Canada added to piracy watch list

Canada has been added to the US priority watch list for piracy.

Canada has found itself on a list of countries that are thought to be failing in their attempts to tackle internet piracy.

The Priority Watch List for Piracy, as compiled by the United States, already features dozens of countries, including China, Russia and Algeria.

According to the US Trade Representative's Office, it is the first time Canada has appeared on the register.

The country has been under pressure to update its copyright laws for some time, but officials claim its reforms do not go far enough.

It has now been named as one of the nations that are violating agreed international copyright standards.

US trade representative Ron Kirk said: "In this time of economic uncertainty, we need to redouble our efforts to work with all of our trading partners - even our closest allies and neighbours such as Canada - to enhance protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights."

There are no official sanctions or penalties associated with being on the list, but the move is being seen as a sign that the Obama administration is taking the intellectual property issue seriously.

Michael Gallagher of the Entertainment Software Association has applauded the decision to add Canada to the list, claiming it is a positive step forward in the fight against piracy.

"Canada's weak laws and enforcement practices foster game piracy in the Canadian market and pave the way for unlawful imports into the US," he remarked.

Meanwhile, in France, a bill that would see internet users cut off from the web if they ignore repeated warnings about illegal downloading has returned to the country's parliament after being rejected in the lower house last month.