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Canada Unveils Technology Strategy
by Winter Casey
The Canadian government on Thursday released its science and technology strategy aimed at helping the country become a world economic leader and innovator.
The strategy "recognizes [that] the important role of the government of Canada is to ensure a competitive marketplace and create an investment climate that encourages the private sector to compete against the world on the basis of their innovative products, services and technologies," according to the plan. "Canada must maximize the freedom of scientists to investigate and of entrepreneurs to innovate."
The government will focus on research in four main areas, including environmental science and technologies, natural resources and energy, health and related life sciences and technologies, and information and communications technologies. The summary noted that Canada seeks to provide "clear environmental laws and regulations that work with market forces."
Canada needs to encourage greater private-sector science and technology investment and become a more attractive location for highly qualified science and technology students, the plan said, and Canadians must do a better job translating knowledge into commercial applications.
In the past, the country has been hindered by a weak demand for science and technology skills from Canada's private sector, the analysis found. The government said it plans to support more science and technology collaborations between the business, academic and public sectors.
There is a widening productivity gap between Canada and its largest trading partner and neighbor, the United States, the plan said. It added that Canada must improve its productivity and competitiveness through innovation, and support economic activity that will be sustainable over the long term while also respecting the environment.
The country said it plans to establish a lower tax rate on new business investment than the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United Kingdom.
Canada also aims to improve education and encourage students to pursue science and technology careers, reduce barriers to labor mobility, and increase its investment in research and development. In addition, the country hopes to become more attractive to highly skilled workers by reducing the personal income tax, the plan said.
Canada is looking to "implement stronger governance and reporting practices to deliver and demonstrate results," according to the plan. "Accountability is important because it puts the responsibility on those who are supported by public funds to demonstrate to taxpayers that results are being achieved."
Europe Formulates Cyber-Crime Policy
Criminal activities related to the Internet and information systems require improved cross-border law enforcement, according to the European Commission.
After consulting with public and private stakeholders in recent years, the commission, which is the European Union's policymaking arm, has identified eight problem areas related to cyber crime. They include a lack of a coherent EU-level policy and legislation to combat such crime and an "unclear system of responsibilities and liabilities for the security of applications."
In addition, citizens and businesses are increasingly vulnerable to cyber-crime attacks, and consumers lack education on the risks. The commission found that reliable statistics on cyber crimes are lacking.
"The European Commission is today taking an important step [toward] the formulation of a general European policy on the fight against cyber crime," Vice President Franco Frattini, the EU commissioner responsible for justice, freedom and security, said in a statement.
"This policy will eventually include improved operational law enforcement cooperation, better political cooperation and coordination between member states, possible legislative action, as well as political and legal cooperation with third countries; awareness-raising, training and research will also be essential in attaining our goals."
The commission is seeking to "formulate a general policy on the fight against cyber crime at [the] EU level," he added.
The issue has taken on increased urgency given the wave of cyber attacks earlier this month against Estonia, one of the newest EU members. Several Estonian government Web sites were crippled by the attacks. They have had a particularly devastating effect on Estonia, which has become increasingly reliant on the Internet and technology to run its government and society.
Allofmp3.com Saga Continues
The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, which represents major recording labels, said Monday that police raided and closed an online voucher system allegedly used by the Russian music-downloading Web site Allofmp3.com.
In the past, both the international music industry and U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab have accused Allofmp3.com of illegally distributing the music of copyright holders and creators from around the world. Some have said Russia should be required to close the site before entering the World Trade Organization.
In December, several major recording labels -- including Arista Record, Warner Bros. Records, Capitol Records and UMG Recordings -- sued the operator of the music site.
According to London-based IFPI, the police nabbed an individual who was allegedly the U.K.-based European agent for Allofmp3.com facilitating the sale of digital downloads by advertising and selling vouchers through auction sites. IFPI said the "suspect was believed to be taking payment from European customers and transferring the cash into various offshore accounts operated by the site's Russian owners."
IFPI also noted that it has been conducting a pan-European investigation of the Web site with the U.K. recording association BPI. The group said Allofmp3.com was "once described as the U.K.'s second most-popular digital music site after iTunes."
But according to Allofmp3, "the store has never had any activities outside Russia. Thus we do not have any offices or employees abroad. Allofmp3 operates in full compliance with Russian legislation and pays the necessary royalties to the right holders and authors."
Further, the Web site said the "members of the IFPI are unable to do anything about the natural crisis the music industry faces in the digital era. Instead they engage in unfair competition practices and political lobbying. They make up 'sensational' news to attract public attention to their activity, which becomes less and less valid every day."
IFPI maintains that Allofmp3 sells copies of music tracks that it does not have the rights to reproduce or distribute, and is illegal under international treaties and copyright law in the U.K. and Russia. Though Allofmp3 claims to have an IP agreement with a Russian copyright organization, IFPI argues that none of its member recording companies have "mandated" the group to license music sales on the Internet.
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