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US Senators pressure Canada on copyright laws

Written by James Delahunty @ 10 Mar 2007 6:50 User comments (23)

US Senators pressure Canada on copyright laws Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Joseph Harper, has received a letter from US senators Dianne Feinstein and John Cornyn, drawing attention to the issues of copyright protection efforts in Canada. The letter brings up the issue of people recording copies of motion pictures in theaters in Canada, which reportedly accounts for a large number of pirate movies available worldwide
"We are writing to call your attention to the explosive growth of pirating of movies from theatres through the use of hand-recorders known as 'camcorders.' The theft and sale of newly-released movies has always been a serious threat to the motion picture industry. Now, the advancements of digital technology and improved camcorder capabilities have compounded the problem." the letter states.

The letter goes on with details about laws that are currently enforced in the United States that criminalize the unauthorized recording of movies in theaters using camcorder equipment. "Unfortunately, since the United States has enacted tougher laws and penalties against piracy, including camcording piracy, it seems that much of this illicit business has simply moved north," the letter continued.



The letter claims that Canadian-sourced recordings rose by 24% in 2006 from 2005. Canada was criticized by Fox after it reported that, at one point during 2006, Canadian theaters were the source for nearly 50% of illegal Cam recordings across the globe. Here is an interesting extract from the letter...
A worldwide study commissioned by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) concluded that in 2005 movie piracy cost the Canadian film industry and your government $225 million and $34 million, respectively, in lost revenues.

If Canada does not criminalize illicit camcording, we are afraid that illegal pirating will continue to mushroom in your country. While a new law will not stop the worldwide-problem of film camcording, it will certainly help end this most egregious form of copyright piracy. It is bad enough when artists must compete with pirates to sell their products; it is far worse when pirates steal artists’ creations and then sell them before the artist has even had the chance to recover their costs.

Thank you for your consideration of this matter of utmost importance. If we can be of any assistance to you or your cabinet ministers, please do not hesitate to contact us.
US ambassador David Wilkins also had a say on the subject. "There's a lot of pirating that goes on, a lot of counterfeiting of movies and songs" and "it really does cost the Canadian economy a huge amount every year, estimated to be from some 10 to 30 billion (dollars) per year," he said. The Conservative government in Canada claims that the recording activity is illegal and can carry a fine of up to $1 million and 5 years in prison for commercial distribution.

However, Hollywood studios say that a loophole in the law means that it has to be proven that a film is being recorded for mass distribution first.

Source:
Slyck

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23 user comments

110.3.2007 21:51
BarryEW
Inactive

Only in CANADA A! Man are we BAD, Watch out, if we had not of lost so much money, we just might take you over, I would just love to view a "CAM recorded" film in Florida this time of year, without a passport. Take it easy, I did not really declare war, Just Joking.
Seriously, what gives the right to any politician in one country to dictate any laws in another country, unless they are morally or physically oppressive to the people, and this one is just about the money.
Good Day A!
Barry

211.3.2007 01:47

I pressure OUR (US) Senators to grow a spine and fight the horde....

311.3.2007 03:06

I can clam lose of billions of dollars too without any thing too back it up as well. Bring it on you dumba__ Amercian senators.

The Shoe Man

411.3.2007 03:27

god forbid we have some fair use in this country and yet can build a bridge to no where in Alaska because some rich dude"s" wants to build across the water but is to cheap to spend acouple billion to do it himself...

511.3.2007 03:29

Hollywood studios say that a loophole in the law means that it has to be proven that a film is being recorded for mass distribution first.

Than how else is it a crime you dumba__es.

611.3.2007 04:46
BarryEW
Inactive

A few months ago, one of our Canadian politicians commented on a law in the U.S.A. something so trivial I can not even remember what it was now. Well that comment raised a hue and cry in the U.S.A, it was plasterd in our news here in Canada, for a week. The American politicions, were HOWLING, fowl! how dare you! keep your nose out of our business or else! I would not doubt that the Pentagon was alerted! I must say, my feelings are mutual, on this one.
If anyone really cares about this issue in the U.S.A., our government will probably kowtow to this issue, and follow the American line, they almost always do. Unfortunatly ZIppyDSM, most of our politicians are a spineless lot too.
Have a good one,
Barry

711.3.2007 04:55

Originally posted by BarryEW:
A few months ago, one of our Canadian politicians commented on a law in the U.S.A. something so trivial I can not even remember what it was now. Well that comment raised a hue and cry in the U.S.A, it was plasterd in our news here in Canada, for a week. The American politicions, were HOWLING, fowl! how dare you! keep your nose out of our business or else! I would not doubt that the Pentagon was alerted! I must say, my feelings are mutual, on this one.
If anyone really cares about this issue in the U.S.A., our government will probably kowtow to this issue, and follow the American line, they almost always do. Unfortunatly ZIppyDSM, most of our politicians are a spineless lot too.
Have a good one,
Barry
Seems a poli with a backbone and brains scares the populace even ore 0-o

811.3.2007 06:12

does anybody know who´s the main campaign funder for Feinstein, Cornyn and Wilkins?... I bet it starts with "MP" and ends with "AA"...

