The U.S. Trade Representative has issued a public consultation on the negotiation of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement. The consultation, which runs until March 21, 2008, notes that comments should focus on international cooperation, enforcement practices, or the development of new legal framworks. Australia has similarly consulted on its potential involvement […]
Canadian Heritage Memorandum, December 8, 2020, ATIP A-2020-00498
Bill C-10
RCMP Targets Counterfeit DVD Distribution Network
The RCMP has raided a counterfeiting DVD distribution network in Montreal with Criminal Code and Copyright Act charges to follow. These actions are to be applauded and provide more evidence that the current law is not the chief barrier to anti-counterfeiting enforcement.
Hamilton Chamber of Commerce Opposed Ontario Chamber IP Report
Earlier this week, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce released a report on intellectual property. I argued that the claims were completely lacking in statistical rigour and that the Chamber did little more than embarrass itself and its members. Apparently, one of its members was indeed embarrassed by the report and […]
Ontario Chamber of Commerce Floats Counterfeit Numbers
The Ontario Chamber of Commerce is out today with a new report on intellectual property which recycles many of the demands of the copyright lobby – WIPO ratification, tougher penalties, and a handful of task forces. What makes the report unique, however, is its claims about the size and scope of the counterfeiting issue in Canada. The report includes the RCMP's discredited $30 billion claim and even though the RCMP has backed away from it, the report states that it is a "widely accepted" estimate.
The Chamber's press release trumpets $22.5 billion in counterfeiting losses for Canada of which it says $9 billion comes from Ontario. How did it arrive at this figure?
Canadian Copyright Bill “Weeks Away”
Dierdre McMurdy of the Ottawa Citizen confirms widespread speculation that a copyright bill is only a few weeks away. The article notes the strong link between the bill and U.S. pressure with reports of meetings between U.S. Ambassador to Canada David Wilkins and both Industry Minister Jim Prentice and Canadian […]
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