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)” [Wikileaks via Boing Boing]
(Photo: Getty)
More From Consumerist
-
Not To Dash Your Hopes & Dreams Or Anything, But The McRib's Return Might Be Delayed
-
Google Switches Up Its Search Engine To Shun Sites Suspected Of Peddling Pirated Content
-
4 Black Friday Myths Debunked
-
Target Can’t Even Decide Which Price It’s Selling Assassin’s Creed III At In Stores
-
LinkedIn Sued For $5 Million For Failing To Protect Passwords During Breach
Dorks.
Anonymous will hand them their own heads. None of us are as mean, nasty, and batshit insane as all of us.
These twits have no clue how useless their little laws are.
This will fail to stop illegal downloading and as such, is a WASTE OF OUR F@#*!NG TIME! How about the government do something useful with all the billions taken from our paychecks! Like, bring the F@#*!NG troops home!
@Michael Belisle: Admit this: Am I right, or am I right?
@drjayphd: I now stand _doubly_ corrected. *sigh*
@Bladefist: Nah, I respectfully disagree. But you do add some color to the discourse.
@drjayphd: It was grid*something*
@kbarrett: *cues exploding party vans*
@arstal: A treaty may not do or exceed what the Congress is charged to do or what it is forbidden to do according to the constitution. Then again, when was the last time congress actually look at the constitution.
@JollyJumjuck:
You mean like this?
+ Watch video
Let them make laws making it illegal to be entertained. Let the entertainment industry kill itself. I encourage the industry to add tough DRM to everything it makes. Make it illegal to watch or listen to anything without paying for it. Let Sony run everything. I just don’t care.
@Michael Belisle: Every nominee running for president, gets compared with a previous president.
Question: Is comparing Obama with Carter an insult? Carter fully supports Obama. Obama fully accepts Carters acceptance. Carter was very left. Obama is the left most person running for president in history. Interested to hear your opinion.
@vastrightwing: Regardless of their piddily laws, we’ll do what we want. It would just be nice if our laws were more progressive.
Obama and the DNC is banning lobbyist contributions. Period.
McCain and the RNC is not only sucking as many lobbyist contributions as they can, but McCain has several lobbyists running his organization. And the White House and Republican-controlled Congress pretty much is and has been run by lobbyists. Pretty much the entire Executive branch is led by former industry people and lobbyists.
Yup. The two: totally equivalent.
I am sure there are a lot of low level surveillance entities out there (not all law enforcement, I mean conexus and other snoop companies) who would love to get rid of P2P simply because of the security it provides in data transmission…
It always amuses me to see Sony Corp. mentioned in articles about fighting piracy. They seem to be one of the leaders in the campaign against illegal copying. If it was that big a concern to them you’d think they’d “take one for the team” and stop selling dvd burners,recordable dvds, and cds.
Of course not everything pirated is burned to disc. I bet though that the vast majority of what is burned to dvdr or cdr would be considered illegal by Sony and it’s ilk.
Why is it that politicians will sell their souls for so little money?
@Trai_Dep: I find it hard to defend McCain against comments like that. He history is known. You’re right. He caters to lobbyist. Lobbyist run his campaign. He is a douche. What makes it worse, is GOP is standing behind him. Even though he is a big man in the GOP, he, and others like him, are individuals. Republican is just a group of people with similar ideas on policy. If GOP doesn’t come back to conservatism soon, I’ll be changing my icon. So I don’t like your generalized comments about my party, but your attacks on the individuals are correct (Atleast in that comment). Obama on the other hand, is a radical leftist. So maybe he isn’t a sellout to lobbyist, but his policies are dangerous. He’ll bankrupt this country, and turn this place into western Europe. His only experience in Government is the Senate, which he has spent his whole time campaigning for president. He is an idiot. I listen to him talk, and he knows absolutely nothing about the history of this country. You’ll see more of this in the general election. You make me pick – I’ll take the lobbyist caterin McCain.
@Bladefist: It doesn’t have to be, but you did imply “hope and change” means “a return to Carter’s failed economic policies that brought on a stagnant economy and price inflation”. It’s an insult in your mind.
