There have been numerous reports that allofmp3.com is at the top of the "Notorious Markets List" - that meaning that the market are notorious, not the list. But who else is on this list? Does it really exist?
It does. The list, compiled by the Office of the United States Trade Representative, identifies markets which do not protect Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) thus permitting counterfeiting and piracy. The list is part of the annual Special 301 Report which is available in full for download.
The following is extracted from the Report:
Virtual Markets
- Allofmp3.com (Russia). "the world’s largest server-based pirate music website"
- Baidu (China). the largest of an estimated seven or more China-based “MP3 search engines” offering deep links to song files for downloads or streaming.
- Kuro (Taiwan). In September 2005, managers of Kuro, a peer-to-peer service, were found guilty along with a subscriber of criminal copyright infringement and sentenced to prison terms.
Physical Markets
A veritable who's who of "where to get your knockoffs." Activities in these markets include "rampant sale of counterfeit fashion and apparel product" and "bulk sales of small consumer goods."
- Xiangyang Market (Shanghai, China)
- Silk Street Market (Beijing, China)
- Yiwu Wholesale Market (Yiwu, China)
- Gorbushka, Rubin Trade Center, Tsaritsino, and Mitino (Moscow, Russia)
- Tri-Border Region (Paraguay, Argentina, and Brazil)
- Stand Center, "25 de Marco" Shopping Center, and Promocenters (Sao Paulo, Brazil)
Tepito, Plaza Meave, Eje Central, Lomas Verdes, and Pericoapa Bazaar (Mexico City), CAPFU (Puebla, Mexico), and San Juan de Dios (Guadalajara, Mexico)
For a more in depth look at the markets on the priority watchlist (including China, Russia, Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Isreal, Lebanon, Turkey, Ukrain, Venezuala) check out the Priority Watchlist report (PDF).
Labels: world
Singapore isn't exactly famous for good service but Harry's took the cake last night. A number of dishes that my party ordered were not available but they didn't bother to advise us of this fact until the kitchen was closed and it was too late to prepare substitutes. This left 3 out of 11 of us without food. When we ask them to make repairs, the manager on duty generously offered to allow us to "order from MacDonalds and eat the food here."
Labels: singapore, world
or.."Cell Phones Don't an Advanced Civilization Make"
A Reaction to London...
Scenario One:
There is a zen koan about The Thief Who Became A Disciple. A monk when asked to testify against a man who stole from him, said he gave freely thus there was no theft. The thief was touched and became his disciple.
Now what if he hadn't been a thief but a murderer? He would have killed the teacher before gaining the teaching. He would have killed his chance to receive compassion.
Scenario Two:
Let's say there's a planet where everyone believes and lives by principles of non-violence. Then a space-ship lands with some criminal cast-offs from some other civilization which is much more aggressive. Once the rogues cotton on to the fact that they can pretty much steal, abuse and kill anyone they want with only the threat of a message of love, they go on a rampage. The natives are completely at a loss as to how to contain this and remain true to their principals.
At this point, wouldn't you want Captain Kirk to show up with some phasers and take the bad guys out... or at least take them away? Or if Kirk didn't show up but you found yourself an advisor to the natives, might you tell them they need to fight back and lock the baddies up for their own safety?
Scenario Three:
You are generally a pacifist or at least are opposed to the killing of another human for any reason as this is not the action of an advanced civilization. Then one day you find that there are some people willing to fly a plane into the building where you work or leave bombs around your city. Or perhaps you find some other country invading your own and people you know are getting killed "accidentally."
Is it possible... is it just possible that eventually you say to yourself that the enlightened future you thought was here, the one they promised you on Star Trek when you were a kid and the one the koans said could be found within each of us... that actually it's not here for everyone and it's not even here for a critical mass and that as long as there's a large number of people willing to stab you while you sleep, you'll have to put off your ideals. Is it just possible you finally say, "Do whatever you have to do... just hunt the bastards down and kill them"?
Looking in the mirror, you say to yourself, "This is the dark ages... just with better gadgets." Then you wonder if you'd have been closer to the ideal if you were born 100 years later or would it all be too late as we become another statistic for Fermi's Paradox ... not that anyone will be keeping tabs... except perhaps God... twisted bugger.
Labels: rants, world
It's about 6:33pm and a tremor just hit Singapore. I'm writing this as the lights are still swinging around. We don't get much in the way of tremors unless soemthing sizeable hits Indonesia like last week. Watch this space...
Update (1 hour later):
Well we got another shake at about 7:15pm - just a bit weaker. The original quake has now been registered at USGS at a magnitude of 6.8. The second one was 6.3. Seems there was another smaller one (of 5.8) in between the two that we couldn't feel here.
Technorati Tags: earthquake, indonesia
Labels: world
This from the Beeb:
Huge quake hits Indonesian coast - Power blackouts and major panic ensued, local officials told AFP news agency.
- The US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said the quake could cause a "widely destructive tsunami" and it was felt as far away as Malaysia.
- The quake was felt across the region with people in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, some 500km away, evacuating high-rise buildings and running out into the streets.
- Stupid security guards in Singapore didn't feel a thing (ok I added that bit myself).
Of course there won't be another Tsunami because 10,000 year events only happen once every 10,000 years right?
Tags:singapore, indonesia, earthquake, rant
Labels: world
Well we just had a
tremor. It always starts the same way (in my vast experience of 3 tremors). First I think the people upstairs are being too damn loud. We're talking over zealous sex here. Then I realise the floor is moving and reconsider the cause of the banging.
The quake, 8.2 on the Richter scale, was here:
2.3N 97.1E - NORTHERN SUMATERA, INDONESIA
The good news is there is no risk of Tsunami in California and Alaska but as for the Acenese, well they're on their own.
I informed the security guards that the entire building was shaking but as they were on the ground floor and felt nothing, they simply thought I was nuts. They insisted that there was no earthquake and gave me that "another crazy ang moh" look. I'm like "Di Ze Dude!" and they're jusk shaking their heads and running off 'cus mysteriously the water tank broke in the next block.
Well if you felt the quake you can report it here: I felt it
Full Details: Here
Tags:singapore, indonesia, rant
Labels: world
