As ACTA Talks Continue, A Few Updates

January 28, 2010

As the seventh round of Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) talks continue in Guadalajara, Mexico, watchdog Michael Geist assists in pointing out some new information related to the controversial accord.

The Wire Report writes that Canada will not comply with ACTA unless it is “fully satisfied that it [the agreement] reflects the best interests of Canadians. This statement is attributed to Canadian International Trade Minister Peter Van Loan, who also said, “The Government has been transparent in this process and will continue consulting stakeholders.”

The article also contains a quote from Barry Sookman, a registered lobbyist for “the major recording companies,” who said that a three-strikes anti-piracy provision is “not on any proposal that anybody has seen.” He added, “It’s an attempt to scare the public against some of the provisions of the treaty.”

Additionally, in response to a lack of transparency surrounding ACTA talks, 20 UK MPs have signed a motion arguing that, if a handful of companies are able to influence ACTA decision making, politicians too should be offered the same courtesy:

…this House is deeply concerned by the secrecy surrounding international negotiations on the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA); notes that any agreement reached could affect the measures to protect copyright online currently being debated in the Digital Economy Bill.

MP Don Foster authored the motion, which was signed by pro-gamer MP Tom Watson, among others.

This week’s round of ACTA talks, according to the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade, will focus on Civil Enforcement, Border Measures, Enforcement Procedures in the Digital Environment and Transparency.

Geist has also been busy updating his ACTA Guide all week. Part One covers the talks to-date, Part Two focuses on ACTA documents, both official and leaked, Part Three discusses transparency and secrecy and Part Four centers on what ACTA might mean for different countries around the world.

|Image, purportedly the ACTA meeting room in Mexico, via TwitPic|

Posted in ACTA Copyright Politics & Legislation

Comments

Re: As ACTA Talks Continue, A Few Updates

Submitted by Rodrigo Ybáñez ... on Sat, 01/30/2010 - 13:19.

Funny. Nobody in Mexico know about this. I haven´t seen this in any newspaper or news outlet. All there is in the news is about a soccer player named Cabañas who get shooted in the head in a bar fight. It´s sad, but irrelevant in so many levels. People die daily here because the organizated crime, but the fucking media just focus in one single soccer player.

My DeviantArt Page (aka DeviantCensorship): http://www.darkknightstrikes.deviantart.com

Re: As ACTA Talks Continue, A Few Updates

Submitted by Zeke129 on Fri, 01/29/2010 - 14:38.

I knew the Canadian government would come to their senses on ACTA, especially after doing that whole "copyright consultation" thing. It's one of the better moves our government has made recently.

Re: As ACTA Talks Continue, A Few Updates

Submitted by ZippyDSMlee on Fri, 01/29/2010 - 13:36.

Distribution dose not equal selling.... distribution dose not equal selling.... distribution dose not equal selling.... distribution dose not equal selling.... distribution dose not equal selling.... distribution dose not equal selling.... distribution dose not equal selling....

Sing it with me brothers and sisters!

Until lobbying is a hanging offense I choose anarchy! CP/IP laws should not effect the daily life of common people! http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/

I have a dream, break the chains of copy right oppression! http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/2011/12/31/what-is-cigital-disobedience/

Re: As ACTA Talks Continue, A Few Updates

Submitted by vellocet on Fri, 01/29/2010 - 11:57.

“It’s an attempt to scare the public against some of the provisions of the treaty."

Well, then why don't you reveal the text of ACTA so the public can make up their own minds?

------- Morality has always been in decline. As you get older, you notice it. When you were younger, you enjoyed it.

Re: As ACTA Talks Continue, A Few Updates

Submitted by hellfire7885 on Fri, 01/29/2010 - 13:16.

The person saying it is a lobbyist. People making intelligent, informed decisions based on research is something they're paid to prevent.

Re: As ACTA Talks Continue, A Few Updates

Submitted by Ashura01 on Thu, 01/28/2010 - 16:13.