In addition, it has nothing to do with ACTA. It’s totally irrelevant and wasn’t even a response to anything.
@Bladefist: his policies are dangerous. He’ll bankrupt this country, and turn this place into western Europe.
I’ll take that any day to continuing the transformation to Red China Bush that started, where we torture people and trample on citizen’s rights and freedoms in the interest of the government and the party.
@Michael Belisle: Thank you.
And, what “failed” Carter economic policies? He brought in Volker, who jacked interest rates, which killed inflation. It’s just that the US economy is a big ship, so by the time that the positive impact was visible, Reagan was in office. Who promptly ran the largest deficits known ever (in between appointments to ship restricted weapons to Islamic terrorists), until Clinton balanced the budget. Then the next Republican to hold office takes the historic surpluses that Dems created (rationally, to pay for the Boomer’s retirement and health needs) and turns these surpluses to the largest deficits ever seen. Even more than Reagan’s.
So anyone suggesting Obama will bankrupt the economy after supporting the Bushies is woefully ignorant.
Republicans are horrible for the economy. It’s a simple fact. The only reason why Wall Street likes them (in spite of their crappy management) is that they know that they’ll personally benefit, since the GOP will let the industry foxes run the henhouse.
But never mind that, since they talk pretty. Oh,so pretty. It’s enough to fool the rubes, so they must be onto something, right?
And, what’s wrong with Western Europe? They live longer, have 4x the vacation time, higher per-capitas, huge, productive economies, aren’t hated across the world for killing Arabs on a whim or torturing people and their health care actually works. They’re better schooled and their teenaged children much less pregnant. A LOT less pregnant, like a 10% or 20% of ours. Less murder victims. Healthier babies born… I could go on for ages…
I guess Republicans simply like knocked up schoolchildren, torture, unhealthy societies and economies. Because they’ve had control long enough to do something about it, yet instead spent their time making things worse.
We can all be angry, but how many of us are actually going to do something about it? We should write a letter to our respective congresspersons, but our laziness will probably let this bill go through if it gains enough momentum. Shame a Consumerist isn’t a Congressman so it can be tacked on with so many other porky bills.
Our citizens didn’t fight for our airport rights bill, why should this be an exception.
I’m going to go into my corner and weep now.
@Angryrider: Seriously. It’s REALLY easy to send an email, or call. Or write a letter (postage (I KNOW!) and everything: the fogeys count them as 5x a phone call or 20x an email).
Really. Seconds. A minute. And you’ll feel g-o-o-d!
@Trai_Dep: Ooooh that Western Europe. I errantly thought of Eastern Europe (not that I’m knocking Eastern Europe, but it seemed like the logical comparison for a Republican to make because it’s the ex-soviet side of the continent).
I just learned yesterday that the EU has the largest GDP in the world. As you point out, they seem to be doing alright and the system has a promising future. Everyone I talk from Europe (admittedly a small, primarily academic sampling) thinks their health care system is great and wonders why ours is so messed up.
Now I’m confused about what the supposed problem with western Europe is.
Pathetic…
@Michael Belisle: It’s telling that the global capital markets – hardly unschooled, irrational or sentimental – have rejected GOP economics over the EU’s. And their quality of life is exponentially better than here.
It’s mind-boggling that we don’t adapt from the best the world has to offer. Disgraceful.
so will this effect Torrent use at all?
@Trai_Dep: @Michael Belisle: I’ve been following your commentary and am astounded by your thumbless grasp of history, economics, and current political reality. I could effortlessly eviscerate every Air America talking point you’ve parroted here, but I am sure that it would neither inform you not persuade you to adopt a rational thought process over the childish prattle you seem to favor (e.g. “I guess Republicans simply like knocked up schoolchildren, torture, unhealthy societies and economies”, “Everyone I talk from Europe (admittedly a small, primarily academic sampling) thinks their health care system is great and wonders why ours is so messed up”). It saddens me that people with such a childish view of the world will be helping decide its future in November, but it certainly explains why a fellow with next to zero qualification for the nation’s highest office has enthralled so many.
