The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement negotiations continue in a few hours as Seoul, Korea plays host to the latest round of talks. The governments have posted the meeting agenda, which unsurprisingly focuses on the issue of Internet enforcement [UPDATE 11/4: Post on discussions for day two of ACTA talks, including the criminal enforcement provisions]. The United States has drafted the chapter under enormous secrecy, with selected groups granted access under strict non-disclosure agreements and other countries (including Canada) given physical, watermarked copies designed to guard against leaks. Despite the efforts to combat leaks, information on the Internet chapter has begun to emerge (just as they did with the other elements of the treaty). Sources say that the draft text, modeled on the U.S.-South Korea free trade agreement, focuses on following five issues: Baseline obligations inspired by Article 41 of the TRIPs which focuses on the enforcement of intellectual property. A requirement to establish third-party liability for copyright infringement.... The Internet chapter raises two additional issues. On the international front, it provides firm confirmation that the treaty is not a counterfeiting trade, but a copyright treaty. These provisions involve copyright policy as no reasonable definition of counterfeiting would include these kinds of provisions. On the domestic front, it raises serious questions about the Canadian negotiation mandate. Negotations from Foreign Affairs are typically constrained by either domestic law, a bill before the House of Commons, or the negotiation mandate letter. Since these provisions dramatically exceed current Canadian law and are not found in any bill presently before the House, Canadians should be asking whether the negotiation mandate letter has envisioned such dramatic changes to domestic copyright law. When combined with the other chapters that include statutory damages, search and seizure powers for border guards, anti-camcording rules, and mandatory disclosure of personal information requirements, it is clear that there is no bigger IP issue today than the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement being negotiated behind closed doors this week in Korea....
Despite the efforts to combat leaks, information on the Internet chapter has begun to emerge (just as they did with the other elements of the treaty). Sources say that the draft text, modeled on the U.S.-South Korea free trade agreement, focuses on following five issues:
Possibly related news: Europe, Price Competition Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.
and other countries (including Canada) given physical, watermarked copies designed to guard against leaks.
Because it's not possible to scan the paper and post a PDF of the text to Wikileaks.
Copyright legislation protected by watermarks?
Mmmm - freshly grilled postmodern.
Meanwhile - will the Tories be howling at the moon about the loss of national sovereignty created by this insult to the UK's existing copyright legislation?
Or is it a case of IOKWAMDI? (It's okay when America does it?)
is it a case of IOKWAMDI? (It's okay when America does it?)
Totally. Hey, nothing is more desirable among the British politcal class than an idea that has demonstrably failed in the US. keep to the Fen Causeway
the usual methid is not watermarks, but more slight changes in the text, so each copy is individual and can be identified. Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.
That is a funny non sequitur! Perhaps the writer wanted to describe some thing altogether different (for example, security features, engraved to foil [BWAH] reproduction of the document. Non-repro emulsion polymerized paper, ink, or nanoWTF, bebe.) but conceded either to discretion or ignorance. Hellifino.
What is or are the UK's existing copyright protection(s)? If you sorted that from EU directives, I must have missed that. Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.
