TechDirt reports
The US Trade Representative's annual Special 301 Report repeatedly points out how other countries are "failing" US IP industries by not doing enough to prevent piracy. The "name and shame" approach hasn't done much to curb piracy, although it has generated a few pressure points to leverage during trade negotiations.
Countries appear to be tiring of the annual shaming. Michael Geist reports the Canadian government has issued a rebuttal ahead of this year's Special 301 hearing.
I recently obtained documents under the Access to Information Act that confirm the Canadian government's rejection of the Special 301 process. Canada will not bother appearing today largely because it rejects the entire process.
The two-page memorandum goes directly to the heart of the issue: despite Canada now having some of the world's toughest anti-piracy laws, the USTR continues to make the annual claim that the country could be doing so much more. The memo [PDF] puts it bluntly: the USTR represents no one but industry leaders.
(Score: -1, Flamebait) by The Mighty Buzzard on Monday March 13 2017, @03:24PM (4 children)
Did this strike anyone else as exceedingly similar to apologizing/capitulating to a Progressive? Decent, rational human beings you can apologize to when you're wrong and that's the end of it. Ditto seeing their point on an issue and adjusting your behavior. With the **AA and Progressives though, give them an inch and they only screech louder. There simply is no state of being that is good enough for either because the most fundamental characteristic of both is that they are avatars of avarice. It is utterly impossible for them to ever be content with what they have.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 13 2017, @03:55PM
No.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 13 2017, @04:24PM (1 child)
Nope. Not here either.
Maybe it's a republican issue instead. They like to snivel with the best of em u know.
They rule the roost these days. You can' t blame this solely on a leftie.
(Score: 0, Flamebait) by The Mighty Buzzard on Monday March 13 2017, @05:45PM
Oh, I don't blame this on any party. Or rather I blame it on both since they're both entirely in the pockets of the **AA. I was just noticing that appeasing either the **AA or Progressives is the height of foolishness; just tell them to fuck off if they come to you complaining or you will regret it.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 13 2017, @10:42PM
s/Progressive/Neoliberal
WRT the the Democrat Party, it has been said often in the last 4 decades, "The Democrats would rather lose to a Republican than support a Progressive."
Compare the position of the Blues WRT Wall Street (the Right edge) and the Police State (top edge) in 2008 [politicalcompass.org] and in 2016. [politicalcompass.org]
-- OriginalOwner_ [soylentnews.org]