@AtomicPlayboy: I’ve never listened to Air America. Some of my stuff was just flamebait (e.g., “the transformation to Red China that Bush started” in response to Bladefist’s equally bombastic comments about Obama bankrupting the country). Apparently it worked.
However, I stand by my Europe healthcare statement with the necessary parenthetical qualification (“admittedly a small, primarily academic sampling”). It’s not a representative sample of Europeans. It’s a small sample of European academics who are likely to be liberal and support social programs. In other words, it’s a sample of people that agree with me.
Now, as for Obama’s inexperience, you might have a point. But did you vote for Bush? 5 years as governor of Texas was good enough for President, you say?
Let’s compare to some government positions held by some other notable presidents of the 20th century (in no particular order):
• Harry Truman: 2 years in the Senate, a few months as Vice-President
• Woodrow Wilson: 2 years as governor
• Teddy Roosevelt: a year as governor and 6 months as VP
• Ronald Reagan: 8 years as governor
• Abraham Lincoln: 2 years in the House
You get the idea. A so-called “lack of experience” has never stopped an American president from doing good things for the country.
@AtomicPlayboy: When you have trai_dep trying to defend Jimmy Carter, and when you have both of them, defending western europe, the debate is over. Jimmy Carter is an absolute failure. How he gets up in the morning and lives with himself, is beyond me. Western Europe, while it has its benefits, ie: no personal responsibility, is another example of what America would never want to become. But apparently, we have some Americans who idolize that part of the world. No amount of information you give them is going to change their mine. The Marxism runs high.
I want to debate so many things that has been said,but it’s pointless. If you idolize Jimmy Carter and Western Europe:
1) You live in the wrong Country. Our constituion will never allow us to go that far.
2) You need a reality check; Better, you need more aspirations in your own life. Get out of your cubicle and look for innovation.
3) You obviously don’t realize which policies just don’t work here.
Western Europe is Western Europe. Not America. And we aren’t the same. It’s like giving dog medicine to a human. It wont work, even if your symptoms are the same.
@Michael Belisle: No I didn’t vote for Bush.
@AtomicPlayboy: 13 lines of hot air saying nothing.
You’re saying you’re smarter than the collective wisdom of the capital markets? That is hubris.
And both of you guys: are you so hostile to facts? Western Europe has higher measurements that I cited. Fact. Ours are in the toilet. Fact.
The US’ biggest problem in the ’70s was inflation. Fact. The Republican approach was to mint Whip Inflation Now buttons. Fact. The Dem one was to get a Fed Chief in there to squeeze the rates down. Fact.
Carter at least tried to get the hostages back. Poorly executed. By the military. Fact. Reagan traded restricted arms for hostages with the very people who kidnapped and held hostages in Iran. Fact.
Today, someone doing that would be in Guantanamo. Fact. Reagan did it, so… Reagan loves terrorists and should have been Renditioned? Fac… Well, no that’s just my wishful thinking. But reasonable: rules are rules.
It’s telling that you don’t think that giving piles of restricted arms to the Iranian kidnappers is a crime. Hate America much?
@Bladefist: No I didn’t vote for Bush.
You just gained a few points. I wait to hear from AtomicPlayboy, who made the inexperienced argument against Obama. History shows that “experience” is not the defining characteristic of a good president. Plenty of experienced presidents have totally sucked and plenty of “inexperienced” ones have been great. Presidents come in all forms, not just from the Old Boys Club. That one reason why our system works.
If you idolize Jimmy Carter and Western Europe…
There’s a difference between idolization and simple recognition of some things that they’re doing right. Now, I know the Republican party has idols, so it may be hard for you to understand how we can discuss the pros and cons of something without labeling them as universally good or evil.
The truth is complicated. And the US isn’t always right.
@Trai_Dep: He hasn’t brought up Reagan. It’s likely that he likes the man, but you’re assuming something here. I have no opinion on Carter (due to a lack of research), but Reagan vs. Carter is an argument you can’t win.
