Spain, Greece face epidemic of piracy
Int'l Antipiracy Caucus updated annual list
|
More Articles:
Most Viewed:
Sundance unveils competition lineup(8344 views)Bloody 3D sequels planned(3097 views)Directors in Oscar spotlight(1835 views)Summit's 'Twilight' dilemma(1575 views)Domestic box office up 8% in 2009(1384 views)52nd annual Grammy nominees(1307 views) |
The Intl. Antipiracy Caucus issued Thursday its annual list of countries "based on levels of piracy and the need for government intervention in lawmaking, enforcement and prosecution of intellectual property theft," according to the Motion Picture Assn. of America, which supports the caucus.
The list is essentially Congress' smaller-scale version of the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative's annual 301 Report. But unlike the 301 Report, the caucus list does not carry with it the authority directly to affect trade relations with any countries.
Still, the MPAA and the Recording Industry Assn. of America hailed the list, and Hollywood particularly emphasized the inclusion of Spain.
"The Spanish government's persistent failure to address Spain's epidemic Internet piracy problem, which is wreaking havoc on the legitimate market, has caused Spain to appear on the list," the MPAA said.
The RIAA said: "Joining China and Russia in 'the ignominious three' is Canada, which, notwithstanding numerous public announcements, has failed to join the rest of its partners in the developed world in modernizing its copyright laws to address the challenges -- and to seize the opportunities -- of the digital age."
On another piracy front, the RIAA had far less to cheer. A judge ruled that the org should pay attorney fees for Tanya Anderson, whom it unsuccessfully sued for online infringement; the judge recommended the amount of $107,834.
"While we respectfully disagree with the magistrate judge's decision to award extraneous fees -- including on counterclaims that the defendant herself brought and dropped -- it is important to note this decision is only a recommendation and falls significantly short of defendant's requests," said RIAA spokeswoman Cara Duckworth. "We will likely file an objection in short order."