911.3.2007 07:06

Dear United States of America:

STOP trying to impose your laws on our beloved country. Yes we are neighbours, but like a neighbour, I must tell you, "We will not cut any branch from our tree of sovereignty".

Why not try to make a screen that can reduce what image/images can by recorded. With all the money the MPAA and RIAA recieve from their recent legal preceedings, I believe that those monies should be put to use in R&D to curve this socalled infringement of intellectual rights. To me it seems that the money is taken to fill what already is a full pot. With a R&D division like this you would be able to claim it on your financial statements and hopefully curve those losses. If you already have a R&D department, tell them to start working harder or maybe try "New Math" lol.

BarryEW - it's spelled "Eh" eh! lol, just playing with ya my canadian brother

Here in Canada as well you can go to the local library and borrow pretty much a large assortment of DVD's with a late fee of a $1.00/day after a three day loan. Like our Supreme Court had concluded that the internet in comparison, is the new library, with a built in copying machine. How many copywritten books are in a library with the ability to walk over to the copy machine and, well you get the point. Most of us have photo copied something at one point or another, even those Senators from the U.S. might have at one point infinged on the intellectual rights of authors, perhaps even plagiarized (Plagiarism is probably what really happened).

Keep your laws to your own country and when you get it right then maybe we will embrace a fair system, but for now you still have work to do.

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 11 Mar 2007 @ 7:25

1011.3.2007 07:35

OMG the media mafia is going to start burning down libraries!! *L*
:P

1111.3.2007 07:43

ok so youll stop cams from comming out slightly earlier, great.

cams are the sewer sludge of the warez movie game they basicly only release them to see who can get it out first, very few people actualy download them becuase 95% of the time they are so shitty you cant see anything. the only watchable cam last year was ricky bobby.

how is this going to stop ts's from mexico and r5's from russia and scrs from america? it wont, it only affects the very shittiest copies of movies, frankly id welcome and end to cams, ha!

1211.3.2007 07:56
BarryEW
Inactive

Hllo Bull420,
I do not think I ever wrote down Eh! befor today. I knew it did not look right, and I say Eh! all the time. I stand corrected.
Have a good one, Eh!
Barry

1311.3.2007 11:57

Feinswine is such a Nazi. There's no aspect of human life that she doesn't want to control.

1411.3.2007 15:02
hughjars
Inactive

The US Gov might like to imagine they own/run the world but they don't.

The phrase you're looking for Canada
(in case you need reminding - but given your location I doubt it!) is Spock's immortal "Go to hell!"

Shame it comes to this
(I have many US relatives myself and I do not consider myself anti-American at all).

1511.3.2007 15:19

[quote=hughjars]The US Gov might like to imagine they own/run the world but they don't.

I'm glad you distinguished this new Congress from the people, because you are right. That is essentially the problem. These globalist martinets in Congress, like Feinstein, are the ones who want total control. The American people want Canadians and the Canadian government to do as they see fit.

1611.3.2007 16:38
hughjars
Inactive

Of course mspurloc.

The 'regular' US people are being taken for a ride just as much as anyone else by the unHoly alliance of corporate businesses and Gov.

1711.3.2007 17:52
aabbccdd
Inactive

Dianne Feinstein , is as liberal as it gets she needs to butt out on this issue!!

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 11 Mar 2007 @ 5:52

1812.3.2007 16:44

This is brilliant. The only people that stand up to the Americans are the French.

I like to call this the French resistance :)

Well done.

1917.3.2007 17:42

I think it is about time that the USA kept it's nose out other countries. It sticks it's nose in ware ever it can and tries to tell that country how run their country. How many countries have the USA stuck their nose into that have finished up with a War. Clean up your own back yard USA before you tell other countries what to do.

2017.3.2007 18:20
blake123
Inactive

Originally posted by baldy43:
I think it is about time that the USA kept it's nose out other countries. It sticks it's nose in ware ever it can and tries to tell that country how run their country. How many countries have the USA stuck their nose into that have finished up with a War. Clean up your own back yard USA before you tell other countries what to do.
How are they sticking there nose in to Canada's business i think that it is there business if the copyright on the movie is a united states copyright thats getting infringed.Besides other countries are sticking there nose in our business about the war.

2117.3.2007 19:39
aabbccdd
Inactive

ok guys this isn't about WAR its about copyright laws so drop it per the man


http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/379741

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 17 Mar 2007 @ 7:39

2217.3.2007 22:07
blake123
Inactive

my bad i was just saying

2317.3.2007 23:03
aabbccdd
Inactive

i totally agree with you blake123 but we need to stay on topic

with the MPAA it all comes down to money and power

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