p2pnet news | MPAA News:- Hollywood has again attacked Canada through the US Trade Representative (USTR) office, with Dan Glickman (right) out front as point.

Among other things, this year’s 301 report, issued by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), “identifies countries particularly lacking in adequate and effective IP rights and enforcement,” as Glickman puts it.

“The report indicates the scope of global piracy and highlights the mounting challenges of protecting intellectual property online, particularly in Spain, which is a new addition to the list from previous years, and Canada,” he says in a deliberatel industry distortion, aka ‘misstatement’.

What the USTR item actually says is >>>

Canada has taken some significant steps in the past year and, given the importance of the outstanding issues and maturity of its economy, we look forward to additional action in the coming months on the IP reforms identified as key priorities by the Government of Canada.

And, “Despite demands from the copyright lobby that Canada be placed on the ‘Priority Watch List’,” Canada is again on the lower level, “along with 35 other countries including Norway, Greece, Italy, Spain, and South Korea,” says Ottawa law professor Michael Geist, going on >>>

The U.S. criticizes so many countries (46 this year) that the process has little credibility.

Moreover, other countries have begun to challenge the U.S. on this issue and raise greater awareness of how the U.S. is itself non-compliant on some copyright issues. Canada has not defended itself within the Special 301 process, but at least officials have placed it in the proper perspective as an official with the Department of Foreign Affairs told a House of Commons committee last spring that:

In regard to the watch list, Canada does not recognize the 301 watch list process. It basically lacks reliable and objective analysis. It’s driven entirely by U.S. industry. We have repeatedly raised this issue of the lack of objective analysis in the 301 watch list process with our U.S. counterparts.

But, “Canada’s dearth of protections in the digital environment also seriously concerns the MPAA and its members,” Glickman dissembles.

Canadian prime minister George W. Harper has in the past proved more than eager to act on trumped up complaints put forward by the US entertainment industry, often with Hollywood and its ambassador to Canada Wilkins, David H, in the lead.

In little known but interesting, and no doubt unassociated, facts US trade rep Susan Schwab, who took over from another loyal Hollywood fan, Rob Portman, started out as a USTR agricultural trade negotiator.

MPAA boss Dan Glickman is, of course, the ex-US secretary of agriculture who also appointed Greg Frazier as the MPAA’s svp for international trade policy.

Frazier, Glickman’s special advisor since 2004, was also Glickman’s chief of staff at the agricultural department.

. .Stumble It!

Michael Geist - Canada Remains in Good Company in USTR Special 301 Report, April 25, 2008
unassociated, facts - MPAA, RIAA, US team up, June 15th, 2006

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This entry was posted on Saturday, April 26th, 2008 at 11:38 am and is filed under MPAA News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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