Bono Bonanza - Three Strikes and Three Bonos

MSNBC European Voice US Congress

It seems that Guy Bono (above, centre), Socialist Member of the European Parliament from France, doesn't like the "three stikes" bill and will fight it from Brussels.

BTW, here's the best description I've seen to date of the French HADOPI law, naturellement from IP-Watch.

Meanwhile, there's another Bono, the rightly renowned leader of U2 and proponent of many worthy causes. The manager of that band is prominently on record that:

The French government should be congratulated – it is proposing a law that is a workable solution to the problem of online piracy. It has brought together ISPs and content industries in a way that will effectively protect music and film rights, while respecting important consumer freedoms.

Then, there's the late Sonny Bono, musician and congressman, who also had some interesting thoughts on strong copyright, according to his widow, Congresswoman Mary Bono:

Actually, Sonny wanted the term of copyright protection to last forever. I am informed by staff that such a change would violate the Constitution. I invite all of you to work with me to strengthen our copyright laws in all of the ways available to us. As you know, there is also Jack Valenti's proposal for term to last forever less one day. Perhaps the Committee may look at that next Congress.

Sonny probably would have loved "three strikes" - and extended the ban on internet access to "forever", in the interest of consistency.

So, I'm left to wonder about the answer to the proverbial question - cui bono?

Of one thing readers may rest assured - this blog is emphatically undertaken pro bono.

HK

Copyright and Canada's Trade Deficit - Cui Bono?

Speaking of international trade, Canada has now posted its first trade deficit in 32 years. The amount was $458 million. It's interesting to note that on the cultural services front, including copyright royalties, Canada has perennially run a deficit which at recent report was over half a Billion dollars a year according to Statistics Canada.

It's also interesting that Canada has 36 copyright collectives - more than probably any other country - which take in almost half a Billion dollars a year, much if not most of which leaves Canada directly or indirectly. While Canada is quite properly respectful of both adequate and effective copyright protection and the principle of national treatment, it would seem somewhat foolhardy to take deliberate steps to exacerbate the deficit in cultural services.

Perhaps it is time to take a harder look at implementing laws and setting tariffs that continue to needlessly increase this outflow of payments, which in many instances derive from rights and tariffs that either don't exist in the USA or effectively operate at far lower rates.

Perhaps it is time for policy makers to note that the most strident whining for excessive copyright protection in Canada invariably comes from certain trade associations whose major membership consists of US based entertainment companies, which would tend to have little interest in Canada creators and rather more interest in their members' stock prices and profits.

Always remember: Cui bono?

HK