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Polish Politicians Don Guy Fawkes/Anonymous Masks To Protest ACTA Signing

Politics

from the isn't-that-infringing? dept

Thu, Jan 26th 2012 2:04pm — Mike Masnick
There's been lots of talk today about how various EU governments are agreeing to sign ACTA (which still needs to be ratified by the EU Parliament). It's gotten the most attention in Poland, where there were mass protests -- but the government there still signed. Of course, not everyone in the Polish government agreed. Amazingly, officials from the Palikot's Movement held up the famed Guy Fawkes/Anonymous masks in Parliament to protest the vote:
Of course, we should note that, from the picture, it sure looks like those masks are "counterfeit" copies of the official Guy Fawkes mask that Time Warner holds the rights to. Good thing ACTA is coming into force to stop such blatant "counterfeiting," huh?
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Filed Under: acta, anonymous, guy fawkes, poland, politics, protests

92 Comments

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  • identicon
    TDR, 26 Jan 2012 @ 2:14pm

    One word: EPIC!

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Loki, 27 Jan 2012 @ 4:10am

      Re:

      What would be truly EPIC, is if Warner Brothers had the unmitigated balls to sue these politicians for copyright infringement.

      Because you know in the back of their minds they really really want to.

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      davidbarcomb, 2 Dec 2014 @ 5:45pm

      Re:

      Totally Epic

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    TheNutman69321 (profile), 26 Jan 2012 @ 2:22pm

    Haha, so awesome.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 26 Jan 2012 @ 2:23pm

    That is just awesome!

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Violated (profile), 26 Jan 2012 @ 2:25pm

    Awesome

    This is a photo that is sure to grace the Internet for years to come.

    The nature of this photo has been called into doubt though when some claim that these are not people who oppose ACTA but ones who only want the popularity.

    I don't really care on that answer when it will make much anti-ACTA news whatever their true intentions.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 26 Jan 2012 @ 2:51pm

      Re: Awesome

      What's the difference between trying to be popular among constituents the majority of which don't support the ACTA and a politician's job?

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 26 Jan 2012 @ 2:26pm

    Anonymous is in the house!

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    TMWaH, 26 Jan 2012 @ 2:29pm

    "It's gotten the most attention in Poland, where there were mass protests -- but the government there still signed."

    To be fair, it's not necessarily going to stay signed. The opposition party is demanding a referendum, which could seriously undermine the movement. A contact in Poland says that the earlier comments about the government "not submitting to blackmail" are not being well-received by the public, and that it's just the majority's attempt to save face. Poland still has a fighting chance.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Josh in CharlotteNC (profile), 26 Jan 2012 @ 3:02pm

      Re:

      says that the earlier comments about the government "not submitting to blackmail" are not being well-received by the public

      Go figure. Who could possibly have thought that calling it "blackmail" when the public tries to participate in the political process and voice their concerns would be well received?

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 27 Jan 2012 @ 3:52am

      Re:

      And the Polish are definitely not afraid to stand up and fight.

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 26 Jan 2012 @ 2:30pm

    This is the most proud I've been of politicians, hell possibly my species in general, ever.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Ati15, 27 Jan 2012 @ 4:55am

      Re: Proud of poilticians?

      Leader of these politicians originally voted for ACTA and had no objections about this treaty. Only now when they see mass protests on the streets and in the internet they're seeking cheap popularity! Nothing really to be proud of :( unfortunately. It just works like that in polish parliament that you can say one thing then do something completly opposite and still face no consequences at all. (Usually You can even count on popularity increase among the public - like this time).

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 28 Jan 2012 @ 12:12pm

      Re:

      i'm afraid they're just worn masks havin' no true faces

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 26 Jan 2012 @ 2:30pm

    I think the Polish understands what censorship is even when wrapped with a nice package

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      cjstg (profile), 26 Jan 2012 @ 3:04pm

      Re:

      if anybody understand censorship and repression it would be the eastern bloc countries especially poland.

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Rememberthe5thOfNovember, 26 Jan 2012 @ 3:39pm

      Response to: Anonymous Coward on Jan 26th, 2012 @ 2:30pm

      Amen to that.

