Missing From ACTA Release: What Each Country Is Pushing For

from the well,-look-at-that... dept

Fri, Apr 23rd 2010 2:47am — Mike Masnick

We've already discussed the (finally) officially released draft of ACTA -- which only came out after a ridiculous amount of public pressure, multiple leaks and a total beatdown by the European Parliament. While the official version shows that the leaked versions were quite accurate (this version only has the few changes made at the recent New Zealand negotiations, which came after the leaks), some are noticing what's missing. Jamie Love is pointing out that the leaked versions clearly showed which countries were pushing for which provisions. But the different country positions have been conveniently deleted from the "official version":

"It's late, very late, and missing a key element of transparency -- the country positions. Governments had to be forced by civil society groups to make the ACTA text public. Let's hope that the precedent for the future is to publish the texts, and to publish them much sooner. Now that the text is out, it will be easier to have public debates about its contents. It is unfortunate that the country positions were eliminated from the published version, but positions as recent as January 2010 are available from the earlier leaked texts.... Clearly the text goes way beyond counterfeiting and copyright piracy, into several categories of intellectual property rights, including patents, semi conductor chip designs, pharmaceutical test data and other topics. Governments should engage with consumer groups, civil rights organizations, educators, libraries, generic drug manufacturers, technology companies and others to re-balance the text, or abandon the negotiation if this is not possible in the current political environment."

Once again, it looks like this "transparency" isn't quite as transparent as ACTA supporters would like you to believe.

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Filed Under: acta, europe, new zealand

27 Comments

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Blatant Coward (profile), 23 Apr 2010 @ 3:21am

"it looks like this "transparency" isn't quite as transparent as ACTA supporters would like you to believe."

It's so transparent, I can't see it!
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NAMELESS.ONE, 23 Apr 2010 @ 3:50am

CHICKENS
bok bok booook boookk

as i said before this IS NOT THE ACTA TREATY DOCUMENT
what it is , is a wannnabe bullshit pull wool over your eyes so we can wack the moles and get the press off our back about our treasonous attempts to skirt democracy and SCREW EVERY HUMAN ON EARTH so we can sit on a beach while you pay more taxes and get less entertainment while still paying

remember , remember the 5th of november
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Apr 2010 @ 4:58am

Lets face it, and TAM would of course be wrong again by denying it. The U.S. (and the UK) is the one pushing for these draconian laws. This isn't rocket science. They don't need to tell us, it's obvious, we know already.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Apr 2010 @ 5:05am

Re: CHICKENS
Will you ever, like, stop posting?
Please? My eyes hurt.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Apr 2010 @ 5:26am

Re:
TAM will be here soon with something like "well there isnt anything here about what countries wanted so they obviously dont want anything bad."
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Apr 2010 @ 5:28am

Re: Re: CHICKENS
Nope, he is a product of the Canadian educational system. As much as they like to deny it, it is exactly like the American educational system. Don't hate him. Pity him.
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abc gum, 23 Apr 2010 @ 5:33am

Re: Re:
I doubt that the constituents of any country actually want any of this. It is the governemnts of each country that are being bullied and bribed into some sort of agreement which none of their citizens want, and few are even aware of.

What are we going to do today pinky ?
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Apr 2010 @ 5:39am

Re: Re: Re:
No, if Americans and citizens of other nations really didn't want this, we would have fought to some degree. Because we did not act, we have implicitly given our approval. Just because we have suddenly realized that the system we have financially supported for decades has been working to screw us (as it has shown to for years), it does not mean we are now against it.

People are still buying from big media companies and will likely do so. Only a small portion of the population realizes how screwed we will be in the long-run. But the smart economists and technologists in the country do not speak for the whole of the American people. The American people speak for themselves and they speak with their wallets and their votes.
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Chronno S. Trigger (profile), 23 Apr 2010 @ 5:52am

Re: Re: Re: Re:
People in America and other nations have been fighting this (pay attention). It's just hard to fight when the people negotiating this don't have to pay attention to citizens (they aren't elected) and are already getting "payed" more by the MPAA/RIAA/whatever then most yearly incomes.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Apr 2010 @ 6:05am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
My point was that the *AA are not getting their money from nowhere. Somebody is buying their stuff and supporting them financially. Even if Americans later denounce them, our actions speak louder than our words. If nobody bought their stuff they wouldn't have any money to bribe our corrupt officials and we wouldn't have this particular problem to deal with. Only, the thing is that we do apparently buy their stuff. Otherwise where are all these record quarters we are constantly mentioning coming from? Simple: We buy their products because we support their businesses.

