Obama Reiterates Support For ACTA, As More People Point Out How Far ACTA Is From The Purpose Of Copyright

from the bad-thinking dept

Thu, May 20th 2010 4:15am — Mike Masnick

A few months back, President Obama publicly stood behind ACTA despite tons of concerns about it from the public. It's disappointing that as more and more concerns and problems with ACTA have been highlighted, Obama has not reconsidered. He still seems to be taking the position that "more copyright must be good, and ACTA therefore is good." That's a naive position. The group Open ACTA points us to a statement made by Obama in Mexico, concerning better trade relations with Mexico, where he again insists that ACTA is a key part of better trade relations:

Innovation and investment in technology and human capital are keys to sustained economic growth and competitiveness in both Mexico and the United States. The protection of intellectual property rights is essential to promote such innovation and investment. With this in mind, the Presidents charged their administrations to work together to formalize and expand the efforts of the existing bilateral Intellectual Property Rights Working Group. These efforts will include industry training (including of small and medium size enterprises); work between Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI) and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) to streamline patent reviews; and collaboration, training and increased intelligence sharing among law enforcement agencies to enforce intellectual property rights more effectively. The Presidents also reaffirmed their commitment to the negotiation of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement and charged their administrations to conclude these negotiations soon.

But, this blind assertion that stricter copyright enforcement without key exceptions and consumer protections that actually contribute more value to the economy than copyright restrictions, isn't just wrong, it goes against the very purpose of copyright law.

Hephaestus points us to a submission to the Australian government, by the Australian Digital Alliance, that does a great job highlighting the negative impact of ACTA (pdf) and how it goes against basic copyright law:

"The text of ACTA does not reflect one of the most important objectives of copyright -- to ensure access to information for the benefit of society. Protecting creators to encourage continued innovation is only one half of the copyright equation, ACTA fails to recognise the dual purpose of copyright."

The whole submission is worth reading, as it highlights all sorts of serious issues with ACTA and the impact it would have:

ACTA might have a negative impact on individuals as Internet citizens and as consumers of digital technologies because some of its requirements go beyond Australian law. ACTA will facilitate excessive damages payouts by mandating the controversial 'lost sale analysis' for the assessment of damages and encouraging punitive style statutory damages that set arbitrary amounts for infringement. ACTA will also broaden the scope of commercial scale infringement to criminalise purely private acts that occur in the homes of some Australians....

ACTA might have a negative impact on intermediaries that will damage Australia's digital economy by diminishing Internet innovation, the free flow of information and legitimate commerce. ACTA provides for the unqualified award of injunctions against intermediaries, which creates new rights with significant potential for abuse and cost implications for ISPs. ACTA defines where third party liability will be imposed, which is a highly controversial issue that requires the flexibility of being dealt with at a domestic level. ACTA will burden intermediaries with more onerous requirements for safe harbour protection that may encourage three strikes.

What's most frustrating about all of this is that it really does appear that many ACTA supporters are simply going by the boilerplate myth that "stronger copyright protection" is "good for society," without ever once bothering to understand the details and why such a statement isn't just wrong, but dangerous.

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Filed Under: acta, copyright, obama

53 Comments

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Anonymous Coward, 20 May 2010 @ 5:33am

Meet the new boss...
...Same as the old boss.
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Ima Fish (profile), 20 May 2010 @ 5:38am

The main problem with all IP treaties is that copyrights and patents are government granted monopolies. Accordingly, governments should not forced or compelled to grant such monopolies. Treaties such as the ACTA turn such monopolies into a mandated inflexible right.
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John Doe, 20 May 2010 @ 5:40am

Probably no hope for change...
Unfortunately, IP is about the only left that the US produces so the belief is that if we can stop other countries from copying our IP, we might have a viable economy in the future. Like you said though, IP protection is necessarily needed and most likely is a detriment. But since we don't have a government that looks at the facts but rather the checkbooks of private interests, we have little hope for change.
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John Doe, 20 May 2010 @ 5:47am

Re: Probably no hope for change...
That should have read "isn't necessarily needed".
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Ian_M, 20 May 2010 @ 5:59am

Obama will have this as item number one on his agenda during a visit to Canberra next month. But as someone familar with the way things work in Australia and the Pacific region, he knows that not only is this is not going to be easy, it is Australia that holds the key to the Asia Pacific region. Already the major movie companies have lost a landmark case against an Australian ISP and there's not much chance that ACTA's attack on freedom of innovation will be any more cussessful. The U.S. will need to compromise its currently dumb position on this and Obama knows it.
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Anonymous Coward, 20 May 2010 @ 6:49am