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Mike, 27 Jan 2012 @ 5:13am

      Re:

      Well.. we (yep I am Polish) were under communists dictatorship for decades feed with propaganda under strict censorship. We can see easily now new censorship attempts in disguise.

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    MarksAngel (profile), 26 Jan 2012 @ 2:45pm

    That picture just drips loads of awesomness!!!

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 26 Jan 2012 @ 2:50pm

    Why "counterfeit" it? Surely every man sitting there can afford original one, righ?

    Because you cannot buy original mask in Poland.

    Wherever is demand for things that aren't accessible one will always find alternative...

    It's only copyright holder fault that it did not meet the need...

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      :Lobo Santo (profile), 26 Jan 2012 @ 2:53pm

      Re: Why "counterfeit" it? Surely every man sitting there can afford original one, righ?

      Wasn't the "original" worn by a guy who died like a century ago?
      :-P

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        Violated (profile), 26 Jan 2012 @ 3:17pm

        Re: Re: Why "counterfeit" it? Surely every man sitting there can afford original one, righ?

        The original Guido Fawkes did not wear a mark. He also lived between April 13, 1570 and January 31, 1606; before he was hanged, drawn and quartered, with his then bits burnt on a bonfire.

        Even the original writing of "V for Vendetta" had no mask when it is purely a creation of the movie. Most interestingly this prop is protected by the law and when you buy the original your money goes to the "big media" we hate.

        Then let us not forget this is the usual Hollywood dropping turds on foreign culture and tradition. One Guy Fawkes was the terrorist of the day, wanting to replace the Monarchy, and his death has been celebrated for over 400 years.

        This would be like if we British made a character representing Osama Bin Laden in a Mickey Mouse mask and then celebrating the 9/11 destruction of the twin towers as victory over the bad Bush Government! Insane or what?

        [ link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Anonymous Coward, 26 Jan 2012 @ 3:40pm

          Re: Re: Re: Why "counterfeit" it? Surely every man sitting there can afford original one, righ?

          The mask is definitely NOT a creation of the movie. In the comic his face was disfigured by the experiments and/or fire he caused at Larkhill Resettlement camp. He wears the mask throughout. Its even on the cover.

          http://www.amazon.com/V-Vendetta-Alan-Moore/dp/1401207928/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid =1327621023&sr=1-1


          The mask is also in the preliminary stuff David Lloyd sketched up, which is at the back of this hardback I have.

          [ link to this | view in chronology ]

          • icon
            Violated (profile), 26 Jan 2012 @ 5:43pm

            Re: Re: Re: Re: Why "counterfeit" it? Surely every man sitting there can afford original one, righ?

            The publication date of that book is 2005. IMDB says the movie was released in 2005 so the book was released to match the movie.

            If you want to see the original story then you need to see the UK Warrior magazines published between 1982 and 1985.

            Trust me and the author. The mask came from the movie.

            [ link to this | view in chronology ]

            • icon
              The Groove Tiger (profile), 26 Jan 2012 @ 8:11pm

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Why "counterfeit" it? Surely every man sitting there can afford original one, righ?

              Interesting. Every bit of info I found about the 80's comic contradicts what you're saying.

              http://www.thehoodedsage.com/2011/11/v-for-vendetta/

              "What the movie never shows from the original story is that after V dies, Evey dons the Guy Fawkes mask and actually becomes the masked vigilante herself. Evey becomes V. Evey becomes the Idea—the Symbol. It’s not enough to sit around with concepts. Eventually, you have to move beyond concepts and actually become the energy of what the concepts mean. and That — is the very moment that you actually get it."

              If he wore no mask, how could Evey (comics) wear it later?

              http://postdesk.com/blog/an-interview-with-the-british-man-who-designed-the-anonymous-v-fo r-vendetta-mask-on-what-he-thinks-of-how-its-being-used

              Apparently, the illustrator of the comics designed a mask for the comics, which the comic guy character wore, according to him. Is he wrong?

              [ link to this | view in chronology ]

              • identicon
                Anonymous Coward, 26 Jan 2012 @ 8:26pm

                Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Why "counterfeit" it? Surely every man sitting there can afford original one, righ?

