US Trade Representative Blacklists Canada for Failing to Implement IP Reforms

The U.S. Trade Representative has blacklisted our good neighbor up north, Canada, because the "Government of Canada has not delivered on [its 2007 and 2008 commitments to improve IPR protection and enforcement] by promptly and effectively implementing key copyright reforms. The United States continues to have serious concerns with Canada's failure to accede to and implement the WIPO Internet Treaties, which Canada signed in 1997." See the 2009 Special 301 Report. Canada joins Argentina, Algeria, China, India, Indonesia, Israel, Pakistan, Russia, Thailand, and Venezuela on the Priority Watch List.

What's Going On Here? In Watching the Watchlists on Public Knowledge, Sherwin Siy writes, "the Special 301 process ... acts as a megaphone, lending particular copyright industries the weight of US trade policy in lobbying foreign governments to tailor their IP laws to suit industry’s desires." See also Michael Geist's two posts the on absurdity of Canada being placed on the Priority Watch List here and here. [JH]