Poland Prime Minister Suspends Any Effort To Ratify ACTA; May Kill ACTA In The EU

from the don't-piss-of-the-net dept

Fri, Feb 3rd 2012 12:45pm — Mike Masnick

This is getting interesting. Following the growing protests about ACTA in Europe, as well as signs of US meddling, Poland's prime minister is making it clear that Poland will not ratify ACTA for the time being, leading to speculation that the EU may not actually join ACTA.

Tusk's backtracking could spell the end of ACTA for the entire European Union. If Poland or any other EU member state, or the European Parliament itself, fails to ratify the document, it becomes null and void across the union. As it stands, there are already five member countries that have not even signed ACTA.

"I share the opinions of those who from the beginning said that consultations were not complete," Tusk said, according to a report in Wirtualna Polska. The 54-year-old prime minister added that a Polish rejection of ACTA is now on the table, and admitted that he had previously approached the agreement from a "20th century" perspective, due to his age.

Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.

Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.

While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.

–The Techdirt Team

Filed Under: acta, poland, prime minister

70 Comments

If you liked this post, you may also be interested in...

Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread

Skeptical Cynic (profile), 3 Feb 2012 @ 11:53am

Viva Poland!!!
Thanks God those backwards Pollacks have taken a stand against backward laws!!!!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Jay (profile), 3 Feb 2012 @ 12:41pm

So now the new question... How much public scrutiny is going to be paid to the TPP that Heph posted recently?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Chris From Poland, 3 Feb 2012 @ 12:48pm

Tusk cannot END the ratification process, just postpone it for later. Our media are questioning his declaration because in fact it changes nothing. ACTA will have to be voted on regardless, just a bit later. Most of the media think that Tusk is just counting on the fact that people will forget about the entire situation and stop protesting. So he's doing some damage control, but the danger of ACTA being passed is still on the horizon.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Ima Fish (profile), 3 Feb 2012 @ 12:54pm

Have we finally reached a turning point? The point were copyright maximalist have pushed so far that people are starting to push back?

I hate to get my hopes up, but it's sure starting to look that way.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Gwiz (profile), 3 Feb 2012 @ 12:56pm

Re:
Thank you for the clarification, Chris.

Out of curiosity, who does the actual voting on ACTA ratification process in Poland and are they elected officials who could be swayed by public opposition? If so, gaining this extra time could prove crucial.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Kevin H (profile), 3 Feb 2012 @ 12:57pm

This is why we need Wikileaks and other services like them. I want every communication between Washington DC and Embassies abroad that have to do with ACTA in any way shape or form. I want to know what was said, and who said it. The only way to end this kind of public usurping is to bring these backdoor deals into the light and let the people see what they are doing. If its casts a bad light on us then so be it. We shouldn't have been doing it in the first place.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Pwdrskir (profile), 3 Feb 2012 @ 12:59pm

Kill the Bill
Poland can start the ball rolling.

Why are politicos looking to the past to "save jobs"? They need to look to the FUTURE and the future is the Creative Competition of the Internet. New personal content will create more jobs than Hollywood and past content.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Machin Shin (profile), 3 Feb 2012 @ 1:02pm

Re:
Well, hard to cast anything but a bad light on the US government lately. I'm kind of disgusted by the condition of our government.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Raphael (profile), 3 Feb 2012 @ 1:03pm

Re:
Agreed, thanks for the clarification. I'm optimistic that a lot of us have signed up for this game of whack-a-maximalist for the long haul. It's good exercise of the ol' democracy, and I think everyone has an eye on the fluffy public domain plush hanging over the counter when the machine starts spitting out tickets.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 3 Feb 2012 @ 1:07pm

I'd like to underscore an important aspect of the prime minister's comment:

"20th century perspective"

Lawmakers haven't caught up with technology yet, and since technology accelerates at an exponential rate, probably never will.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
:Lobo Santo (profile), 3 Feb 2012 @ 1:11pm