                The use of this mask, in this context, does not involve V or Guy Fawkes directly in any way. It was a symbol of Epic Fail Guy (EFG) from 4chan that was used in the Chanology protests of The Church of Scientology to imply that Scientology is "epic fail". This is where it gained the real life use of it as the symbol of protest. Anything involving Alan Moore's work or Mr. 17th-Century is purely a red herring.

                [ link to this | view in chronology ]

                • icon
                  The Groove Tiger (profile), 27 Jan 2012 @ 12:53pm

                  Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Why "counterfeit" it? Surely every man sitting there can afford original one, righ?

                  That still has no bearing on the fact that the comic version of V wore a mask, just like the movie adaptation, which is what is being disputed in this thread.

                  [ link to this | view in chronology ]

            • identicon
              Anonymous Coward, 26 Jan 2012 @ 8:36pm

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Why "counterfeit" it? Surely every man sitting there can afford original one, righ?

              Good luck revising history troll style as anyone bothering to do a bit of research will laugh at you expense

              [ link to this | view in chronology ]

            • identicon
              Anonymous Coward, 27 Jan 2012 @ 7:59am

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Why "counterfeit" it? Surely every man sitting there can afford original one, righ?

              Yeah, dude, that book was compiled from the UK Warrior magazines from 1982 to 1985. It wasn't a new book created to match the movie.

              I don't think you know what you are talking about.

              http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V_for_Vendetta
              http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V_(comics)

              [ link to this | view in chronology ]

              • identicon
                teron, 28 Jan 2012 @ 4:49pm

                Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Why "counterfeit" it? Surely every man sitting there can afford original one, righ?

                Let's just put this all to bed right now....

                someone else posted this link: http://www.thehoodedsage.com/2011/11/v-for-vendetta/ BUT only decided to copy/paste the LAST part of it, HERE is the first part...
                (Note my caps below)

                "V for Vendetta originally appeared in 1982 in the black-and-white British comic book, Warrior, written by Alan Moore and illustrated by David Lloyd. The story was about anarchy in the UK, set in a near-future, post-nuclear police state, where political prisoners had been rounded up into concentration camps and used for experiments. An escaped prisoner and anarchist revolutionary WEARING A GUY FAWKES MASK, known only as “V”....."

                YES there has ALWAYS been a mask, nothing new, nothing altered, T.W. MAY hold rights on the "official" plastic masks that are made and sold, but they CAN NOT attempt to trademark or patent the actual 'look' as the actual look is GUY FAWKES'S LIKENESS.

                So....

                TL:DR:

                The mask was there since day 1 of the org 80's graphic novel & Time Warner can't sure for someone using the likeness of an 1800's REAL PERSON ;)

                -Teron-

                [ link to this | view in chronology ]

                • identicon
                  teron, 28 Jan 2012 @ 5:01pm

                  Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Why "counterfeit" it? Surely every man sitting there can afford original one, righ?

                  correction... 1600's not 1800's lol

                  -Teron-

                  [ link to this | view in chronology ]

        • icon
          TheNutman69321 (profile), 26 Jan 2012 @ 4:46pm

          Re: Re: Re: Why "counterfeit" it? Surely every man sitting there can afford original one, righ?

          Guy Fawkes was the terrorist of the day but so were the founding fathers over here in America. They are now celebrated as symbols of standing up to repressive regimes much as Guy Fawkes is celebrated today.

          [ link to this | view in chronology ]

          • identicon
            Anonymous Coward, 26 Jan 2012 @ 11:17pm

            Re: Re: Re: Re: Why

            Excepting that Guy Fawkes Night is celebrated to MOCK Fawkes' plans.

            [ link to this | view in chronology ]

          • identicon
            Peter, 30 Jan 2012 @ 9:29pm

            Re: Re: Re: Re: Why "counterfeit" it? Surely every man sitting there can afford original one, righ?

            The Problem of course is that Guy Fawkes didn't stand up against a repressive regime, but instead fought for the re-introduction of a repressive religion and regime.

            Guy Fawkes fought under the name Guido Fawkes for the oppressive Spanish Government, who attempted to stamp the Dutch Revolt into the ground. He then tried to assassinate King James I and restore a Catholic monarch to the throne.