The U.S. really needs to stop trying to bully everyone else into doing things the way it thinks things should be done. I'm so glad I don't live in that backwards ass country.
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Improbus (profile), 20 May 2010 @ 7:04am

Disappointment
I have been disappointed by this man for the last time. I won't be voting for him again.
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sam, 20 May 2010 @ 7:06am

IP is about the only left that the US produces except for the fact that constant recalls due to toxic and poisonous materials. the cost of shipping from china to america, and the fact that instead of reforming they just execut people and that china is now allowing workers to sue for health problems. a lot of manufacturers are choosing to return to america.
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John Doe, 20 May 2010 @ 7:20am

Re:
I am glad you don't either. As for me, I quite like it here. Not a perfect country by any means, but the best one there is at the moment. ;)
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Michael, 20 May 2010 @ 7:20am

Re:
"Obama knows it"

I would not assume he knows anything. So far, he has proven time and again that he is pretty useless when it comes to original thought.
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Michael, 20 May 2010 @ 7:21am

Re: Re:
We are just due for a little bit of revolution.
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crade (profile), 20 May 2010 @ 7:32am

Re: Disappointment
What is your choice? McCain had an even worse stance on the issue as I recall.
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Dan (profile), 20 May 2010 @ 8:12am

The wrong word
The president is using the word innovation. What he means is invention.
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NAMELESS.ONE, 20 May 2010 @ 8:21am

drop terms to 14 years or FUCK OFF
society if you haven't figured it out you twit for brain politicians has had enough of the bribery, the scam profit taking and taxation on culture

SO 14 year terms OR FUCK OFF
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NAMELESS.ONE, 20 May 2010 @ 8:26am

AND wihtout ACTA USA tanks economically why?
WHY? cause they have and are investing so much into IP that to fail means they fail utterly
the all your eggs in one basket now that literally all manufacturing is done elsewhere

YOU DID IT TO YOUR SELVES USA
copyright is granted by society and your abuse and attempts at subverting MY GOVT will fail. TREASONOUS politicians that pander to american interests over there own citizens should be taken out and just shot.

THAT would end this bullshit once and for all.
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NAMELESS.ONE, 20 May 2010 @ 8:30am

also "CHANGE"
it was not supposed to men CHANGE IN THE MPAA/RIAA pockets
ya know now that avatar has made 3 billion is there not some idea that they could give it away freely now?

have you not taken enough form society?
MORE you want more now?

seriously why not allow 25% profit and leave it at that.
this also makes things controlled for abuse

see there are ideas that work
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Hephaestus (profile), 20 May 2010 @ 8:30am

Unintended Consequences and third party liability ...
"ACTA provides for the unqualified award of injunctions against intermediaries, which creates new rights with significant potential for abuse and cost implications for ISPs. ACTA defines where third party liability will be imposed, which is a highly controversial issue that requires the flexibility of being dealt with at a domestic level. ACTA will burden intermediaries with more onerous requirements for safe harbour protection that may encourage three strikes."

Everyone is putting forth the bad points of ACTA. I see this as a glass half full scenario. In which there is and accelerated failure of the key players in ACTA.

Several key points of ACTA, loss of safe harbour for ISPs, three strikes, and third party liability have unintended consequences that are detrimental to the Media production and distribution industries.

The big one being the possibility of individual ISPs and web sites fully blocking all content from the Music, TV, and movie studios. The technology already exists, it is used to identify songs on the iPhone.

The second one which we have seen in Australia in bars, restaraunts, and gyms, is the distribution and use of indie-alternate-cc music and videos.

Both the above scenarios are simple to implement and can make a large profit for the providers of these services. Created as a combined service blocking and providing content it would reduce the liability of the ISPs and web sites, maintain safe harbours, and expose people to non label content. Reducing the relevence of the big media providers.

JMHO
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Steve R. (profile), 20 May 2010 @ 8:46am

Re: Probably no hope for change...
And how long will that last? Other countries will soon be producing their own IP. Guess what,they will want us to pay them! End the end, this is going to bad for the US.
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Anonymous Coward, 20 May 2010 @ 8:47am

Some form of ACTA will pass, its detractors will continue to whine, and life will go on.

