IIPA calls for open-source to be part of US copyright watchlist

UNITED STATES – The US-based International Intellectual Property Alliance has called on the US Trade Representative to include the promotion of open-source software as a black mark against countries in its “Special 301 watchlist”. The watchlist is compiled annually by the US Trade Department, and lists countries in order of their failure to protect intellectual property rights. In a letter to the USTR, the IIPA said open-source software should be part of the criteria on which countries are judged because it “weakens the software industry” and “fails to build respect for intellectual property rights.”