Blame Canada!

[llreader]

This is great! The IIPA (the umbrella group for the RIAA et al) has released a report that says, among other things, that "no other country is farther behind the curve in combating copyright infringement in cyberspace."

They suggest that Canada be included with Russia and China, be on the "priority watch list", even above the regular "watch list", which includes places like Uzbekistan.

Honestly, knowing that this server is in the Great White North, just posting here makes me feel dirty...

The report suggests that the US government put the screws to you Canadians, pressuring for changes in Canadian law like removing caps on damages and outlawing circumvention of DRM for legal uses.

EDIT: Whoops! Looks like they either took the document down, or screwed up the link. The download page is here. More information from Ars Technica.

EDIT2: To avoid any confusion, the title of this thread makes reference to the "Blame Canada!" song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7UKllR0Edo - a cartoon <EDIT>not</EDIT> done by Canadians, BTW), and is intended as a joke, to point out the absurdity of singling out Canada, with its perfectly reasonable laws, as some sort of failed, pirate state. As in "Things aren't going the way you want? Hmm, I know, BLAME CANADA!" Apparently this was somewhat unclear to some posters.

[Ben Thornton]

The Canadian laws that they're complaining about look eminently sensible to me. I'd guess the one that really scares them is the $500 cap on personal damages, because it means that they can't use their size to bully the populace. My view of big corporations who want to get their way by threatening to ruin individuals through the courts isn't printable in this forum - but good for Canada!

[llreader]

Yep, they want the one-two punch, outlaw DRM and let them file endless punitive lawsuits that they don't have to take to court, because the fear of massive damages makes people settle without ever determining if they have, actually, broken the law or not.

BTW, I meant "This is great" in a very sarcastic way. Putting Canada below Uzbekistan in terms of IP protection because Canada still has some minimal defenses of people's rights just shows what a bunch of ruthless troglodytes these people are.

[K-Thom]

Canada on the axis of eBook evil ... will wonders never cease?

[yvanleterrible]

Originally Posted by llreader

Yep, they want the one-two punch, outlaw DRM and let them file endless punitive lawsuits that they don't have to take to court, because the fear of massive damages makes people settle without ever determining if they have, actually, broken the law or not.

BTW, I meant "This is great" in a very sarcastic way. Putting Canada below Uzbekistan in terms of IP protection because Canada still has some minimal defenses of people's rights just shows what a bunch of ruthless troglodytes these people are.

Well, Gumby, what can be said about that load of crap?
As a troglodyte I should tell you that this Canadian citizen feels rightly protected. So much so that many of us never lock their doors when we're in! What we protect ourselves from are the big leeches, non living entities that try to squash human beings. Does the word lawyer ring a bell?
When most citizens are responsible and do not commit crimes, is it really necessary to have security systems?
As far as I know, the bigger crimes come from out of our borders...

[pendragginp]

My view of big corporations who want to get their way by threatening to ruin individuals through the courts isn't printable in this forum - but good for Canada!

And a loud AMEN!

[llreader]

Originally Posted by yvanleterrible

Well, Gumby, what can be said about that load of crap?
As a troglodyte I should tell you that this Canadian citizen feels rightly protected. So much so that many of us never lock their doors when we're in! What we protect ourselves from are the big leeches, non living entities that try to squash human beings. Does the word lawyer ring a bell?
When most citizens are responsible and do not commit crimes, is it really necessary to have security systems?
As far as I know, the bigger crimes come from out of our borders...

You do understand that I was referring to the IIPA as ruthless troglodytes, don't you? If you re-read the first paragraph, you can see that I am talking about the bullying tactics of the RIAA, et al, right?

I love Canada!

[yvanleterrible]

Originally Posted by llreader

You do understand that I was referring to the IIPA as ruthless troglodytes, don't you? If you re-read the first paragraph, you can see that I am talking about the bullying tactics of the RIAA, et al, right?

I love Canada!

Why has the word troglodyte suddenly disappeared from your head post?

Originally Posted by llreader

Honestly, knowing that this server is in the Great White North, just posting here makes me feel dirty...

...and this is clearly from you?

[llreader]

Originally Posted by yvanleterrible

Why has the word troglodyte suddenly disappeared from your head post?

...and this is clearly from you?

It wasn't in the head post, dude.

Yes, it was clearly from me. It is a joke! You do know the origin of "Blame Canada!", don't you?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7UKllR0Edo

[llreader]

OP edited. Blame Canada, not me! ;-)

[yvanleterrible]

If you want to separate what you say from what others say put quotation marks...

[llreader]

Originally Posted by yvanleterrible

If you want to separate what you say from what others say put quotation marks...

Where did I not put quotation marks? I didn't close the quotes after "watch list", but I just went back and checked, and the quotes are quoted. What exactly do you think needs to be separated?

[Ben Thornton]

Originally Posted by llreader

Where did I not put quotation marks? I didn't close the quotes after "watch list", but I just went back and checked, and the quotes are quoted. What exactly do you think needs to be separated?

<Irony>I think that your real problem was not using irony mark-up. You should have said <Irony>This is great!</Irony> - <Irony>that would have been just as funny</Irony>
</Irony>

<Irony>Surely, this would be a much more workable system than people having to spot irony themselves?</Irony>

I thought that your post was funny, anyway.

[gastan]

Originally Posted by yvanleterrible

Well, Gumby, what can be said about that load of crap?

and your other posts

Settle down, dude. It's obvious from what's been written that everyone is kicking the IIPA and RIAA, not Canada. Some serious over-sensitivity going on here, IMO.

[kiklop74]

Originally Posted by llreader

T
EDIT2: To avoid any confusion, the title of this thread makes reference to the "Blame Canada!" song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7UKllR0Edo - a cartoon done by Canadians, BTW), and is intended as a joke, to point out the absurdity of singling out Canada, with its perfectly reasonable laws, as some sort of failed, pirate state.

Actually Tray Parker and Matt Stone are both native US citizens.