Don't like what ACTA says? Then quit infringing and move on to more productive matters that are consistent with the boundaries of law.
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Steve R. (profile), 20 May 2010 @ 8:48am

Re: Re: Probably no hope for change...
In the end, this is going to be bad for the US.
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Steve R. (profile), 20 May 2010 @ 8:55am

Haven't you noticed that the laws are becoming ever more onerous. Seems that the real whiners are those buying from Congress ever "stronger" laws in the name of fighting piracy. Funny how they never seem to be satiated.
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Joel (profile), 20 May 2010 @ 9:14am

Obama...
is not or has ever been technically inclined, how in the world is he supposed to understand these things?? Maybe he is just faking what he knows while some RIAA/MPAA troll is in his ear telling him what to say...someone ask him where his daughters get their music for their iPods.
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Rekrul, 20 May 2010 @ 9:14am

Why is anyone still pretending that ACTA is anything other than a blatant power grab by the copyright industry?
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Anonymous Coward, 20 May 2010 @ 10:16am

ACTA? You mean that "trade agreement" that is about counterfeiting? Why is everyone talking about copyright?
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Anonymous Coward, 20 May 2010 @ 11:17am

"What's most frustrating about all of this is that it really does appear that many ACTA supporters are simply going by the boilerplate myth that "stronger copyright protection" is "good for society," without ever once bothering to understand the details and why such a statement isn't just wrong, but dangerous. " - again with the absolute statement with nothing to back it up. the only time we were without copyright is hundreds of years ago. you have absolutely no proof whatsoever that copyrigth is wrong or dangerous. yet, there you go with absolute statement of fact. why do you think more and more people take this blog less and less seriously?
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Anonymous Coward, 20 May 2010 @ 11:30am

Re: Re: Disappointment
"What is your choice?"

They try to make you choose between dumb and dumber. You are the one than is being stupid if you let them influence you to do their bidding. You know you can write in the name of someone other than the crappy choices they give you? That is if you are capable of writing, and of a little independent thought.
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Anonymous Coward, 20 May 2010 @ 11:46am

Re:
How will ACTA decrease copyright infringement? Hell, how will it decrease counterfeiting? And remember, China and India and Brazil are not invovlved with ACTA.
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chris (profile), 20 May 2010 @ 12:06pm

Re: Probably no hope for change...
Unfortunately, IP is about the only left that the US produces so the belief is that if we can stop other countries from copying our IP, we might have a viable economy in the future.

except that other countries, specifically brazil, india, russia, and china, have no problems copying our IP, with or without their government's blessing. instead of signing treaties over intellectual property, we should be signing them over environmental protections and workers' rights, that way manufacturing in the west can compete with the third world on a level playing field.

But since we don't have a government that looks at the facts but rather the checkbooks of private interests, we have little hope for change.

the problem is one of shortsightedness. with or without ACTA, the market for IP as an export may only last a couple of decades at the very most, and maybe only a few years. when that happens, the US in particular will fall on very hard times since the rest of the world, china in particular, isn't really interested in anything that the US makes.
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Hephaestus (profile), 20 May 2010 @ 12:35pm

Re:
"you have absolutely no proof whatsoever that copyrigth is wrong or dangerous"

Two answers to that.

You have no proof that copyright is right or that it does any good. Except to make money for a select few. Copyright is also about promoting the arts and sciences.

As to dangerous. It has been estimated by WHO that in excess of 75 million people world wide have died as a result of the high cost and low availability of patent pending prescription pharmaceuticals.

"yet, there you go with absolute statement of fact."

Wish you had provided a fact or two yourself...
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Anonymous Coward, 20 May 2010 @ 1:23pm

Re: Re: Re: Disappointment
Bob Barr was on the ballot, course no one knew he was (Libertarian by the way)...

Major Parties choice: Evil, Less Evil and you decide who is who...

2012 Wayne Allen Root is running, and he's a pretty good guy, and you would love his IP stance...(Libertarian :))
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Anonymous Coward, 20 May 2010 @ 1:26pm

Re:
Thanks TAM, guess your just right if you dont like something must be an EVIL PIRATE... till you get kicked because of some mistake and cant get back on...
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Thomas (profile), 20 May 2010 @ 5:14pm

Just Payback..
Obama and lots of people in congress owe the entertainment industry big for contributions to the elections, so this is just the entertainment industry demanding something for all the money they contributed. Nothing to do with IP or fairness or anything; it's simply payback for favors.
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Anonymous Coward, 20 May 2010 @ 6:13pm

Re: Re:
"You have no proof that copyright is right or that it does any good. Except to make money for a select few. Copyright is also about promoting the arts and sciences." - without a way to turn ideas into money, who pays for the advancements?

