Georgia Tech University and Red Hat, a leading open source company (incidentally co-founded by Canadian Bob Young) recently released a new global open source ranking. The study identifies 75 countries with the most open source activity, including development and adoption by both government and industry. Most of the top ranked […]
Post Tagged with: "canada"
State of the Innovation Nation, 2008
The Science, Technology and Innovation Council has released its first public report that benchmarks Canada's science, technology and innovation system against the world's innovating countries. The report includes discussion on the need for open innovation. There is no recommendation or discussion on the need for stronger IP laws.
The Blacklist Backlash
Further to my post last week, I have columns today in the BBC and The Mark that discuss why the placement of Canada on the Priority Watch List may backfire. The BBC piece notes that several European countries – including Italy, Spain, Finland, and Israel – submitted briefs to the […]
U.S. List Unfairly Tarnishes Canada’s Digital Reputation
My weekly technology law column (Toronto Star version, homepage version) focuses on the U.S. decision to elevate Canada to the Priority Watch list. I note that the elevation will undoubtedly heighten pressure for reforms, it also points to the need for the Canadian government to reassess how it manages the Special 301 process and its bilateral relationship with the U.S. on this issue. In previous years, Canadian officials have done little more than express disappointment with the U.S. findings. According to documents obtained under the Access to Information Act, the Minister of Foreign Affairs has been repeatedly advised that "Canada does not recognize the Special 301 process due to its lacking of reliable and objective analysis, and we have raised this issue regularly with the U.S. in our bilateral discussions."
Raising the issue in bilateral discussions may have worked in the past, but this year's report sends a clear signal that more is needed. This year's designation is so unsupportable that Industry Minister Tony Clement and Canadian Heritage Minister James Moore should not hesitate to challenge both the process and the substance of the findings.
U.S. List Unfairly Tarnishes Canada’s Digital Reputation
My weekly technology law column (Toronto Star version, homepage version) focuses on the U.S. decision to elevate Canada to the Priority Watch list. I note that the elevation will undoubtedly heighten pressure for reforms, it also points to the need for the Canadian government to reassess how it manages the Special 301 process and its bilateral relationship with the U.S. on this issue. In previous years, Canadian officials have done little more than express disappointment with the U.S. findings. According to documents obtained under the Access to Information Act, the Minister of Foreign Affairs has been repeatedly advised that "Canada does not recognize the Special 301 process due to its lacking of reliable and objective analysis, and we have raised this issue regularly with the U.S. in our bilateral discussions."
Raising the issue in bilateral discussions may have worked in the past, but this year's report sends a clear signal that more is needed. This year's designation is so unsupportable that Industry Minister Tony Clement and Canadian Heritage Minister James Moore should not hesitate to challenge both the process and the substance of the findings.
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