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| BBC: US defeated in film row. |
| 2005-10-21 |
| The United Nations cultural body voted in favour of a cultural diversity convention, backed by France, Canada and the UK. The US had said the "deeply flawed" convention could be used to block the export of Hollywood films and other cultural exports. The vote follows French moves to protect its film and music industries. Strict quotas France already awards large subsidies to its own film, music, theatre and opera industries to support its cultural heritage. It also imposes strict quotas on the level on non-French material broadcast on radio and television. The new convention on cultural diversity aims to recognise the distinctive nature of cultural goods and services. It enables countries to take measures to protect what it describes as "cultural expressions" that may be under threat. The majority of Unesco's 191 member states voted for the convention. Britain's representative to Unesco, Timothy Craddock, said the wording was "clear, carefully balanced, consistent with the principles of international law and fundamental human rights". But it was opposed by the US, which said the convention was unclear and open to wilful misinterpretation. |
| Posted by:3dc |
| #3 I think this could work in our favor in the long run. If Hollyweird can't make money selling their schlock to foreign markets, and aren't making money here either, maybe they'll have to start making good movies again. Or go down the tubes. Their choice. Won't hurt my feelings either way. And we certainly don't have to worry about the crap the "protected" film industries in other countries making any money in this country. And the market around the world for (possibly bootleg) DVDs and films over the internet will soar as people try to find real entertainment, not the crap a protected film industry will put out. What's the downside? |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2005-10-21 23:04 |
| #2 Maybe this will eventually be a good thing for those of us tired of seeing US movies "dumbed down" to mindless explosions so they'll sell in markets where English isn't a primary or secondary language. |
| Posted by: Phil Fraering 2005-10-21 22:37 |
| #1 Sign of a dying culture if you ask me. |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2005-10-21 22:09 |