisis levels', 'criminal gangs are now involved in this lucrative market' or 'next step is WTR sanctions' are inaccurate propaganda designed solely to manipulate a decent but gullible public.

    There is no merit in their case, and this is a flagrant example of undue extraterritoriality that gives globalization a bad name.

    Ignore them. Just like we ignore chicken little.
  52. Al MacDonald from Think Green, Canada writes: Is this the same WTO that represented both parties in the softwood lumber dispute? The U.S. should know how ineffective they are. Heh! Emmerson, better call up the Hell's Angels and Big Circle Boys and get this thing under control, before Harper hears about it. It obviously hasn't shown up on his radar yet.
  53. Steve Tatone from Ottawa, Canada writes: A Harper minority was bad enough, now we have our legislation written for us by American record producers and moviemakers? No Dice!! NAFTA does NOT apply to cultural matters, and trying to bully the Canadian governent into fining and jailing its own citizens on behalf of Hollywood isn't going to fly up here, because...like the article states...it's just not a priority. So put us on this lists, does that mean hollywood will no longer export their movies here? Yeah right. Will American music stop dominating our airwaves if you put us on this list? Not likely. Is the WTO going to tarriff Canadian cinema imports into the United States? Good luck! This is just some plain old lobbying, it's just that when you lobby in America, you can 'lobby' to get other countries to change their laws. Canada's not going for it, put us up there with Venezuela and China...we don't care...and nothing will change. The U.S. just fleeced us for $1B in lumber, we're not in any mood to roll over and play nice.
  54. rjd - from Canada writes: Time to cut out the middle-man. The people losing out here are rich white americans. We don't need them and no, they do not 'own' the movies. Actors are getting millions of dollars for each flick and they want us to pay. Forget it, the party's over.
  55. RJ Roy from Canada writes: If there's one thing that bothers me the most about all the pro-pirating 'arguments', it's the insistence that it's alright to pirate because the media in question is apparently 'crappy'. So you may not think it's good. There's nothing wrong with that, not all media is made for all people and you're obviously not part of the target audience. But if it apparently sucks so much then why would you need to steal it? Obviously it was good enough for you to want to partake in, so then it's also good enough to pay the fairly marginal fee for a legal copy (seriously, 20$~30$ is not pricy at all for a CD or DVD regardless of what you may think, and there's usually many ways to sample the media -legally- for a lower cost or even free beforehand). Which brings me to the second-most bothering argument, 'I'm poor/a cheap-ass, so it's alright for me to pirate.' But thankfully no one has brought that one up yet.
  56. RJ Roy from Canada writes: Just as an add, I'd like to mention that I don't disagree with the perception that many people have that the media industries need to have the law of capitalism hit them. However, if you arn't going to pay for their products in order to teach them a lesson and force them to change their practices, then don't pirate their products either. By still partaking in their products, you arn't showing them that the products are 'bad' and they need to buck up if they want to continue making money, you're just being a horrible thief.
  57. rjd - from Canada writes: Tom Cruise make 30 million dollars a movie and The Police are charging 225 dollars to see them live and we're supposed to feel sorry for them. Try again. Times they are a changin.
  58. Joseph T from Victoria, Canada writes: RB from Calgary and all the China Haters: Oh my GOD! Canada and piracy.....sounds like China and piracy! C for Canada C for China.....piracy starts with C!
  59. Elmo Harris from Niagara, Canada writes: The U.S. lost all credibility about patent infringement when RIM was forced to pay patent troll NTP hundreds of millions of dollars by coercion. As for the referral to the WTO we can all sit and laugh. Our frequent wins at the WTO over the softwood lumber dispute made absolutely no difference to the US. They have managed to invalidate, NAFTA, WTO, Geneva conventions, the United Nations, and International courts. Our message to the US should be: Suck it up baby, you reap what you sow. Our patents are not safe in the US why should US patents be safe in Canada?
  60. B G from Toronto, Canada writes: Give me 10 minutes on Canal Street in Manhattan and I'll find you three dozen copyright infringements. Perhaps they should look in their own backyard.
  61. Don Adams from Canada writes: Andy Garrett....83 here today :-) no clouds.

    As far as I'm concerned, Harper should just ignore the US on this one.... let the squealing go on. BUT. this time, let it be well known that if we're going to get into another WTO squabble like softwood lumber, that our oil will now be placed on the table. Then just walk away.

    As much as Bush wants to make brownie points, he's sure not going to put Steve's back to the wall if he says Oil is on the table, because he knows Harper is strong enough to do it.