Re: Technologically speaking...
It is a documented fact that most government agencies are 2 generations behind technologically.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
khory (profile), 3 Feb 2012 @ 1:16pm

Re:
I've seen a few articles around on other sites. I'm hoping that the SOPA/ACTA stuff recently has helped shine some very bright light on the dirty dealings that are going on. Only time will tell tho.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
The eejit (profile), 3 Feb 2012 @ 1:18pm

Re: Re:
Dude, if the US Government were movie villains, they'd be decried as being too unrealistic.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Kevin H (profile), 3 Feb 2012 @ 1:20pm

Re: Re: Re:
Are we sure that Boehner or Reid do not own one of those hairless cats?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphynx_(cat)

I could totally see either of them sitting in their offices with one of these cats.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Alex V, 3 Feb 2012 @ 1:21pm

Re:
Well, if you follow the link in the ZDNet article to the article in WirtualnaPolska that the debate over ACTA "may need to revise the traditional concept of property rights, in a situation where the traditional internet turned reality upside down."

The is the first time I've heard a politician from any country say that.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Ima Fish (profile), 3 Feb 2012 @ 1:22pm

Re: Kill the Bill
Maximizing copyright has nothing to do with saving or creating jobs. That's just BS politicians say to ensure their cut.

Politicians give out rights to collect monopoly rents, and in exchange, the politicians get to keep some of the gravy for themselves. This scam has been going on for over a century, it's just that the tax payers are finally getting sick of it.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Tom from Poland, 3 Feb 2012 @ 1:23pm

Re: Re:
Parliament is the one to vote so yes, representatives will be under presser from the public.

But.. Tusk is a very skilled player and a great PR-ist so this won't be as easy as people think based on the today's declaration by Tusk. He has already managed to complaint on his officials, which is a clear sign of a heavy PR being turned on - this is his routine trick, like in the old Russia where Tzar was always the good guy, only officials were evil.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
simple_simon, 3 Feb 2012 @ 1:23pm

Google At It Again
Stupid damn Google. Now look what they've done!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
fogbugzd (profile), 3 Feb 2012 @ 1:24pm

Re: Re:
game of whack-a-maximalist

FTW. Newest TD meme.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Tom from Poland, 3 Feb 2012 @ 1:27pm

Re: Re:
I would also be happy with that statement if I didn't knew how great PR player he is - it's almost clear to me that it's a statement baked by his propagandists to make the protesters calm down.

Note that the people protesting in Poland were mostly young people that voted for Tusk in recent elections, so he is now in a damage control mode - and will say everything that's needed to re-gain as much support from them as possible.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 3 Feb 2012 @ 1:34pm

Re: Viva Poland!!!
Go back to germany you racist
[ link to this | view in thread ]
DannyB (profile), 3 Feb 2012 @ 1:34pm

Re:
> Tusk cannot END the ratification process, just postpone it for later.

Use Jack Valenti's approach.

Temporarily postpone it until Forever minus one day.

(That is how long Jack Valenti proposed that copyrights should last.)
[ link to this | view in thread ]
farooge (profile), 3 Feb 2012 @ 1:57pm

ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha; it's over

is the 'k st' area suitable for heavy industry? can we beg Bill Gates and Google to buy it up and encourage industry to put some union jobs there (free beer and public transportation from 1700 to 0300 on fri & sat!?!)? wouldn't that be awesome?

they could offer dibs on the choice positions to out of work lobbyists. you know, something they're actually qualified for (and, if you think like me, their karma _probably_ says they deserve) like bumper installing for one of those people who drive the cars off the line

this is so much faster than i ever dreamed possible

last thing - thanks Poland.

(yea, it's _always_ 1/2 full ...)
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Gwiz (profile), 3 Feb 2012 @ 1:58pm

Re:
Most of the media think that Tusk is just counting on the fact that people will forget about the entire situation and stop protesting.

He probably is counting on that.

It's not a bet I would make though, the collective consciousness of the internet does not forget so easily.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Hephaestus (profile), 3 Feb 2012 @ 2:09pm

Re:
There are two of them on my site the IP section and the full version pulled off of a pdf I found. The full one seems off.

