Secret Copyright Law Reported

[6charlong]

An article on Teleread reports that the US Government is negotiating a new international copyright law. The text of what they are discussing has been hidden as a State Secret.

The text of the article is here:

http://www.teleread.org/2009/11/25/t...-be-published/

[Sonist]

WOW!

This should be FRONT PAGE news.

If substantiated, where the hell is the mainstream press on this? I suppose most are owned or controlled by the same media corporations pushing for this.

A state secret?! Why, because the sheep might get restless, if it hears that the shepherds are holding talks and sharpening knives?

[kennyc]

We've got too much spying on innocent people already. Don't need no more!

Let he who is without sin (the government ) cast the first stone.

[etienne66]

Originally Posted by kennyc

Let he who is without sin (the government ) cast the first stone.

I guess we'll see no more laws.

EFF has been covering this for a while. Leaked ACTA Internet Provisions: Three Strikes and a Global DMCA

Etienne66

[HarryT]

Given the explosion of illegal distribution of music, films, books, etc, that the Internet has promoted, it seems to me to be a very good thing that new copyright treaties should give governments the powers to tackle the issue internationaly.

However, such issues need to be discussed openly, not "behind closed doors".

[Sonist]

Originally Posted by HarryT

...
However, such issues need to be discussed openly, not "behind closed doors".

I think this is the whole point. And the whole point of discussing it behind "closed doors" is, so that the public doesn't get riled up about some of the more intrusive enforcement tools discussed.

In most of the West, the government cannot monitor communication of suspected terrorists, who may be planning to kill thousands, without obtaining a court order.

Yet, we are close to having the government and private parties monitor communication between suspected file-sharers, with nary a safeguard in sight.

IMO, this is just absurd, and sadly, it says a lot about priorities and the power of lobbies.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by Sonist

I think this is the whole point. And the whole point of discussing it behind "closed doors" is, so that the public doesn't get riled up about some of the more intrusive enforcement tools discussed.

In most of the West, the government cannot monitor communication of suspected terrorists, who may be planning to kill thousands, without obtaining a court order.

Yet, we are close to having the government and private parties monitor communication between suspected file-sharers, with nary a safeguard in sight.

IMO, this is just absurd, and sadly, it says a lot about priorities and the power of lobbies.

Not true. The Patriot Act and all the Authorization Bush gave the FBI etc. etc. etc. They can virtually do anything they want at the moment.

[Kellhus]

ot true. The Patriot Act and all the Authorization Bush gave the FBI etc. etc. etc. They can virtually do anything they want at the moment.

Sonist said "West". That doesn't mean "USA".

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by Kellhus

Sonist said "West". That doesn't mean "USA".

Duh! Does not negate the truth though. You're just being pedantic. This thread STARTED with a statement about the U.S. Government though if you check.

[MovieBird]

Originally Posted by Kellhus

Sonist said "West". That doesn't mean "USA".

My my, what resentment. When someone says the "West", they generally mean the USA, seeing as we have the most economic, and political impact of any nation in the world.

Hell, according to the 2007 World Factbook, California had a larger GDP than Canada.

Whether our influence is waxing or waning is another question altogether.

[Hogan]

Originally Posted by MovieBird

My my, what resentment. When someone says the "West", they generally mean the USA, seeing as we have the most economic, and political impact of any nation in the world.

Who is the "someone" you talk about? I can only assume its someone from the US because when people from Europe say, "West" they generally mean, Western Europe and the US. Its attitudes like yours in the quote above that make people from Europe roll their eyes, when they hear things like that! There is a world outside of the US

[kennyc]

West of what?

[Kellhus]

When someone says the "West", they generally mean the USA

Not really, not in Europe anyway.

[DawnFalcon]

Originally Posted by HarryT

However, such issues need to be discussed openly, not "behind closed doors".

Given the text leaked is basically the same as the US has been using in bilateral treaties, just taken up a notch, well, honestly it's not hard to see where it's going. And no, forcing the neoprohibitionist approach to IP law onto everyone is not a good idea, unless you think the RIAA's technique of losing music customers for life was smart.

(Incidentally, this makes the UK's Digital Economy Bill with its secondary legislation look far nastier, because the ACTA could then be passed into UK law with only a debate on which no vote is allowed)

[Ralph Sir Edward]

For more detail, see Michael Geist's blog. (try Google - I'm not on my noral machine, I don't have a link handy...)