The last thing we need when the government is looking at new Canadian copyright legislation is a piracy ring bust, but it looks like that's just what we've received. The RCMP has raided a total of 200 DVD burners and thousands of counterfeit DVDs in Montreal, the latter of which were sold illegally through various Websites.In February of this year, The International Intellectual Property Alliance (IIPA) pegged Canada as a leading manufacturer and exporter of bootlegged movies, stating that nearly 20-25% of all pirated DVDs can be sourced back to Canada. The irony is that, although the counterfeit DVDs in this case were being produced in Canada, the majority of customers were located in the U.S. This isn't meant to lay blame elsewhere, but if there isn't a market for something, there's no reason for it to be produced. In simpler terms: without buyers, there can be no sellers. With that said, there certainly are plenty of buyers north of the border as well.
If you ask me, it is these sorts of people - those who are mass producing illegal merchandise and selling it for profit - who we should concentrate on when it comes to changing the current Canadian copyright laws. Individuals who use technology across several platforms in their own homes, vehicles, computers, etc. are not the problem. The problem is the guy with 200 DVD burners and a million bucks in his back pocket that belongs to someone else.
1 comment:
I agree with you 100%. Especially if the person bought a legal copy and it's for his personnal use and not for distribution - even to family members.
I don't tolerate bootleggers and don't support them either. I've often been scoffed at work because I won't accept a "FREE" copy of Vista or movies. It might seem rather insignificant but it's my personnal battle against piracy. Also, I don't accept the argument that because corporates make millions that it's OK to steal from them.
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