Canada Added to U.S. Piracy Watch List

Andy Chalk

One Flag, One Fleet, One Cat
Nov 12, 2002
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Canada Added to U.S. Piracy Watch List


The Entertainment Software Association [http://www.theesa.com/] has applauded a decision by the U.S. government to put Canada on a "priority watch list" of nations that fail to uphold "effective intellectual property protection and enforcement."

The United States Trade Representative [http://www.ustr.gov/] put Canada on the watch list today, a decision made following recommendations from the ESA and other industry groups. The U.S. videogame industry says Canada needs to address several "deficiencies" in its intellectual property laws, including outlawing mod chips, creating "adequate legal incentives for internet service providers to work with copyright owners in combating online piracy" and providing increased resources to enforce and prosecute intellectual property crimes.

"Putting Canada on the 'Priority Watch List' is a signal of the Obama Administration's commitment to strengthening global intellectual property protection, and its intent to address this issue firmly with the Canadian government," said ESA CEO Michael D. Gallagher. "Canada's weak laws and enforcement practices foster game piracy in the Canadian market and pave the way for unlawful imports into the U.S."

"Canada contributes significantly to the development of today's leading games - creating thousands of high-paying jobs along the way. We are eager to see Canada become a full partner in protecting these products on the way to market," he added.

The ESA has been critical of Canada's intellectual property laws for some time now: In early 2008 it submitted a filing [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/81380-ESA-Says-Canada-a-Persistent-Problem-in-Fight-Against-Piracy] to the U.S. Trade Representative saying that "legal deficiencies" and a lax attitude toward intellectual property rights enforcement had resulted in pirated games and circumvention devices (mod chips) "permeating" Canadian retail markets. Canada joins 11 other nations on the new Priority Watch List including China, Russia, India and Thailand.

In response, Canada has reportedly put the U.S. on Georges Laraque's [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georges_Laraque] Priority Watch List of guys who are going to get the business next time they go into the corner when the ref's not looking.


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bad rider

The prodigal son of a goat boy
Dec 23, 2007
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Am I the only one noticing that America has a lot of major countries on their list?

(P.s whos the head of list department, I'd guess Nixon, but I guess thats too cliche)
 

Exocet

Pandamonium is at hand
Dec 3, 2008
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"You sir,aren't doing things our way.You are now on our list"

Whoop-dee-fucking-doo
 

Lost In The Void

When in doubt, curl up and cry
Aug 27, 2008
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Well it's good to know America regards us a threat in some way little do they know about our nuclear arsenal i mean yes we're a piracy threat.
 

Musicfreak

New member
Jan 23, 2009
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and after the announcement video game piracy centered around Canada immediately dropped by .00000000000000000001% prompting ESA's Michael D. Gallagher to say "We got them on the run now".

Yeah I fail to see the point of this
 

Panzer_God

Welcome to the League of Piccolo
Apr 29, 2009
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Oh my god, the mounties are going to steal our music. RUN AWAY!!!!!
 

Panzer_God

Welcome to the League of Piccolo
Apr 29, 2009
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xmetatr0nx said:
bad rider said:
Am I the only one noticing that America has a lot of major countries on their list?

(P.s whos the head of list department, I'd guess Nixon, but I guess thats too cliche)
No, the head list maker is J. Edgar Hoover's ghost. They meet up at his burial site every friday night and he gives them a list of "things or people to keep an eye on". Either way its about time canada gets put on notice by us, we have tolorated their toloration of french canada far too long.
I was thinking more Joseph McCarthy.
 

DamienHell

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Oct 17, 2007
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Malygris said:
Canada joins 11 other nations on the new Priority Watch List including China, Russia, India and Thailand.
The longer the list, the more obvious it is that the list doesn't work. I'm not worried, I'm a Somalian pirate and Somali isn't on that list :D
 

The Shade

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Mar 20, 2008
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Paranoia strikes deep.

Malygris said:
In response, Canada has reportedly put the U.S. on Georges Laraque's [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georges_Laraque] Priority Watch List of guys who are going to get the business next time they go into the corner when the ref's not looking.
I like your attitude.

: )
 

LeonLethality

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Mar 10, 2009
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Malygris said:
"adequate legal incentives for internet service providers to work with copyright owners in combating online piracy"
woah woah woah, like ps2 mod chips? no way that will suck