True, but if one says Carter = Worst Prez EVAH, then it begs the question of, “Compared to who?” Any person capable of independent thought would ask.
Carter’s signal efforts are arguably beating inflation (Volker) and the failed hostage rescue. Which begs, what economic policies before (Ford) and what Iranian hostage efforts after (Reagan)?
One can argue lapel-pins trump effective Fed policies, or negotiating back-channel arms deals with Iranian mullahs is better for America. Or I could have compared earning a Nobel Peace Prize to playing golf or visiting Bitburg. All fair choices.
But rationally, you can’t say Worst Prez EVAH w/o context. Which is what they did. Ball’s in their fact-challenged court.
Parenthetically, if you don’t think they both believe Reagan should be on Rushmore, I’ve got a bridge to sell you.
Anyway, they brought up history, and injected politics, from the initial comment. I’m simply asking they back up their unsupported opinion.
Back on topic: ACTA = BAD idea. Write your Congresscritter. Kill this thing.
@Trai_Dep: My understanding of Carter is that he wasn’t necessarily a bad president, he was just ineffective. (Contrast that with Bush: bad, but effective.) We ended up with him because Nixon screwed up so badly personality-wise (from what I can tell, Nixon’s policies were good enough). The survey of rankings at Wikipedia suggests that nobody agrees where Carter belongs.
Is there some risk that we’re doing that with Obama here? Sure. But, in reality, Obama’s no Carter and McCain is no Bush*.
Obama was on the fast track long before everyone hated Bush. I passed through Chicago when Obama was running for Senate in 2004. His popular support with the people was clear. Later, that clearly extended to national support when he gave the keynote at the Democratic Convention in 2006.
* I really don’t know who McCain is now. I used to think he was a strong leader with independent streak that I would have taken in a heartbeat over Bush (but not over Gore). Sometime between 2000 and 2008, he seems to have sold out in the interest of getting the party support he didn’t have in 2000.
@Trai_Dep: @Michael Belisle: I repeat: “I could effortlessly eviscerate every Air America talking point you’ve parroted here, but I am sure that it would neither inform you not persuade you to adopt a rational thought process over the childish prattle you seem to favor.” The ridiculous statements to which I was referring belie any seriousness about the subject. I suppose, as you said, they were flamebait to some extent, which makes them doubly not worth my time. I’ll leave it to Bladefist to keep up the fight, as he seems to enjoy it.
@AtomicPlayboy: I, too, can win every discussion that I denounce as extreme and so ridiculous that it’s not worth my time. When in doubt, always attack the discussion instead of the issues.
I would like to hear your “effortless” evisceration, but I imagine it’d just counter our “Air America” talking points with “National Review” or “Fair and Balanced” ones. If it it’s effortless, why not throw it out there?
And please stop lumping me with Trai_Dep. The few words I voiced in tentative agreement with him does not indicate solidarity with everything he claims.
Michael – the thing with these people is that if you don’t have an earbud streaming Limbaugh 24/7 into both ears, you’re an “other”. And all “others” are alike.
It goes to explain why they can’t tell the difference between Shi’a & Sunni. Or agnostic & atheist. Or. Or. Or..
Atomic: I haven’t seen prose that bloated and purple since Freshman Comp, tenth grade. C’mon, admit. We were all there once. It’s okay. Really.
@AtomicPlayboy: Dang it. It was 2v2 for a while there.
Michael/Trai, If there is another medium for us to debate this, I would love to. I think we have officially hi-jacked these comments, and should continue elsewhere. I think thats why myself, and perhaps atomic sometimes ‘give up’ on the argument, because it’s not really appropriate to write a book here in these comments. If you know of a place – let me know.
Outlaw P2P. Haha that’ll happen.
@Bladefist: I usually figure anything goes after 24 hours or 100 comments, whichever comes first.
Just as a clarification, if you want to contact someone in Congress (besides the negotiators), you’re going to want to contact one or both of your Senators. The Senate is the body that is constitutionally mandated to ratify all treaties that the U.S. is party to, unless this is not a treaty, but it appears to be.
Cheers!!