The Wire Report writes that Canada will not comply with ACTA unless it is “fully satisfied that it [the agreement] reflects the best interests of Canadians. ..... gee I hope that means canadian CITIZENS not just buisnesses.

Re: As ACTA Talks Continue, A Few Updates

Submitted by DorkmasterFlek on Thu, 01/28/2010 - 16:13.

While Michael Geist's postings are from a Canadian viewpoint, they also apply largely to the rest of the world as well. Geist has been a true champion of the people in his zealousness to expose this treaty and get it into the public realm. I highly encourage anyone interested to read his postings on it.

Re: As ACTA Talks Continue, A Few Updates

Submitted by hellfire7885 on Thu, 01/28/2010 - 15:06.

Eheh, of course he says that, he's a lobbyist.

With all the secrecy the only entities this is in the best interest fo is corporations.

Shout box

Grif: Hearing rumors that Anonymous plans to take down PSN for at least four days. Can anyone verify this? I can't find anything on it.02/14/2012 - 4:54am

Cheater87: R18+ heading for Australian parliament http://www.gamespot.com/news/6350339.html02/14/2012 - 1:14am

Uncharted NES: David Jaffe Rails Against Storytelling Games- http://slashdot.org/palm/10/12/02/13/1943236_1.shtml02/13/2012 - 5:04pm

DorthLous: Australian government holding anti-piracy talk behind closed door: http://delimiter.com.au/2012/02/13/govt-holds-second-secret-anti-piracy-meeting/02/13/2012 - 12:31pm

DorthLous: SONY new CEO says Hardware is important, but the future lies in content and service: http://www.techworld.com.au/article/414925/incoming_sony_ceo_hot_gadgets_aren_t_enough_anymore02/13/2012 - 12:27pm

Andrew Eisen: That article is over five years old, Uncharted. A fun blast from the past though.02/12/2012 - 10:47pm

Uncharted NES: Critics: 'Left Behind' game glorifies violence- http://tinyurl.com/wu64s02/12/2012 - 4:34pm

Zen: I felt Brutal Legends was a funny & beautiful look at the world of rock from Double Fines point of view. The only parts I wasn't hot for were the RTS bits as it felt forced. Otherwise fantastic.02/12/2012 - 1:34pm

DorthLous: Passed 1.5M$. And I'd also say that Brutal Legend is far from being a bad game. I just think it was a few levels under what people expected from the people working on the project.02/11/2012 - 8:25am

Technogeek: Brutal Legend wasn't bad so much as "marketing had no idea how the game actually played", causing it to suffer accordingly.02/10/2012 - 10:38pm

RedMage: It looks the CIA's website has been DDOS'ed. Anon?02/10/2012 - 7:52pm

RedMage: Brutal Legend.02/10/2012 - 7:52pm

ddrfr33k: Has anything Tim Schafer ever made been of crap caliber? I'm struggling to think of one...02/10/2012 - 7:37pm

Guamish: I think it is in good hands. Tim did a game for the GDC award show and that was fun for how short it was.02/10/2012 - 12:22pm

Andrew Eisen: It'll be tragic if the game ultimately sucks.02/10/2012 - 12:17pm

james_fudge: $1.3 million02/10/2012 - 11:32am

Uncharted NES: Germany Says It Won't Sign ACTA [Update: ... Yet]- http://tinyurl.com/7r2twrg02/10/2012 - 11:21am

Andrew Eisen: Damn. Double Fine's Kickstarter fund has already passed a million dollars.02/09/2012 - 8:16pm

Andrew Eisen: Audrey didn't quote the sassy parts. Here's IGN's article: http://wii.ign.com/articles/121/1218359p1.html And here's my original post: http://tinyurl.com/7y68a3902/09/2012 - 7:50pm

james_fudge: I hope you some said something sassy! Where's the link?02/09/2012 - 7:46pm

All shouts

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