            This Guy Fawkes was hardly a freedom loving figure, but more a henchman of a foreign power, or as Lenin called them, a Useful Idiot.

            Now the interesting question is whether all those Anonymous persons want to become the 21st century's Useful Idiots for Hollywood?

            [ link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Nov5, 26 Jan 2012 @ 4:58pm

          Re: Re: Re: Why

          Ehhhhh. The mask was in the graphi novel.

          [ link to this | view in chronology ]

          • icon
            Violated (profile), 26 Jan 2012 @ 5:34pm

            Re: Re: Re: Re: Why

            I heard the original author say himself that the mask is the sole creation of the movie. He was discussing the Anonymous aspect then.

            When making the movie they wanted to move away from the general terrorist anarchist type character and to give him a "guy fawkes" iconic appearance and a Robin Hood type personality.

            It would no surprise that any further written works publish after the movie release would be adjusted to match the movie, mask and all, seeing that it did so well.

            [ link to this | view in chronology ]

            • identicon
              Anonymous Coward, 26 Jan 2012 @ 10:48pm

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Why

              "It would no surprise that any further written works publish after the movie release would be adjusted to match the movie, mask and all, seeing that it did so well."

              Please, do the world a favor and have even a slight clue as to what you are talking about when you say stuff like this. The comic was NOT "adjusted" to match the movie vis-a-vis the mask. That was a component of the original comic since its inception. All one has to do is find any back issue and read even a couple of pages to prove your ridiculous assertion completely false.

              [ link to this | view in chronology ]

            • icon
              Almost Anonymous (profile), 27 Jan 2012 @ 9:33am

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Why

              Dude, I read 'V for Vendetta' years and YEARS before there was even discussion about the movie, and let me be crystal clear: the mask was in the graphic novel from the beginning. You either misunderstood the quote you keep mentioning, or it was just wrong.

              [ link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Anonymous Coward, 26 Jan 2012 @ 5:07pm

          Re: Re: Re: Why "counterfeit" it? Surely every man sitting there can afford original one, righ?

          I read the original in the 80's or was 90's?
          It did have a mask.

          [ link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          MattB, 26 Jan 2012 @ 5:43pm

          Re: Re: Re: Why "counterfeit" it? Surely every man sitting there can afford original one, righ?

          So wrong. V for Vendetta the graphic novel did have a mask. That's where it originates, not the movie. They're celebrating the character V not Guy Fawkes by wearing it.

          [ link to this | view in chronology ]

          • icon
            Violated (profile), 26 Jan 2012 @ 8:48pm

            Re: Re: Re: Re: Why "counterfeit" it? Surely every man sitting there can afford original one, righ?

            I have been checking what I heard and I believe it must have been the man who made the mask for the movie and not the original author.

            So unlike I incorrectly stated the original comics did involve a mask. However when the movie was made they created a different mask and it is that mask which they now sell cheaper copies of and which all profit goes to Time Warner.

            The ultimate irony. Those who fight big media fund big media.

            [ link to this | view in chronology ]

            • identicon
              Anonymous Coward, 27 Jan 2012 @ 2:20am

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Why "counterfeit" it? Surely every man sitting there can afford original one, righ?

              I believe you are missinformed.

              http://www.shadowgalaxy.net/Vendetta/gallery.html

              The mask in the movie fallow exactly the design set in the comic book.

              Even the ridiculous red circles in the cheeks are there.

              [ link to this | view in chronology ]

            • identicon
              Anonymous Coward, 27 Jan 2012 @ 2:23am

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Why "counterfeit" it? Surely every man sitting there can afford original one, righ?

              The profits go to Warner though since I believe they bought the rights to it and own it or have a deal for the merch or something like that.

              But for me the real irony is that although Time Warner is making a buck, that buck will cost them dearly.

              Loss of public respect translates to loss of power and eventually money.

              [ link to this | view in chronology ]

              • identicon
                indieThing, 27 Jan 2012 @ 4:15am

                Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Why "counterfeit" it? Surely every man sitting there can afford original one, righ?

                I'd be surprised if Warner could claim IP rights to this here in the UK, as the mask is pretty much a slight variation on the original masks you could buy around November, going back at least to the early '70s.

