Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07OTTAWA887
2007-05-11 19:30:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ottawa
Cable title:
IPR: CANADA REPORTEDLY PREPARING TO CRIMINALIZE
how-toVZCZCXRO2948 PP RUEHGA RUEHHA RUEHQU RUEHVC DE RUEHOT #0887 1311930 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 111930Z MAY 07 FM AMEMBASSY OTTAWA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5610 INFO RUCNCAN/ALL CANADIAN POSTS COLLECTIVE RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
UNCLAS OTTAWA 000887
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/CAN AND EEB/TPP/MTA/IPC BOGER AND WALLACE
STATE PASS USTR FOR MELLE, SULLIVAN, AND GARDE
COMMERCE FOR GERI WORD, SEBASTIAN WRIGHT, AND EMILY BARRAGAN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD KIPR CA
SUBJECT: IPR: CANADA REPORTEDLY PREPARING TO CRIMINALIZE
THEATER CAMCORDER CAMCORDING
REF: A. OTTAWA 765
B. OTTAWA 783
UNCLAS OTTAWA 000887
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/CAN AND EEB/TPP/MTA/IPC BOGER AND WALLACE
STATE PASS USTR FOR MELLE, SULLIVAN, AND GARDE
COMMERCE FOR GERI WORD, SEBASTIAN WRIGHT, AND EMILY BARRAGAN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD KIPR CA
SUBJECT: IPR: CANADA REPORTEDLY PREPARING TO CRIMINALIZE
THEATER CAMCORDER CAMCORDING
REF: A. OTTAWA 765
B. OTTAWA 783
1. (SBU) Summary: Canada's reaction to USTR's April 30th
decision to maintain Canada's position on the Special 301
Watch List has been largely muted. However, intellectual
property rights (IPR) - especially theater camcording - are
now generating prominent news stories. The GOC is reportedly
preparing to draft legislation to criminalize camcording of
movies in a cinema. End Summary.
Reaction to 301 Generally Positive
--------------
2. (SBU) Prior to the release of the 2007 Special 301 Report
many Canadian officials and pundits anticipated that USTR
would upgrade Canada to the 301 Priority Watch List. While
some U.S. industry groups have criticized the decision to not
upgrade Canada, we understand that Canadian officials were
relatively pleased by the 301 report and the lack of public
reaction in Canada.
IPR Issues Focus of Media and Parliament
-------------- --------------
3. (U) There continues to be prominent, and generally
critical, news coverage of illicit theater camcording in
Canada. Warner Brothers recently announced that as part of
an effort to combat camcorder piracy, it will no longer hold
any pre-screenings in Canada starting in the summer.
Additionally, the producer of "Bon Cop, Bad Cop" the highest
grossing Canadian movie ever, in a recent radio interview
stated that Canadian laws against theater camcording are
out-of-date and "ludicrous" and that Canadian artists are
hurt by this legal deficiency.
4. (U) The House of Commons Committees on Industry, Science
and Technology and on Public Safety and Nation Security
recently have both held multiple hearings on IPR issues,
including counterfeit goods, camcording, and border
enforcement. While the hearings have featured witnesses with
a variety of views on the subject, the majority of the
Members of Parliament seem to recognize IPR enforcement is a
problem and appear to be sympathetic to many USG concerns.
New Legislation?
--------------
5. (SBU) Reports in the press and from Embassy contacts
indicate that the Ministry of Justice may soon introduce
legislation to criminalize theater camcording despite prior
statements by Justice Minister Nicholson to the contrary.
Illicit camcording may be the easiest of the major USG IPR
concerns for Canada to address. Few people oppose such
legislation and those that do, such as IPR public commentator
University of Ottawa Law Professor Michael Geist, seem
resigned to the eventual passage of anti-camcording piracy
legislation.
6. (SBU) Comment: Despite progress on camcording there is
still no firm indication that the long-awaited copyright bill
is ready to be introduced to Parliament. When asked about
timing of the legislation, GOC officials repeat a statement
from Prime Minister Harper's April 23rd letter to Ambassador
Wilkins that Industry and Canadian Heritage Departments "are
planning to move forward with proposals for important changes
to Canada's copyright regime in the coming months. (Ref B)
End comment.
Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa
WILKINS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/CAN AND EEB/TPP/MTA/IPC BOGER AND WALLACE
STATE PASS USTR FOR MELLE, SULLIVAN, AND GARDE
COMMERCE FOR GERI WORD, SEBASTIAN WRIGHT, AND EMILY BARRAGAN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD KIPR CA
SUBJECT: IPR: CANADA REPORTEDLY PREPARING TO CRIMINALIZE
THEATER CAMCORDER CAMCORDING
REF: A. OTTAWA 765
B. OTTAWA 783
1. (SBU) Summary: Canada's reaction to USTR's April 30th
decision to maintain Canada's position on the Special 301
Watch List has been largely muted. However, intellectual
property rights (IPR) - especially theater camcording - are
now generating prominent news stories. The GOC is reportedly
preparing to draft legislation to criminalize camcording of
movies in a cinema. End Summary.
Reaction to 301 Generally Positive
--------------
2. (SBU) Prior to the release of the 2007 Special 301 Report
many Canadian officials and pundits anticipated that USTR
would upgrade Canada to the 301 Priority Watch List. While
some U.S. industry groups have criticized the decision to not
upgrade Canada, we understand that Canadian officials were
relatively pleased by the 301 report and the lack of public
reaction in Canada.
IPR Issues Focus of Media and Parliament
-------------- --------------
3. (U) There continues to be prominent, and generally
critical, news coverage of illicit theater camcording in
Canada. Warner Brothers recently announced that as part of
an effort to combat camcorder piracy, it will no longer hold
any pre-screenings in Canada starting in the summer.
Additionally, the producer of "Bon Cop, Bad Cop" the highest
grossing Canadian movie ever, in a recent radio interview
stated that Canadian laws against theater camcording are
out-of-date and "ludicrous" and that Canadian artists are
hurt by this legal deficiency.
4. (U) The House of Commons Committees on Industry, Science
and Technology and on Public Safety and Nation Security
recently have both held multiple hearings on IPR issues,
including counterfeit goods, camcording, and border
enforcement. While the hearings have featured witnesses with
a variety of views on the subject, the majority of the
Members of Parliament seem to recognize IPR enforcement is a
problem and appear to be sympathetic to many USG concerns.
New Legislation?
--------------
5. (SBU) Reports in the press and from Embassy contacts
indicate that the Ministry of Justice may soon introduce
legislation to criminalize theater camcording despite prior
statements by Justice Minister Nicholson to the contrary.
Illicit camcording may be the easiest of the major USG IPR
concerns for Canada to address. Few people oppose such
legislation and those that do, such as IPR public commentator
University of Ottawa Law Professor Michael Geist, seem
resigned to the eventual passage of anti-camcording piracy
legislation.
6. (SBU) Comment: Despite progress on camcording there is
still no firm indication that the long-awaited copyright bill
is ready to be introduced to Parliament. When asked about
timing of the legislation, GOC officials repeat a statement
from Prime Minister Harper's April 23rd letter to Ambassador
Wilkins that Industry and Canadian Heritage Departments "are
planning to move forward with proposals for important changes
to Canada's copyright regime in the coming months. (Ref B)
End comment.
Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa
WILKINS