TPP � TPPA � Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement- Intellectual Property Chapter

TPPA � Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement- Full - This one feels off, and like it is a distraction.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Chris From Poland, 3 Feb 2012 @ 2:10pm

Tusk and his political party lost 5% support overall in the last two weeks and an entire 17% among the youngest voters and those not yet allowed to vote. He's doing damage control for his own political benefit, but nevertheless, this might in fact lead to a reform of copyright law in poland. Our minister of culture has acknowleged that the law in this regard is outdated. Furthermore, an academic study "Obiegi Kultury" (an english version is forthcoming) (http://www.obiegikultury.centrumcyfrowe.pl/) has proven beyond all doubt on a representative group of Polish people that those who download media off the internet are the same people who BUY the most media in stores and are the most culurally active overall. Now everyone is quoting this academic study against copyright maximalists. Our equivalent of the RIAA in Poland is ZAiKS and it seems to be losing its arguments due to this study. In fact, ZAiKS fucked up several years ago by trying to make people pay for playing Creative Commons music in public places (pubs, clubs, etc.). So there's a HUGE backlash against copyright maximalism among the 15-35 age group and among voters and politicians are beginning to see this in the voting polls.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Hephaestus (profile), 3 Feb 2012 @ 2:11pm

Re: Re: Re:
Does Poland have a pirate party?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Hephaestus (profile), 3 Feb 2012 @ 2:12pm

Re: Re: Re:
Tee Shirt Time!!!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Chris From Poland, 3 Feb 2012 @ 2:15pm

We don't have a Pirate Party... yet :-). I mean, we do, theoretically... But they're just an organization and they have a blog, but I'm not even sure if they're registered as as political party and they sure aren't in the Parliament... So we don't have a REAL Pirate Party, but we sure will soon :-). The people have woken up.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 3 Feb 2012 @ 2:18pm

Re:
"I want every communication between Washington DC and Embassies abroad that have to do with ACTA in any way shape or form. I want to know what was said, and who said it. The only way to end this kind of public usurping is to bring these backdoor deals into the light and let the people see what they are doing. "

Your absolutely right. The stuff politicans argue about in public is peanuts compared to the real deals being made behind our backs under the guise of "trade agreements".

Start a petition about requesting documents concerning ACTA. A newspaper or magazine should be on the trail for FOIA documents.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Atkray (profile), 3 Feb 2012 @ 2:18pm

Re: Re: Re: Re:
I'm still waiting for the hoodies to come back.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Chris From Poland, 3 Feb 2012 @ 2:21pm

Our non-government organizations have already requested documents pertaining to negotiating ACTA in its earliest stages. They want to know who the interested parties were and who in particular influenced each part of ACTA. So it's already happening.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Chris From Poland, 3 Feb 2012 @ 2:23pm

On a side note, here's the smallest, but also the coolest anti-ACTA demonstration: ACTA vs dubstep in front of the presidential palace.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGjbBeOnQ5g
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 3 Feb 2012 @ 2:25pm

I'm gonna eat all those old polish jokes if they save the world.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Chris From Poland, 3 Feb 2012 @ 2:29pm

Polish jokes don't offend us. We too have our American and Russian jokes, so to each his own :-).
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 3 Feb 2012 @ 2:32pm

Re: Re: Viva Poland!!!
Polish is a race? I thought it was a sausage?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Chris From Poland, 3 Feb 2012 @ 2:33pm

We make the best fucking sausages in the world :-)
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 3 Feb 2012 @ 2:37pm

Sounds like a complete shift in opinion;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_7CjgdlRrE&feature=related
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Tom from Poland, 3 Feb 2012 @ 2:38pm

Re: Re: Re: Re:
Yes, but it's almost a joke - a few students with no impact on polictics at all.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Chris From Poland, 3 Feb 2012 @ 2:41pm

The "few students" represent a 17% of the voting population. A "to be or not to be" for a political party. This isn't just a minor protest group, but a generational movement.