                We used to buy them to put on our Guy Fawkes dummies, which were used by kids to make a few quid by displaying them on the pavements and asking for 'a penny for the Guy'. Come November the 5th they'd then be thrown on the bonfire and burnt! Great times :)

                [ link to this | view in chronology ]

            • icon
              The Groove Tiger (profile), 27 Jan 2012 @ 12:58pm

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Why "counterfeit" it? Surely every man sitting there can afford original one, righ?

              You may be confusing that with the link I put, where the illustrator of the comics couldn't find an actual Fawkes mask (it was the wrong month) so he had to design one.

              [ link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Anonymous Coward, 26 Jan 2012 @ 8:33pm

          Re: Re: Re: Why "counterfeit" it? Surely every man sitting there can afford original one, righ?

          I don't know what "orginal" copy of V you read my I'm looking at my copies of the comic by Alan Moore and low and behold there is a mask.

          [ link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          NASDAQEnema, 26 Jan 2012 @ 8:53pm

          Re: Re: Re: Why "counterfeit" it? Surely every man sitting there can afford original one, righ?

          In Anon, Guy Fawkes is considered Epic Fail Guy.

          He was picked because he failed.
          Guy Fawkes Day is celebrated because he failed.

          Anonymous has turned failure into pure win.

          [ link to this | view in chronology ]

          • identicon
            Ogotai, 27 Jan 2012 @ 4:55am

            Re: Re: Re: Re: Why "counterfeit" it? Surely every man sitting there can afford original one, righ?

            Yes, Guy Fawkes Day is celebrated because he failed- in England. You go up north to Scotland and you realize there still is celebration, but citizens unofficially celebrate the chance they missed to disconnect from Britain;)

            [ link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Evey H., 28 Jan 2012 @ 3:58am

          Re: Re: Re: Why "counterfeit" it? Surely every man sitting there can afford original one, righ?

          May I point out a slight difference between blowing up a building representing the oppressive authorities and killing thousands of innocent people? I grew up in Poland. One of the books we HAD to read and discuss at school talked about children and young people blowing up German trains during the war and spilling acid on women who dated Germans. Funny, they told us that's patriotism, that this is how you fight for your freedom when the authorities give you no other choice. I'm not saying we should start blowing things up, what's the point? But we have to fight against oppression. Poland just got out of one Orwellian nightmare and we do not mean to allow another one to happen. We are lucky enough today to have legal and bloodless ways to do so, all we need is solidarity among free-minded people.

          [ link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Nov5, 26 Jan 2012 @ 4:55pm

        Re: Re: Why

        Yes, I think it was called "his actual face"

        [ link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        Prodicus (profile), 27 Jan 2012 @ 6:12am

        Re: Re: Why "counterfeit" it? Surely every man sitting there can afford original one, righ?

        400+ years ago. In England.

        [ link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        Prodicus (profile), 27 Jan 2012 @ 6:30am

        Re: Re: Why "counterfeit" it? Surely every man sitting there can afford original one, righ?

        400+ years ago. In England.

        [ link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        John Hall, 28 Jan 2012 @ 12:15pm

        Re: Re: Why "counterfeit" it? Surely every man sitting there can afford original one, righ?

        Just over four, actually. 1605 AD.

        [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      V, 27 Jan 2012 @ 5:55am

      Re: Why "counterfeit" it? Surely every man sitting there can afford original one, righ?

      You actually can buy oryginals in Poland, but protestors bought all of them already (I'm from Poland).

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 26 Jan 2012 @ 2:54pm

    Maybe we should all chip in to get Senator Wyden a Guy Fawkes mask for his inevitable filibusterer of the next copyright-maximalist bill?

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 26 Jan 2012 @ 2:54pm

    perhaps the real motive behind these bills/laws isn't to prevent counterfeit goods sales (haha), isn't to prevent copyright infringement (duh) but really to stop people from being able to organise demonstrations using the internet. just think about how unsuccessful the various uprisings last year would have been without it, if the then governments had been able to shut it down.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Kenneth Michaels, 26 Jan 2012 @ 2:56pm

    Masks for our US politicians?

