European Commission Signs ACTA

[shought]

Today the European Commission (EC) has signed the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA). Although the treaty mainly deals with counterfeited physical goods, it also includes provisions related to digital goods. The Treaty was negotiated in secret. Negotiations which began during the Bush Administration and were finalized under the Obama Administration.

However, the treaty is still to be approved by the European Parliament (EP). Again however, we shouldn't expect major internet blackouts in a protest against this treaty. It is mainly aimed at consumers directly and will force ISPs to forward data from infringing customers without a court notice. The EP will vote on this proposal in June 2012.

In addition to the European Union signing this treaty all member states have already signed this treaty (which is also a treaty which shows 'the intent' to implement ACTA, not the actual treaty). However in most member states negotiations about the actual treaty are being held behind closed doors, away from the public, by design. For the member states the same applies: the parliaments will still have to approve the law. There is little doubt that, should the EP ratify this treaty, most member states will follow suit.

In October 2011, these eight countries signed: Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Morocco, New Zealand, Singapore and the U.S. However, in the U.S., treaties must be ratified by the Senate. Obama claims that ACTA isn’t a treaty but is, instead, an “executive agreement” and thus does not require ratification.

For those who want to learn more about ACTA: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Counterfeiting_Trade_Agreement

Sources:

http://webwereld.nl/...ekent-acta.html (Dutch (NL) Source, Google Translate (EN): http://goo.gl/9uScO)

http://themoderatevo...oland-protests/ (Old article, some background.)

[0veR]

That sux! PIPA and SIPA was in USA now ACTA in EU <_<

[shought]

That sux! PIPA and SIPA was in USA now ACTA in EU <_<

ACTA is also in the US ;)

[Suguru]

Obama 'thinks'... He can think for america, LEAVE EUROPE IN PEACE!!!

[Frosticles]

for f*** sake :wtf: :fist: :nono: :chair:

[myidisbb]

obama full of shit. thinking he can do that. another reason to shit can him.

[DKT27]

Just an update on things.

The Polish people have gone on streets to protest it.

And, on the internet side, European parliament has issued a statement that it's website was DDoSed & taken offline by hackers. Probably Anonymous did it, for the same reason I believe.

[SnakeMasteR]

:huh: ^_^

[Dooohhh]

Again, Obama is much better than the possible alternatives.. at least he's a little humanistic, rather than the rivals that is solely capitalistic..

[beer]

Thanks for the news update.

Sad to see this signed.

[beer]

Today in polish parliament (source) :cheers:

[Adrean]

I didn't know Canada is already part of ACTA. What a shame.. What do I do now? :(

[Dooohhh]

Today in polish parliament (source) :cheers:

Well that will get some attention to the topic! :w00t:

[myidisbb]

Again, Obama is much better than the possible alternatives.. at least he's a little humanistic, rather than the rivals that is solely capitalistic..

bs

he is a g d communist. since 2007 when the democrats took over congress we had the massive spending debts. bush didnt have the balls to veto. so even mccain would been better then this joker. how much more freedom must we lose? when there is a gop in the office the media news watching and reports everythng. when you have a demonrat nothing gets reported. big difference.

liberism has nothing to do with freedoms.