Latest news on ACTA (copyright treaty)

[Lady Fitzgerald]

This portion is especially interesting (bold emphasis is mine):

DRM. The tough rules against DRM have been watered down. ACTA signatories have to outlaw DRM circumvention, but there's a huge caveat; this only applies to DRM which restricts acts not authorized by rightsholders "or permitted by law." That last caveat is huge, and aligns ACTA more with the older WIPO Internet Treaties than with the DMCA. This language would appear to allow DRM circumvention when the resulting use is a legal one.

Sadly, when it comes to tools for doing the circumventing, these are broadly banned, even where some limited uses might be legal. This appears to set up a situation in which an ACTA signatory could allow people to bypass DRM to make backups or exercise fair use rights, but could not allow distribution of the tools to help them do it.

Sadly, distribution of the tools to circumvent DRM appears to still be banned even if the use of them is not. Curious conflict. At least, people who need to circumvent DRM to be able to shift and/or back up digital media (where copying is otherwise legal) may finally be able to legally so so.

[johnc]

its better than that if the ISP had to enforce copyright since the last update to the copyright act in the US gave copyright protection to unpublished unregistered items. soooooooooooo how do you know somethings copyrighted only when someone sues you.

[taming]

My understanding is that copyright attaches when the work is created, regardless of notification, symbols, etc.

[Skydog]

Originally Posted by DawnFalcon

Bad example, seatbelts are a health and safety issue.

No, it is a perfect example.

And I will make decisions regarding my health and safety. Not government!

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Originally Posted by taming

My understanding is that copyright attaches when the work is created, regardless of notification, symbols, etc.

True, but no court will recognize it unless it has been legally registered.

[Falcao]

Originally Posted by beppe

We have developed, in the course of many centuries, a diffused and pronounced disrespect for any kind of rules. Climate, good food and encouraged laziness, have made law enforcing ineffective, so we can happily do what we want.

That sounds like Mexico

[Steven Lake]

Originally Posted by Lady Fitzgerald

Sadly, distribution of the tools to circumvent DRM appears to still be banned even if the use of them is not. Curious conflict. At least, people who need to circumvent DRM to be able to shift and/or back up digital media (where copying is otherwise legal) may finally be able to legally so so.

It's an intentionally legal catch-22. It's like telling your kid that they can play with the neighbor across the street, but they can't cross the street to get there. It's their way of saying, "See? We allow you to circumvent DRM legally." even though they actually don't.