    We should print/cut out masks and send them to our politicians in the US. Maybe our politicians would wear them too. Then again, DHS would probably intercept the mail, track you down, arrest, and jail you indefinitely.

    BR.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    RafSku, 26 Jan 2012 @ 5:46pm

    If we speak about Polish protests against ACTA

    you should see that http://mainhg.demotywatory.pl/uploads/201201/1327613556_by_Kazan_500.jpg and its just a beggining...

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Natalie, 27 Jan 2012 @ 7:04am

      Re: If we speak about Polish protests against ACTA

      yes , its not the end . We are just starting .

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Polish anty acta activist (profile), 26 Jan 2012 @ 6:27pm

    anti-ACTA protest in poland

    You can watch this video compilation from polish cities, one time, one day different cities

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPiV_SB-scM

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    That Anonymous Coward (profile), 26 Jan 2012 @ 6:34pm

    I did not clone myself and take over Polish Parliament.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Loki, 27 Jan 2012 @ 4:07am

      Re:

      Pity that.

      If you had I'd have said you should do Congress next. Things would probably run better if you were in charge.

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 26 Jan 2012 @ 6:36pm

    How many Polish legislators wearing goofy masks does it take to.........

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    arcan, 26 Jan 2012 @ 6:49pm

    i now respect these politicians. they are awesome. that is all.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Holding the Book, 26 Jan 2012 @ 7:13pm

    You nobs, if you open that book and look two pages in, the copyright date of the front cover is 1990 to DC Comics. They did not change the graphic novel to insert masks everywhere over the original art; that's just stupid.

    What everyone so far has failed to notice is that DC Comics is a division of Warner Bros and Time Warner. So chicken or egg, it all belongs to them anyway.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Rekrul, 26 Jan 2012 @ 8:05pm

    Hmm, people protested and the government signed it anyway. I seem to recall predicting that ACTA would be signed by the major countries, including the US, no matter how much people were against it. I believe I said that the entertainment industry had spent too much time and money on it for it not to be signed.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      TMWaH, 26 Jan 2012 @ 8:56pm

      Re:

      Keep in mind that the fight isn't over yet. The Polish citizenry is raising a major stink, the opposition party is demanding a referendum, and dissent is spreading across Europe.

      Nobody expected an instant victory, particularly when the battle is on an international scale. Right now, Poland is setting a precedent, showing that the common man won't cave in to corporate pressure and negative press. Will they win? Maybe. But even if they don't, they're standing up for what they believe in. And are you really so petty as to mock them for that?

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Violated (profile), 26 Jan 2012 @ 9:00pm

      Re:

      Wait and see when this fight is just starting. The key point is the European Parliament vote months away.

      Currently I think those in the United States need to do more to ensure ACTA is passed to Congress to review. Out protesting on the streets will be more productive than their current plan.

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Lidia, 26 Jan 2012 @ 11:29pm

    Interesting

    It is often hard to feel like a patriot in Poland in these times, but when you finally feel it, this long-time forgotten spark in your heart you can do anything, even die fighting.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 27 Jan 2012 @ 12:17am

    I think we can expect Lamar Smith to consider the entire country of Poland as the minority.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    wp, 27 Jan 2012 @ 3:48am

    WYKOP KURWA!!!

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    POLAND, 27 Jan 2012 @ 4:04am

    HAHA

    DONALD TUSK IS GOOD! ACTA IS FUTURE! DONALD TUSK IS MY KING! DONALD TUSK! DONALD TUSK! DONALED TUSK!

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Natalie, 27 Jan 2012 @ 6:53am

      Re:

      What????
      ACTA is NOT good for EVERYONE! We (polish people) dont wont ACTA in our country!

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    z, 27 Jan 2012 @ 6:34am

    Poland is always first to fight for freedom!

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Polak, 27 Jan 2012 @ 7:35am

    Ehh czego to się nie robi aby zyskać rozgłoś. :(

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    k23, 27 Jan 2012 @ 7:56am

    Poland in protest

    the protest took place in all bigger cities in Poland. Pepole just simply went on the streets as we do not like when the goverment is doing something behind our back.

    the link shows you what was happening in only one city:

    http://krakow.gazeta.pl/krakow/1,44425,11032507,Protest_przeciwko_ACTA_w_Krakowie__FOTO_i_W IDEO_.html

    and it is not over. next protests are planned for today and tomorrow. the prime minister started to understand that they make a misstake...