But yes, the particular protest I linked to was the smallest one I've seen. It was more of an "afterparty" to the proper protest.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Chris From Poland, 3 Feb 2012 @ 2:48pm

If you want to see the REAL protests, look no further than here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNqNYY-Ihv4
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Tom from Poland, 3 Feb 2012 @ 2:49pm

Re:
I meant that Polish Pirate Party was just a few students, not the whole anti-ACTA movement - if that's what you mean.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Chris From Poland, 3 Feb 2012 @ 2:53pm

Yeah, I agree, the Polish Pirate Party is a joke for now. But I guess they will become more popular in the years to come, once the younger generation receives voting rights.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Brandon, 3 Feb 2012 @ 2:54pm

Correct me if I'm wrong but ACTA would still go a head without the EU countries? Hope I'm wrong
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Chris From Poland, 3 Feb 2012 @ 2:57pm

Yes, ACTA would function in the USA, Japan, Mexico.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Hephaestus (profile), 3 Feb 2012 @ 4:01pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
I don't do hoodies but, if techdirt did a long sleeve tee shirt I would be all over it.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Rapnel (profile), 3 Feb 2012 @ 4:03pm

Re: Re: Viva Poland!!!
In substance I find your comment tacitly agreeable.

Any man that looks down on another man for racial, ethnic or even religious reasons is not a whole man and is a burden to men and he should not be carried.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 3 Feb 2012 @ 4:05pm

Please feel free to correct me if I am mistaken, but I have no recollection of ACTA containing any enforcement mechanisms agaist signatories. It is hard to get all hot and bothered about a document that is for all intents and purposes a memorandum of understanding outlining goals.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 3 Feb 2012 @ 4:07pm

Re:
Thanks
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Idwal (profile), 3 Feb 2012 @ 7:53pm

Re:
You do what with your sausages? I'm never buying polish sausage again D:
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 3 Feb 2012 @ 7:55pm

Re: Re:
United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, Morocco, New Zealand, Singapore, and South Korea have signed. The European Union, Mexico, and Switzerland attended but did not sign, professing support and saying they will do so in the future. - via Wikipedia (fwiw)
[ link to this | view in thread ]
MikeVx (profile), 3 Feb 2012 @ 8:54pm

New Games....
A better title might be Whack-A-Maximoleist, after all, they are digging rather deep for their points.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 4 Feb 2012 @ 12:09am

Re:
If ACTA didn't have any power, there would be no point in its existence.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Chris From Poland, 4 Feb 2012 @ 1:15am

ACTA itself does not introduce particular laws for copyright enforcement. What it does is it confines the framework of copyright enforcement possibilities to particular solutions which are in its spirit, so it PETRIFIES the state of law so that no other solutions which would contradict ACTA could ever be put forward. So YES, ACTA does not introduce particular laws, but the countries themselves will have to, on the basis of ACTA, introduce such laws to make their laws compatible with ACTA. So when ACTA passes, there will be no means of ever backtracking from copyright maximalism and liberalizing the law.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 4 Feb 2012 @ 9:20am

Tusk kłamie
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 4 Feb 2012 @ 9:24am

Tusk niby chce rozmawiać ze społeczeństwem ,a tak naprawdę to o protestach na całym świecie nic w telewizji nie słychać
[ link to this | view in thread ]
DinosaurHunter (profile), 4 Feb 2012 @ 10:22am

Re: Re: Re:
So then, Tom, your job is clear. You must make your fellow Poles aware of the slippery nature of this Tusk, and make sure they keep up the pressure so that he can't get away with only pretending to oppose this oppressive pact.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
DinosaurHunter (profile), 4 Feb 2012 @ 3:04pm

Re:
Theoretically it could, but I think in practice it will be dead if the EU rejects it.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
DinosaurHunter (profile), 4 Feb 2012 @ 3:07pm