    Gid'day to all from Sunny Dominican. Off for my Spanish lesson :-)
  62. Pierre Laliberte from Toronto, writes: 'Hello Stevie, yeah this this W on the phone. Yeah listen dont take this the wrong way, but I've got this influential group of what? say? no they aint pressuring me for mad caw. No in fact this group represents an industry that steals tons of money from consumers. They just wanted me to call you and let you know that they... euh sorry, that the United States of America believe that your copyright rules are a joke and should be ammended. What? say? sorry? Oh yeah I understand Stevie. No no I know, but it is what it is. I've got this powerful group that I gotta keep feeding.

    Alright Stevie, nice to talk to ya again. Oh by the way, did you get the pirated copy of Blood Diamond I sent you last week?
  63. D B from Canada writes: Michael Giest noted that the camcorder claims have themselves involved wildly different figures. Over the past two weeks, reports have pegged the Canadian percentage of global camcording at either 40 or 50 per cent. Yet the International Intellectual Property Alliance, a U.S. lobby group that includes the MPAA, advised the U.S. government in late September that Canadians were the source for 23 per cent of camcorded copies of DVDs.
    Not surprisingly, none of these figures has been subject to independent audit or review. In fact, AT&T Labs, which conducted the last major public study on movie piracy in 2003, concluded that 77 per cent of pirated movies actually originate from industry insiders and advance screener copies provided to movie reviewers.
    Moreover, the industry's numbers indicate that camcorded versions of DVDs strike only a fraction of the movies that are released each year. As of August 2006, the MPAA documented 179 camcorded movies as the source for infringing DVDs since 2004.
    During that time, its members released about 1,400 movies, suggesting that approximately one in every 10 movies is camcorded and sold as infringing DVDs. According to this data, Canadian sources are therefore responsible for camcorded DVD versions of about 3 per cent of all MPAA member movies.
  64. Lyn Alg from Canada writes: Any bets that Lil' Stevie will be receiving a personal call and a big tug on his puppet strings from Dubya to toughen up Canada's copyright laws? Stevie should have acted on this many months ago without Bush having to yank Stevie's strings. For shame Stevie!
  65. D B from Canada writes: Claims that Canadian copyright law is ill-equipped to deal with camcorder piracy are similarly misleading. Canadian law already renders it illegal to make for sale or rental an infringing copy of a copyrighted work such as movie. The Copyright Act includes severe penalties for violating this provision with the potential for million dollar fines and up to five years in jail.
    Indeed, the MPAA's own website specifically points to Canada as an example of how many countries have laws that prohibit illegal camcording. The movie lobby states, 'in Canada camcording is an infringement under the Copyright Act, regardless of whether it is for the public or personal use of the person making the copy.'
  66. D K from Calgary, Canada writes: When will the Globe stop reprinting press releases, passing it off as reporting? A number of claims in this piece are demonstrably false and others open to ridicule. As already mentioned in this comments section, authoritative commenters who say just that are readily available (viz., Michael Geist or other academics).

    Three things the Globe ought to mention: most pirated movies in Canada are downloaded, not sold; camcording is illegal under the Copyright Act; mod chips and the like are not illegal here for good reason.
  67. Jessica B from Fredericton, Canada writes: I don't believe the article. If there is one thing we can learn from lobby groups and the current government in the US is that you cannot trust their facts - they rate higher in a truthiness kind of way than factually.
    And if the Hells' Angels and other gangs mentioned in the article are supposed to scare me then too bad. I'd rather them bootleg video games and movies than drugs.
  68. Rob Hyndman from Canada writes: What a profoundly mediocre bit of work by Barry McKenna.

    A veritable ode to a cartel: http://www.robhyndman.com/2007/02/14/ode-to-a-cartel/

    Michael Geist has made quick work of it: http://www.michaelgeist.ca/content/view/1679/125/

    work that McKenna should have done before reprinting US media cartel PR.
  69. Lyn Alg from Canada writes: The magnitude of the vitriolic and acerbic responses to this issue damning the Americans appalls me. Come on, fellow Canadians, show some sense of quiet decorum. Please? We're better than this - n'est-ce pas?
  70. Duane Freemantle from writes: This is an attempt by the power brokers in America to embarrass Canada to make a clone of their copyright laws nothing more. There have been stories of an American movie executive claiming that his origination was able to pin point as specific city in Canada that was responsible from a majority of pirating of movies. It is hard to trust someone that has decide to become judge, jury and executioner on a particular subject.
  71. The Religious Left from Canada writes: How do I apply for a journalist position at the Globe? I have no prior experience, but my qualifications include:

    - The ability to paraphrase press releases.
    - A morbid fascination with murder trials.
  72. M T from Canada writes: Hollywood blacklisting Canada would be greatest thing to have ever happened to Canadian culture!
  73. tom levine from Canada, Canada writes: Canada: Yes, Big Brother, I'll follow the command!!!
  74. Paul Jones from kitchener, Canada writes: well, time to give them their proper place among the worlds leading human rights offenders alongside such countries as Russia, China, Iran, etc. perhaps we should cut trade with these violators, maybe even sever ties completly to show that we wont accept pretty words in place of actual improvments in their human rights records.
  75. Richard Atwater from London, Canada writes: Canada's copyright laws are fairly balanced between end users and creators, unlike those of the US and many other countries. Long may it last. If Hollywood wants to blacklist us for thinking of Canadians' needs first before those of the mass culture industry, let them.
  76. Chris Nash from Toronto, Canada writes: The main source of piracy is from the internet. I say if you can get it on the internet, then it is free for your taking. It is in the public domain, so its free. Why don't the movie and music industry people go after those people who host these files online? Another good question is why do they care so much about mod chips, and pirated movies when the box office, and DVD sales are still grossing billions, and video games are making more money that movies! You always hear about movies and music, but how many people watch TV shows they downloaded from the internet? Wouldn't the industry lose more money from people watching TV shows with no commercials than not paying $30 for a movie in a theatre for 2 people?
  77. m fenny from Canada writes: Aside from all the jokes concerning the 'intellect' coming out of Hollywood, the reason intellectual property is important is because we are, or want to become, a knowlegde based economy. The only way to achieve this is through strong intellectual property laws. Sure you can get a brand new movie in Chinatown for $2, but there is a reason why China produces som much widget junk. Because it is the wild west when it comes to intellectual property, and no high-tech company with high-paying skilled jobs would ever open up shop there when everything is stolen.
  78. Barry Kojima from Hamilton, ON, Canada writes: Let's be honest: How many of you have watched a bootleg movie and thanked your lucky stars you didn't pay a ridiculous fee to watch it?

    And yes, if I liked the film or music, I do purchase a legit copy. Many people I know, myself included, 'test drive' purchases.

    Please don't tell me that's what trailers are for... The Departed is a great example of over-hyped, star engourged crap.
  79. John E7 from Salt Spring Island, Canada writes: Hehe more tit for tat. Notice the increased noise coming out of USA (over this issue) shortly after we call them to task over agricultural subsidies...
  80. After school, by the bike racks from canada, Canada writes: I did get a kick out of the comments by Martin A from Regina, who points out that being grouped with China is not all bad.

    I also appreciate those who pointed out that this piece is paraphrased without any analysis.

    Piracy is illegal, and as with all illegal activities it is nearly impossible to achieve accurate numbers on how bad the problem is. So the numbers in this story are (at best) highly questionable.

    This is a strategic move by this lobby group. They know that Canada will be more receptive to their complaints than other countries, especially when we are grouped with Russia and China et al. They are trying to embarrass Harper into prioritizing this issue. What they don't understand is that this becomes a hot potato for Harper and he likely won't touch it now, at least until he has a majority.

    Criticism by groups like this brings out anti-Americanism in Canadians, and Harper can't afford to appear any more in their pocket than he already does.

