Normally, when you think of software piracy and bootlegging you think of the developing world. China, Latin America, South East Asia ... but the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has other ideas.

Members of the International Intellectual Property Alliance (IIPA) have asked the US government to place Canada on a list of the worst countries in regards to enforcing intellectual property rights. The list includes countries such as Russia, China, Venezuela and Turkey.

The Motion Picture Association of America and the Recording Industry Association of America joined in by claiming that Canada has failed to keep promises of enforcing copyright laws. Further down the road, Canada could possibly face sanctions from the World Trade Organization in what is a $12.3 billion a year problem.

They claim that Canada is a leading exporter of bootlegged films and mod chips for games consoles, with a quarter of all pirate films around the world stemming from Canada’s organised crime rings.

An IIPA spokesman said, "Canada remains far behind virtually all of its peers in the industrialised world with respect to its efforts to bring its copyright laws up to date with the realities of the global digital networked environment. Indeed, even the major developing countries have progressed further and faster than Canada in meeting the challenge".

>> Link - Official Site/International Intellectual Property Alliance
>> Link - Official Site/Entertainment Software Association
>> Link - Official Site/Motion Picture Association of America
>> Link - Official Site/Recording Industry Association of America