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 27 Jan 2012 @ 8:37am

    chyzy ruj

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Pawel, 27 Jan 2012 @ 9:27am

    Here's Poland - we, young people do not stop our protest. The cities are occupied. Don't believe to the media - we do protest all the time and we prepare an revolution, an revolution which began in our minds, will be now shown on the streets. Currently in the whole country there are over 700.000 of us on the streets and we won't return our homes without vicotry, we will not stop!!! Let this be the beginning of the global Internet identity reloveution! No ACTA, No NWO, No 1984!!! We are not products, we are not things, we are people and we deserve our freedom and will of choice! We never step back, we never surrender!

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Wojciech, 27 Jan 2012 @ 9:55am

    Democracy = Dictature

    Hello world!

    You must know, that our world is controlled since centuries. World governments, especially USA aren't real democratic government. YOU USA PEOPLE HAVE THE BIGGEST PROPAGANDA ON THE WORLD. The propaganda is based on your good hearts, based on our white people culture developed since more than 2000 years. They destroying the our civilization, the most powerful civilization. Now, we're falling down due socialism systems - whole XX century. Now, in the Europe - there's next socialism system. And we fallen down again. We have to stop this, before they destroy planet with soldiers, new technology weapons such nuclear bomb, etc. Bush, Obama were only puppets. The real power, reign are behind curtain. The main media like CNN, Hollywood, MTV are tools to make a propaganda. You must know, that freemasonry control us and they probably control or WILL TRY TO CONTROL ANONYMOUS MOVEMENT, so beware! In the Poland we had the same history, believe me, we experienced so much. Don't trust your government - they are bad "people", very bad - more than you will even could think...

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    spc, 27 Jan 2012 @ 10:35am

    Two days before their "mask stunt" they didn't know what ACTA was.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    dave, 27 Jan 2012 @ 1:30pm

    i come from poland and i tell you guys that this is element on political game in which small party want to gain some electorat (through happenings like that). the protest against ACTA starts in Internet on portals like a wykop.pl when free, aware surfers mobilisate people on social portals and took on the streets. don't let politicize this citizens protest.

    btw. sry for my english, i hope you understood what i was trying to say

    greetings from Poland

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 27 Jan 2012 @ 2:56pm

    People!
    Janusz Palikot was a very active activist PO - Tusk's party, the ruling now in Poland. He is not so, what would you see him. He also took what he could and just lied and insulted "the other" as Tusk.
    Now assumes that mask, because he wants to show that is so cool and solidarity with the protesters. But in reality is just propaganda, which aims to show Palikot in a better light. He just about to win the electorate PO, who will not know for whom to vote in subsequent elections.
    Today, he joined the demonstrators in Warsaw, but Polish fans driven out of him.
    Do not be fooled!
    Read the opinions of reliable web sites, for example: www.niezalezna.pl www.salon24.pl

    Polish girl

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Evey Hammond, 28 Jan 2012 @ 3:46am

    don't believe them

    I agree with previous comments. I come from Poland, I took part in the protests, and there is one thing I can tell you - there is no political party in Poland that can be trusted. The Civic Platform is scared now and quite a few of them admitted that they didn't really know what ACTA was about. Law and Justice and Palikot voted for ACTA before and the Law and Justice still votes for it in the European Parliament. Besides, I don't think they really know what these masks mean - Palikot hates all catholics, yet he wears a mask of one, lol. Hypocrites. All of them. Remember, remember...

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    belle, 7 Mar 2012 @ 3:44pm

    Guy Fawkes Masks and Anonymous shirts

    The best places are:

    http://www.AnonymousTees.com
    http://www.AnonyMasks.com
    http://www.vstoreonline.com

    They all ship worldwide, accept Paypal, cheap prices for quality masks and shirts. They have Guy Fawkes Masks, Anonymous + Guy Fawkes and disobey tees / tshirts, fawkes costumes, anonymous computer accessories and more

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]


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