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The Absurdity of the USTR's Blame Canada Approach

By Michael Geist

The IIPA, the lead U.S. lobbyist on international IP matters, has issued a press release on the USTR Special 301 report, welcoming the inclusion of Canada on the Priority Watch List.  Yet the release inadvertently demonstrates why the designation is so absurd.  Included at the end are the estimated software piracy percentages for each country on the list.  While the BSA claims are themselves subject to challenge, compare Canada to the remainder of the list.  Canada comes in at 32%.  The remaining countries (no rates are listed for Algeria, Israel, or Venezuela):

Country	BSA Claimed Piracy Rate
Argentina	75%
Chile	66%
India	66%
Indonesia	86%
Pakistan	85%
China	79%
Russia	70%
Thailand	76%

Not only is Canada not even remotely close to any other country on the list, it has the lowest software piracy rate of any of the 46 countries in the entire Special 301 Report.  Moreover, it is compliant with its international IP obligations, participates in ACTA, has prosecuted illegal camcording, has the RCMP prioritizing IP matters, has statutory damages provisions, features far more copyright collectives than the U.S., and has a more restrictive fair dealing/fair use provision.

Full post as published by Michael Geist on April 30, 2009 (boomark / email).