"As to dangerous. It has been estimated by WHO that in excess of 75 million people world wide have died as a result of the high cost and low availability of patent pending prescription pharmaceuticals. " - would more or less people be helped if the pharmaceuticals were not developed at all? would the people who are currently helped by generic medications in fact be helped if nobody has made the initial efforts to discover them? both of your points require that some magic genie came down and did all the work for nothing, or aliens teleported the knowledge here. so you are dealing with half facts, sort of like people enjoying foisgras without considering how it was made.
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Anonymous Coward, 20 May 2010 @ 6:40pm

Re: Re: Re:
Look at the internet. What magic genie created the internet?
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Rekrul, 21 May 2010 @ 4:31am

Re: Re: Re:
would more or less people be helped if the pharmaceuticals were not developed at all? would the people who are currently helped by generic medications in fact be helped if nobody has made the initial efforts to discover them?

Would more or less people have been helped if Jonas Salk had patented his Polio vaccine and companies had charged high prices for it?
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haiku, 21 May 2010 @ 4:43am

Obama is, after all, simply a politician ...
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Jose_X, 21 May 2010 @ 11:40am

Re: Re: Re: Probably no hope for change...
will he could bend, annul when..
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Jose_X, 21 May 2010 @ 11:42am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Probably no hope for change...
Well, we would end the law then.
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Jose_X, 21 May 2010 @ 11:46am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Probably no hope for change...
no to justicy the law no
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Jose_X, 21 May 2010 @ 11:46am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Probably no hope for change...
Not to justify the law now
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Anonymous Coward, 21 May 2010 @ 2:29pm

Re: Re: Disappointment
'but he stole x+6 candy bars' is not a case for not critiquing x.
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Anonymous Coward, 21 May 2010 @ 2:39pm

Re:
youre saying 'dont like the law? then obey it' makes no sense. the boundaries of law are not just when they are bought with money.
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Anonymous Coward, 21 May 2010 @ 2:44pm

Re:
"why do you think more and more people take this blog less and less seriously?"

Asking for proof and then making unqualified statements yourself doesn't do much for YOUR argument either. The threat of extreme copyright is essentially the mental version of bondage. Why? because the only way to maintain a huge economy that lacks natural scarcity is via a police state. the only thing stopping these people is the limits of technology and those are always receding. go watch minority report. that could come to pass in the next 50 years.
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Anonymous Coward, 21 May 2010 @ 9:43pm

no one's even that aware of ACTA in singapore...
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Anonymous Coward, 22 May 2010 @ 1:30am

There's a forum dedicated to stopping ACTA: http://stopacta.org/
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Anonymous Coward, 24 May 2010 @ 12:35am

Re: Re:
The problem is that many of his thoughts are original. No one shares his thoughts, they're so silly why would anyone share them. The idea that 2 + 2 = 9943 is an original thought, but the only reason no one really bothers to think up this thought is because it's a nonsense thought.
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Anonymous Coward, 24 May 2010 @ 12:37am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Disappointment
I wonder why Ron Paul wasn't on the ballot. Yeah, Bob Barr was on the ballot, I did vote for him.
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Anonymous Coward, 24 May 2010 @ 12:41am

Re:
You mean like trying to change the boundaries of law?
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Jay (profile), 11 Jun 2010 @ 9:37pm

The problem
There's been little forum for the ACTA. Even when we had it, the consumer and technology sector had very little influence in it. How can we fight when the ones with the paper can't even see us?
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Rezultate live, 28 Mar 2011 @ 1:16pm

I can see the advantages of certain business monopolies to protect long-term investments in innovation and the creative industries, but every such monopoly comes with a price, and whenever that price tag is rewritten, we need to reevaluate the deal and consider whether the advantages still outweigh the disadvantages.
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Rezultate live, 28 Mar 2011 @ 1:16pm

I can see the advantages of certain business monopolies to protect long-term investments in innovation and the creative industries, but every such monopoly comes with a price, and whenever that price tag is rewritten, we need to reevaluate the deal and consider whether the advantages still outweigh the disadvantages.
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RE_Q, 24 Jan 2012 @ 12:13am

Revolution
Rich is just going to get richer...while we in the Middle and Lower, well you get the drift...need to replace governments with those that can actually run one
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fodder99 (profile), 30 Jun 2012 @ 10:31am

Its exactly the same state of affairs over here too
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