Re: Re:
Also it is a barrier to copyright reform. If ACTA is in place then reforms can be refused due to "international obligations"
[ link to this | view in thread ]
DinosaurHunter (profile), 4 Feb 2012 @ 3:17pm

Re: Re: Re:
Just noticed Chris' better answer below :)
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Marcel de Jong (profile), 4 Feb 2012 @ 5:19pm

Re: Re: Re: Re:
Boehner can't have a hairless cat, it'd clash with his orange skin.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
s. keeling (profile), 4 Feb 2012 @ 5:29pm

Re:
If Poland can kill EU's participation in ACTA, doesn't Tusk gain support from all those protesting, including all other EU member states? This would raise Poland's stature as an EU kingmaker.

Why do I feel the urge to giggle like a school girl? Way to go Dallas, er, Poland!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
s. keeling (profile), 4 Feb 2012 @ 5:50pm

Re:
Polish jokes don't offend us. We too have our American and Russian jokes, so to each his own :-)

I read the same thing on slashdot.org last night from another Pole when I was reading about this there. It was quite a rousing discussion with quite a few Poles contributing, and very positive, anti-ACTA just like this one (not to take anything away from TD :-).

Thanks Chris for the report, and I hope for the best for yourself, Poland, and the EU. Much appreciated.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
s. keeling (profile), 4 Feb 2012 @ 6:01pm

Re:
... but the countries themselves will have to, on the basis of ACTA, introduce such laws to make their laws compatible with ACTA.

Worse, once all the backroom dealing on ACTA is done, then ACTA signatories can bash all those nations not a party to it to conform or face sanctions, yada, yada. Lots of innocent nations were not invited and are not party to ACTA discussions. They will be subject to the result.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Ema, 4 Feb 2012 @ 7:55pm

Re: requesting documenty from PO?
If we can't get the truth about Smolensk, why do you think they will be honest about ACTA?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Daria, 5 Feb 2012 @ 12:22pm

Re:
Chris, thank you! This video has made my day! I had no idea that so many people protested in Poland, mainly because the mainstream media never reported any of it. It's strange how all TV stations decided, independently of course, to completely ignore the protests all over Europe. They talk about the "horrible winter" that has befallen us for 30 minutes, but not a pip about ACTA in the past week. This bury-your-head-in-the-sand-and-hope-it-goes-away approach is getting absolutely ridiculous. Some articles have appeared in the online press, but they're mostly "neutral". I shared your link on Facebook and encouraged my friends to do the same. Hats off to Poland! Hope we'll be able to match you on Saturday!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Daria, 5 Feb 2012 @ 12:24pm

Re: Re: Re:
The European Union as a whole may not have signed it, but a lot of countries in the EU did. Fortunately, if the European Parliament rejects it, the signatures don't matter, because they won't be able to enforce it in the EU. At least that's the theory.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
bratwurzt (profile), 6 Feb 2012 @ 5:31am

Re: Re: Viva Poland!!!
It's not racism, it's nacism. Rase = same colour of skin, Nation = same nationality. You could be polish and black. Or polish and asian. Rare but possible...

And with bringing Germans into this you get an award of being a hypocrite.

But you could be a clever troll...strange are the ways of comment board on techdirt.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Chris From Poland, 6 Feb 2012 @ 6:23am

Daria - most EU countries have SIGNED ACTA, but none have RATIFIED it. A proposal of law needs to be ratified for it to become law. The signing process itself is a "promise" of ratification, but politicians can change their mind, or HAVE THEIR MIDS CHANGED if enough people make enough of a fuss. And believe me, we are making a fuss :-).
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Daria, 7 Feb 2012 @ 7:26am

Re:
I know, Chris, that's what I was trying to clarify as well - that the countries have signed, but not ratified ACTA and that we can still make a difference. (Maybe I wasn't very good at it :p) I've seen you guys protest in Poland (thanks for the link, by the way) and it was quite a sight to see - congratulations and thank you for everything you're doing. I'm hoping we'll be able to match you this Saturday.
[ link to this | view in thread ]