    In the end, not much will happen here for a long time. This lobby group is powerful, but not that much outside the US.
  81. Elmo Harris from Niagara, Canada writes: Geez I hate to have to listen to dumb a$$e$. Duest kowall misses the point entirely. He says “The money that was 'lost' by investors is money they never should have had in the first place had trusts been taxed long ago” and “Having no tax on trusts essentially encourages consumption rather than investment because the money paid out to retirees is used for spending and living expenses.” Oh, and this is choice “So please, think about your country as a whole rather than the marginal benefit accrued to your investments.” Well, Duest, let me start with the last first. The ‘marginal benefit’ as you put it amounts to over $900 for every man, women, and child in this country. Like the value your house loses when you have discovered it is loaded with carcinogenetic insulation and is filled with radon gas. Take 30% right off the top. How do you like that? We could say that it was money you should never had in the first place. That 30 billion that was lost in the income trust fiasco is value that is gone and we will all pay for the stupid way in which this affair was handled. The second point you make is almost too stupid to comment on. The money that the retirees invested was precisely to be used for spending and expenses – that is the whole idea behind investing for retirement! The very bottom line about this is that a mature, experienced and rational government could have handled this in such a way that would have prevented more income trusts from forming while at the same time protecting the value of current trusts and the life savings of retirees and other investors.
  82. Watson Jones from United States writes: The top rated shows and movies in Canada are pretty much all American, not to mention that people want stations like ESPN but can't get them unless, like many Ontarians, they illegally purchase a satellite dish in the US...Oh, is this not also piracy???
  83. Philosopher King from True North, Canada writes: The article says, 'Once put on notice, failure to address U.S. concerns could result in trade challenges at the World Trade Organization, plus possible sanctions.' Given their reaction to the WTO concerning softwood lumber, I guess this means we can ignore this for a few years and then offer to give them back only part of the money? I guess it's true what they say: What goes around comes around.
  84. Frankie @^_^@ from hamilton, Canada writes: CNN ALERT !!!!!!! The Americans as we speak are sending an armada of 102 ships, which include the 4,7,and 9th navy up along both coasts to set up a blockade of Canada for not doing what they say. Bush is secretly meeting all the record company executives at the Pentagon to work out a course of action. A CNN spokesman pointed out that the bombing of all Canadian broadcast facilities. as well as Canadian entertainment companies and also all internet hubs are not ruled out. The spokesman pointed out that with no entertainment in Canada , that that Canadians would be forced to buy all their entertaiment from the States.
  85. Stop Shaking Your Head from Toronto, Canada writes: Empty rhetoric coming from a greedy special interest group. Camcorders are not allowed in any theatres in Canada. We just feel that sending people to jail for trying is a little harsh. Expulsion and fines suffice. And what does it matter what our laws are when groups such as the Hell Angels are the problem? They are not known as a law-abiding group. Personally, I go to a lot of movies and I have never seen a camcorder ever (and I usually sit at the back). Camcording is obviously done in empty or near empty theatres and is extremely hard to do without cooperation from theatre staff (whether it be the staff themselves, friends of the staff or people paying off the staff to cooperate)... and this phenomenon is no more common in Canada than it is in the U.S.
    It should be the theatre industry's responsibility to police themselves. They should invest money in metal detectors at theatre entrances rather than laying the burden to protect their profits on legislators and the rest of society. All the laws in the world don't make a difference if it is still extremely easy to camcorder a movie in a theatre with little or no security.
  86. Two Cents from Toronto, Canada writes: It hurts because it's true. Canada isn't really serious about fighting piracy. Just go to Chinatown in downton Toronto, Pacific Mall in Scarborough or First Markham Place in Markham and you'll see all the bootleg DVDs, etc. Why can't the government enlist the help of these malls? Fine the malls steeply (millions? significant jail time?) if they allow piracy businesses in their malls.
  87. I Am Still Learning at 76 from Regina, Canada writes: Is this just another result of the secret North American Union meetings that have been going on behind closed doors for the past several years?
    You have seen nothing yet, wait till the main course comes. Talk about a sell out to the USA.
    God bless our Grandchildren.
    As the Harper Government says 'God bless Canada'
    Have a good day everyone !
  88. C Bruner from Toronto, Canada writes: Does the Globe and Mail make it a practice to simply regurgitate press releases, or do they actually provide balanced reporting?

    Lets get a few facts into this article please!! Canada's copyright laws actually work quite well, and frankly, if its a choice between the US way, or joining, Belize, Venezuela, China, Turkey, Indonesia, Ukraine and Russia, I'll join the later group!

    Canada actually has a reasonable balance between consumer and corporate rights, and its just a pity that the Globe and Mail didn't see fit to actually 'report' on the issue!
  89. Crusty Curmudgeon from Ottawa, Canada writes: Piracy is illegal -- hmm. Why is it illegal? Could it be because the people who are already millionaires many times over within the industry have the money to buy the politicians who make the laws so that pirates get harrassed?

    If everyone in the industry was making a decent wage, as opposed to making more money in 1 hour than I make in a year, then they might have a case against pirates and I would be the first one to defend the industry.

    From my point of view -- these people who keep claiming that it is stealing may be 'legally' correct, but I just don't see any tangible visible proof of who exactly is getting hurt by piracy -- to the point where they don't have enough to live well.
  90. Library 38 from Toronto, Canada writes: This is a very disappointing article to read in a paper of the Globe & Mail's calibre. It's not reporting, it's simple regurgitation of a lobbyist press release and it's wrong.

    The claim that Canada is a 'global hub of piracy' came from the lobbyists whose interest it is to make such a claim.

    Statements made about the legality of camcording a movie are simply wrong. It is an infringement of copyright under s. 3(1) of the Copyright Act to copy, without the copyright owner's permission, a movie, subject to narrow fair dealing exceptions, such as for research or criticism. The exceptions would not include sale to others.

    You don't need to go to journalism school to learn that basic fact checking and questioning the bias of sources is a necessary step in reporting the story. This reporter should be demoted to the mailroom, the Globe & Mail should run a retraction and the editors should apologize for deceiving the Canadian public.
  91. I Santi from Canada writes: Actually Canada does fight piracy. There's Canadian companies that work for Hollywood based out of Toronto. Look into it. Canadian employees provide America's beloved FBI with evidence and information all the time. We go about fighting piracy in our OWN way. This is a prime example of American ignorance. 'Our way or pay'. America needs to look at their foreign policies more