04.24.07
Pirates of the Middle Kingdom (update)
continued from “Pirates of the Middle Kingdom”
After the initial harsh reactions to US complaints against piracy, China appears to be (at least according to the state run media) stepping up efforts to protect intellectual property. According to this article from China Daily, Chinese authorities have destroyed 42 million pieces of contraband. If true, this certainly is a step in the right direction for supporters of intellectual property rights. However, one sentence from the article had me concerned.
“Workers across the country set fire to 30 million pieces of smuggled and pirated audio and video materials.”
Did they say “set fire?” Was that really the only to dispose of all those discs? To me, the environmental ramifications of 30 million CDs going up in flames presents much more dangerous prospects, than the potential loss of profits for American companies.
Jason
said,
April 24, 2007 at 11:03 am
Well said.
Not only is it environmentally nonsensical,
is it even necessary? What ever happened to trash compactors?
RedKemp: The Blog of an American Living in Nanjing China
said,
April 24, 2007 at 10:06 pm
[...] Related recent IPR fun: Blame Canada! U.S. vs China at the WTO: “We’re too old!” Pirates of the Middle Kingdom (update) IPR infringements: Glass Is Half Full or Half Empty? [...]
todd
said,
April 25, 2007 at 10:27 am
It worked for opium so…lets follow suit.