Leaked ACTA Treaty Will Outlaw P2P

[Joanne98]

ACTA—the misleadingly named "Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement"—is the worldwide copyright treaty that's being negotiated behind closed doors, and that will create a sort of global DMCA if continues in its current state. Now Wikileaks has posted a draft of the treaty, and Boing Boing's Cory Doctorow gives his take:

Among other things, ACTA will outlaw P2P (even when used to share works that are legally available, like my books), and crack down on things like region-free DVD players. All of this is taking place out of the public eye, presumably with the intention of presenting it as a fait accompli just as the ink is drying on the treaty.

Wikileaks points out that the U.S. politician behind ACTA is Howard Berman from California, a Democrat whose top four campaign contributors for 2006 were Time Warner ($21,000), News Corp ($15,000), Sony Corp of America ($14,000), and Walt Disney Co ($13,550).

So what can you do, other than shake your head in disgust? Well, here's a list of members of the subcommittee overseeing the U.S. side of things, so you could start by seeing if your rep is listed and contacting him or her directly. One Boing Boing reader suggests contacting your representative regardless of committee membership—you can find the correct contact information here using your zip code or address.

"Proposed US ACTA multi-lateral intellectual property trade agreement (2007)"

http://consumerist.com/tag/copyright/?i=5014035&t=leaked-acta-treaty-will-outlaw-p2p

This treaty is going to be signed on July 8th.

[Liberal Veteran]

1. Don't treaties have to be ratified?

[Joanne98]

2. Yes, but I'm kinda confused on this. I thought only Congress could sign treaties.

Apparently something has changed. The Bush admin has begun using treaties to go around Congress. I don't know what happened but it's bullshit.

[RC]

3. Naaa, bu$h reassigned that from Congress to the White House.

Congress can't be trusted to do the "Right" thing.
Constitution? Wadat?

[anigbrowl]

5. Np. The president signs treaties, Congress ratifies them.

Despite what you think, that hasn't changed.

[Joanne98]

6. What happened then. How did this get ratified without anybody knowing?

[anigbrowl]

11. It didn't. It's just mindless Bush-blaming.

There's plenty to blame Bush for without making stuff up. It makes DU looks stupid and I wish people would put their brains in gear before making stuff up when what they really want to do is vent. What gave you the idea that it had been ratified?

[originalpckelly]

4. Has anyone noticed how this weasel is a Democrat?

I think we should be worried, it's not like any of the people on our side are any less tempted by corruption.

[Joanne98]

7. I did. I hate traitor Dems.

[Fleshdancer]

8. How?

How in the world would they outlaw P2P? Seriously, I'm all ears.

[anigbrowl]

10. It doesn't - pure histrionics

I wish people would argue things are good or bad on their own merits instead of exaggerating in order to get more attention. It only encourages foolish people to believe in misleading scenarios and dissipates rather than concentrates people's energy.

[anigbrowl]

9. I'm opposed to ACTA, but it does not outlaw P2P

Cory Doctorow is full of BS. The ACTA does include a provision that would allow action to be taken against non-profit software piracy. I am not overly enthused about this even though I am not in the habit of downloading music, movies etc., because the scope o such action is very poorly defined.

I could go on about why I don't like it, but attacking it on the wrong grounds is just as foolish as uncritical acceptance of it. I suggest people read the more sober and serious discussion at wikileaks.org and then look at the original document: http://www.wikileaks.org/wiki/Proposed_US_ACTA_multi-lateral_intellectual_property_trade_agreement_(2007)

Relying on second hand blog sources is weak and creates needless confusion. If you have access to original info (like a wikileaks document and article) then it is so much better to post that instead of 2nd and 3rd hand opinions of what it means. Remember folks, 90% of blogs just repeat what they read on other blogs and get some of the details wrong. the more blogs between you and the original source of a piece of news, the less relaiable the information.

[depakid]

12. Howard Berman is one of the biggest whore's in the Democratic party

and a shining example of why America's political system is in the shape it's in.