patrick.net

Copyrights are given at the nation-state level. Just because you have a copyright in the U.S. doesn't mean you have a copyright in Canada or vice-versa. Just ask Pizza, Pizza, the pizza restaurant chain in Canada that was effectively prevented from expanding its franchise into the United States by Little Cesar's Pizza who trademarked the phrase "Pizza, Pizza" precisely to block Pizza, Pizza from entering the U.S. market.

Just because you have a copyright in the U.S., doesn't mean that every other nation-state must grant you a copyright in its borders. Nation-states are free to choose not to have copyrights at all.

The idea that one nation can force its laws unto another violates the very concept of sovereignty and is grounds for war. Image if the Saudi Arabia morality police came to your hometown and arrested your mother or sister for violating Sharia Law. Then they proceeded to administer the standard punishment of rape, beating, and beheading. They have exactly as much legal ground to do this as the United States has to enforce its copyright laws in other nations.

There is a reason why laws governing citizens are set at the nation-state level rather than the international level. We don't want one world government. The only laws that make sense at the International level are laws that restrict governments from committing crimes against humanity such as unjust wars, genocide, torture, and other human rights violations, or laws needed to protect the Earth itself from destruction such as environmental laws and anti-nuclear proliferation laws.