Even if we do not support them at a concious level, their financial clout proves that at some level, Americans do actually support them.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Apr 2010 @ 6:12am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
The fact is that most Americans are still brainwashed by our mainstream media into thinking that piracy largely contributes to our economic crisis and that without these retarded laws no one would ever create new art or music.
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Logan2057 (profile), 23 Apr 2010 @ 7:40am

RE:RE:RE: CHICKENS
Hey there, AC number who the hell ever, I'm a Canuck, that's Canadian slang for you dunderheads like AC number who the hell ever in the American school system who went to school one day and on that day it rained and the teacher never showed up, and damn proud of it.Our education system is more like the British in that we are taught proper grammar, spelling, and sentence structure whilst learning about the world in general, whereas the American system only teaches American History and treats us, like a bunch of ignorant backwoods hillbillies, which we aren't. Don't blame your poor understanding on ACTA on us, hell, we're all in the same boat when it comes to getting screwed over by the Kartels. What I can't understand is why it hasn't been taken to the court in the Hague and had the world know that this whole farce was thought up by the USTR, who according to the U.S. Constitution has no right to implement or propose a law, yet that's exactly what that office has done at the behest of the MPAA,RIAA, and the BSA, so by law and definition of law as accorded to the U.S. Constitution this whole thing is illegal and shouldn't be allowed. Let's see em argue that in International Court where the judges are beyond the reach of the bribes and threats of the Kartels and their minions. My biggest laugh with this so called treaty, is how there is very little discussed in the way of "Counterfeiting" but instead focuses on "COPY RIGHT" matters, which as we all know benefits a small minority who seem to think that it's their God given right to play with the terms so no matter what whenever a item begins to go into the public domain, such as Mickey Mouse, as Walt Disney, has been dead longer than the terms of the current copy right extension, they immediately get their wallets out and run to their lobbyist to make sure that it never sees the public light of day unless it's under their jaundiced and greedy eye.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Apr 2010 @ 7:42am

Re: Re: Re: Re:
Because ACTA has been kept so quiet, most people haven't even heard of it. I've talked to many people over the past months and none had any idea there was such a global travesty in the works. If they are kept ignorant of it, they certainly won't be able to fight it.

You can't blame the public for being complacent. What you should do is tell everyone you know about this. ACTA must be stopped.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Apr 2010 @ 7:46am

Re: RE:RE:RE: CHICKENS
I see you slept through your Canadian education.

When I went through the Canadian education system, I was taught about paragraphs. They help to organize your statements into groups that support each other, thereby supporting your overall argument. You ought to try them sometime.
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Chronno S. Trigger (profile), 23 Apr 2010 @ 9:02am

Re: RE:RE:RE: CHICKENS
"Our education system is more like the British in that we are taught proper grammar, spelling, and sentence structure whilst learning about the world in general"

So says the wall of text.

"...in the American school system who went to school one day and on that day it rained and the teacher never showed up, and damn proud of it."

What?

I can't understand the rest of what you said ether.
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Chronno S. Trigger (profile), 23 Apr 2010 @ 9:23am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
I can't really blame the average person for buying a CD. There is a big disconnect between some middle class person with $15 at walmart and ACTA. There's a lot of facts that one has to go threw to get from one to the other and a lot of half truths, outright lies, and straw men that must be sorted from said facts. They aren't actively supporting this nor do they know they're passively supporting it.

But, what I can say, and what I did say, is that there are people fighting this in many ways. From me explaining the entire situation to one of those middle class people to protesters outside of ACTA meetings. That's all I was trying to say. People are fighting it, it's just an uphill battle against people that don't have to listen or care.
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Free Capitalist (profile), 23 Apr 2010 @ 9:37am

Re: Re: RE:RE:RE: CHICKENS
I can't understand the rest of what you said ether.

He forgot to include the localization tag.
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Free Capitalist (profile), 23 Apr 2010 @ 9:38am

Re: Re: Re: RE:RE:RE: CHICKENS
Labrador localization... nvm
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Logan2057 (profile), 23 Apr 2010 @ 10:19am

RE:RE:RE:RE: CHICKENS
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Logan2057 (profile), 23 Apr 2010 @ 10:28am

RE:RE:RE:RE: CHICKENS
Sorry about before, I do have a tendency to think faster than my fingers can type, so let's try it again.

Our education system is more like the British in that we are taught proper grammar, spelling, and sentence structure whilst learning about the world in general, whereas the American system only teaches American History and treats us, like a bunch of ignorant backwoods hillbillies, which we aren't.
Don't blame your poor understanding on ACTA on us, hell, we're all in the same boat when it comes to getting screwed over by the Kartels. What I can't understand is why it hasn't been taken to the court in the Hague and had the world know that this whole farce was thought up by the USTR. Who according to the U.S. Constitution has no right to implement or propose a law. Yet that's exactly what that office has done at the behest of the MPAA,RIAA, and the BSA, so by law and definition of law as accorded to the U.S. Constitution this whole thing is illegal and shouldn't be allowed.
Let's see em argue that in International Court where the judges are beyond the reach of the bribes and threats of the Kartels and their minions.
My biggest laugh with this so called treaty, is how there is very little discussed in the way of "Counterfeiting" but instead focuses on "COPY RIGHT" matters, which as we all know benefits a small minority who seem to think that it's their God given right to play with the terms. So no matter what whenever a item begins to go into the public domain, such as Mickey Mouse, as Walt Disney, has been dead longer than the terms of the current copy right extension.
They immediately get their wallets out and run to their lobbyist to make sure that it never sees the public light of day unless it's under their jaundiced and greedy eye.
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NAMELESS.ONE, 23 Apr 2010 @ 11:55am

@12
My poor understanding.
At least i dont do run on paragraphs.

