[solaris]

The forces of reaction are fighting back. As they often do, they are carrying out their planning in secret, in the knowledge that if more people knew of their activities they would not be allowed to get away with it.

The US (surprise, surprise) has circulated a draft "Discussion Paper on a Possible Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement" (ACTA) for the next G8 meeting, in Tokyo in July. The full text of the document has been published on Wikileaks (wikileaks.org).

The ACTA draft is a scary document. If a treaty based on its provisions were adopted, it would enable any border guard, in any treaty country, to check any electronic device for any content that they suspect infringes copyright laws. They need no proof, only suspicion.

They would be able to seize any device - laptop, iPod, DVD recorder, mobile phone, etc - and confiscate it or destroy anything on it, merely on suspicion. On the spot, no lawyers, no right of appeal, no nothing.[/color]

Full story here:

Digital copyright: it's all wrong - Perspectives - Opinion - Technology

and here:

Digital copyright: it's all wrong - Perspectives - Opinion - Technology

[approaching oblivion]

Originally Posted by solaris

Full story here:

Digital copyright: it's all wrong - Perspectives - Opinion - Technology

and here:

Digital copyright: it's all wrong - Perspectives - Opinion - Technology

They do realize that no one is smuggling in MP3s in the trunk of their cars?

[vikulenka]

Originally Posted by approaching oblivion

They do realize that no one is smuggling in MP3s in the trunk of their cars?

So I can't travel with my iPod now?

[Starcat]

Thank you, solaris, for bringing this to our attention.
Very interesting article, but a crazy, over the top proposal.
As usual, the record companies and their like totally over-react in their desire to protect copyright.
Surely this idea is a non-starter, I can`t see how it would be enforced in reality.
As the author of the piece says, this story needs to be known by as many people as possible, and there would be a public outcry if this was made common knowledge.
I hope this proposal never comes into force, and someone with a brain will realise the futility of trying to enforce such a ridiculous "law".

[Nightfly]

Originally Posted by solaris

Full story here:

Digital copyright: it's all wrong - Perspectives - Opinion - Technology

and here:

Digital copyright: it's all wrong - Perspectives - Opinion - Technology

Our leaders now have mindsets of thugs,because of our current
bad administration.Hopefully a change for the better will come in November.
Hopefully there are leaders in other countrys that will have the moral
conviction and insight to just laugh at this proposal and send it on its way.

[mojo2093]

Yeah it is definitely scary to think about, but sounds completely nonsensical. What I'm wondering is what is considered as suspicion....a guy wearing a shirt that has "I don't pay for CDs" written on it or just get the whole 18-34 demographic? Maybe law enforcement should worry about drug trafficking and people who try to blow planes up. Can you say insane?

[archon.thelawgiver]

I hope this draft treaty gets up because it'll make the Sony root level DRM issue seem like a Sunday afternoon picnic. This proposal is so ridiculous, so extreme that'll get people so mad that they'll then put pressures on their legislators to provide a please explain. People will then demand answers and action to stop all of this from happening.

In the meantime technology companies and tourism groups will be lobbying governments to change their stance on this issue or they'll go broke. In addition more and more ordinary citizens people will hate the music manufacturers leading to even more protests.

These companies just don't get it and the sooner they are cut down to size the better. I honestly believe that if this proposal gets up it'll be the end of their outmoded business model.