Now for you moron 5 year olds darkhelmet included and TAM seeign how you both seem to have days where you can't read.

here is what i wrote and what it means AGAIN

"as i said before this IS NOT THE ACTA TREATY DOCUMENT
what it is , is a wannnabe bullshit pull wool over your eyes so we can wack the moles and get the press off our back about our treasonous attempts to skirt democracy and SCREW EVERY HUMAN ON EARTH so we can sit on a beach while you pay more taxes and get less entertainment while still paying

remember , remember the 5th of november"

now
1st line OMG you think this is the real draft treaty?
IT isn't , why?
Cause of course each country has its position and that is not included.

THIS is as I state a PULL the wool over your eyes attempt , too late i might add, to appear transparent. ( you know open and honest which they aren't )

and the revolution will come if they continue this type a stupidity , thats just facts of life stuff you over tax eventually somehting will give.

BOY i hope this lesson for a few of you is well deserved.
waves to TAM/Helmet
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NAMELESS.ONE, 23 Apr 2010 @ 11:58am

p.s.
and i see also you slept through the years 2006 2007 2008 2009 and 2010

where ISPS cap throttle and created UUB

and ya know people that go for the grammar are feds
they are lawyers
they ARE NOT PEOPLE wishing to discuss what you say they are people and friends of lobbiests that travel to Belize and ya know get into tax evasion

and just for measure im gonna make sure that i never usespell checker and never make proper sentances EVER again to make the grammar nazi feel right at home

WOOT
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vivaelamor (profile), 23 Apr 2010 @ 12:36pm

Re: RE:RE:RE: CHICKENS
"Our education system is more like the British in that we are taught proper grammar, spelling, and sentence structure whilst learning about the world in general"

You have a very rose tinted view of our education system. Also, if you're going to boast about grammar then you might do well to be more scrupulous with your own.
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vivaelamor (profile), 23 Apr 2010 @ 12:52pm

Re: p.s.
"and just for measure im gonna make sure that i never usespell checker and never make proper sentances EVER again to make the grammar nazi feel right at home "

I'm not sure I'll notice the difference. I don't care so much for peoples writing skill as long as they're putting some effort into trying to communicate. If I was on IRC or an instant messenger then I probably wouldn't use much grammar at all, because for the most part it isn't needed. This is a message board though, not a real time chat; if someone doesn't make any effort to communicate clearly then the likelihood is I won't bother spending the time to read their posts.

This is not a flame, I imagine lots of people skip over my posts because they find many simply too long. For that reason I find it even more important to try and word them properly.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Apr 2010 @ 5:37pm

ACTA wording
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Counterfeiting_Trade_Agreement

By making it a criminal matter in almost all cases (instead of civil lawsuit matter), it makes it much easier for a copyright holder to press charges cheaply and easily.

ACTA draft requires of each signatory the creation of a separate law enforcement body dedicated solely towards enforcing DRM. That will certainly increase the number of criminal investigations.

The wording "imminent" in the ACTA text means that sites which host information that is then used to obtain copies will be illegal. So, search sites for torrents will probably come under attack due to that wording. It's pretty clever wording.
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Hephaestus (profile), 23 Apr 2010 @ 10:09pm

Just a little tid bit of history
"While governments and church encouraged printing in many ways, which allowed the dissemination of Bibles and government information, works of dissent and criticism could also circulate rapidly. As a consequence, governments established controls over printers across Europe, requiring them to have official licences to trade and produce books. The licenses typically gave printers the exclusive right to print particular works for a fixed period of years, and enabled the printer to prevent others from printing the same work during that period. The licenses could only grant rights to print in the territory of the state that had granted them, but they did usually prohibit the import of foreign printing."

Historically speaking rules have always been set in place to only allow the voice of those in power. In the past governments were afraid of what the printing press could do the spread of new ideas, new concepts, dissent, the truth, and people forming opposition parties. We live in an age where this attempt to control information is becoming an impossibility.

A village is a place people live and work. In the past everyone in a village knew everything about their neighbors. For the most part the information was shared with a couple of your neighbors in whispers and casual conversations. A village may revolt, rebel, or just become an annoyance. It was a simple thing to stop. send in the troops and step on them.

Now we have a global village (I hate that term) where anything anyone does can be spread world wide with the twitch of a finger on a mouse. Imagine a future where everyone actually can trust the sources of news. Where people participate in the creation of news, music, and video. This is where we are going with the consumption and creation of media.
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The eejit (profile), 24 Apr 2010 @ 1:09am

Re: @12
Erm, you seems to have missed that part where THIS IS CONFIRMED BY DARTH MANDELSON, BUSINESS MINISTER FOR THE UK.
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