US Begins Process Of Forcing Extreme IP Enforcement Across Africa
from the is-this-really-what-africa-needs? dept
We've noted a few times recently that over the last few years WIPO has at least appeared to be more receptive to views from developing nations that strict copyright and patent enforcement could do a lot more damage than good. There are actually tons of compelling economic evidence that developing countries are best off mostly ignoring IP laws as they grow. Hell, the US is example number one of a country that completely ignored foreign IP laws while it developed, much to its advantage. Of course, the US, which leads the developed countries these days, absolutely hates this concept and has taken a strong maximalist position that all countries must respect US IP laws (or go even further). A big part of the reason that ACTA was negotiated outside of WIPO was because WIPO was actually listening to countries like Brazil and India that were expressing concerns about over-enforcement and the harms it created.However, WIPO itself has expressed concerns about this... but rather than working to convince the US that its approach is incorrect, it looks like WIPO may be going back in the other direction of supporting pure maximalism (i.e., the US agenda). Witness the ridiculous situation shaping up in Africa, where "WIPO" is organizing a "training" program about intellectual property that appears to have been entirely created by the US. It's scheduled to take place in South Africa in April, but it's strictly focused on enforcement and concepts that the US supports, rather than more reasoned issues about what countries in Africa actually need:
“It’s as if the last five years didn’t happen – no WIPO Development Agenda, no discussion on copyright limitations and exceptions, no proposals in favour of libraries and archives, education, blind and visually impaired people,” said Teresa Hackett, Electronic Information for Libraries (EIFL). “But they did happen, and we will work to ensure that delegates attending the African IP Forum hear a diversity of opinion and perspective, and have the opportunity to debate these issues that are critically important to libraries in Africa and around the world.”People discussing it note that this meeting doesn't appear to really be about effective intellectual property, but about setting the stage to force ACTA or ACTA-style agreements across Europe:
A particular concern of NGOs is that the conference will advance anti-counterfeiting legislation across Africa that will lead to damaging restrictions to the local populations and economies. They also raised alarm that the conference does not appear to include discussion on how to use the hard-won flexibilities that developing countries are allowed to employ so as not to apply IP rights if not in their national interest.Furthermore, groups worried about this meeting note that the event is sponsored by private groups who have strong interests in greater IP enforcement, rather than the interests of what's best for various African nations. Among the sponsors is the International Chamber of Commerce's Business Action to Stop Counterfeiting and Piracy (BASCAP). From that, it's pretty clear that the entire meeting's goals are suspect.
If there's going to be an effort by the international community to explore IP issues in Africa, the least they could do is acknowledge the fact that IP laws are supposed to be about what's best for the people, not what's best for big international corporations who want to maximize profit from African markets. But thanks to US involvement, that doesn't seem possible.
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Filed Under: africa, extremes, ip enforcement, us, wipo
Companies: chamber of commerce
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That's it, time to fire everyone.
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Mental Images
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Re: Mental Images
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdwU3PHt4ks
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Re:
Patents clearly do not have extra-territorial effect, as has been declared by our federal courts time and time again. Hence, I am left wondering just what foreign patents are being talked about. It they were issued in country X, not in the US, and persons in the US limited their activities to US territory, then there is nothing to complain about.
BTW, and quite unlike much of copyright, if an inventor wishes to secure patents in multiple countries, the inventor must file patent applications in each of those countries. There is no such thing as a "good everywhere in the world" patent.
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The police apparently do not much of anything. If you want policing you have to privately hire one of the privatised security/protection forces.
So as the owner of the building you hire a small private army to seize control of the building kick out everybody and physically keep them out by maintain a standing guard.
South Africa has a problem with keeping actual real property safe and the totally insane US government is sending over a team to control copying of CDs, totally crazy.
South Africa number one rape capital of the world and their worried about some drunken drugged up minstrel's publisher's licensing fees, now that's truly sick (well done Hilary Clinton, I'm sure your proud now).
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Thanks.
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Re: :eyeroll:
That's all I've got off the top of my head, but I'm sure if somebody but some time into it the list is more readily measured in meters than inches.
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#3 on the list.
Oh, hey, look, Hollywood is a bunch of stinking pirates and thieves.
Who would have guessed?
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Re: Re:
"And be it further enacted, that nothing in this act shall be construed to extend to prohibit the importation or vending, Reprinting or publishing within the United States, of any map, chart, book or books, written, printed, or published by any person not a citizen of the United States, in foreign parts or places without the jurisdiction of the United States."
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You consider ANY enforcement as "maximalist".
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Re:
You guys are running out of steam huh?
Its hard work being a troll. I feel for ya.
How about you take a couple of days off, relax, reflect on your past comments, and try to do better when you come back. K? K.
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Re:
Copy"right" is not one of those laws.
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Re: LOL NO.
It's like selling a unicorn....
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IP laws haven't been about what's best for the people in about a century. Today they're treated solely as protective measures for the giant corporations.
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you've been drinking the mansick coolaid again, if you are going to comment on your laws, at least damn well read them.
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Actually, if Mike were to market some "coolaid" I'd certainly buy some. I'd love to help my 'coolness'. ;) Just don't do it in grape! (blech)
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you forget
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Re: you forget
You think that corporations are all greedy?
I bet you think that all Jews are greedy, too!
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Citation -- US a pirate nation from 1790 to 1891
"In addition to establishing a federal copyright and specifying how it was to be administered, Section 5 of the Act of 1790 intentionally established the United States as a pirate nation. The language is deceptively brief for such a far-reaching policy:
Simply put, the U.S. would not recognize foreign copyrights, and U.S. publishers were completely free to import and/or reprint whatever foreign texts they thought would sell. Reiterated in the copyright acts of 1831 and 1870, this remained explicit U.S. policy for over a century, from 1790 until 1891."
http://www.archive.org/details/PimpsAndFerretsCopyrightAndCultureInTheUnitedStates1831-189 1
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Re: Citation -- US a pirate nation from 1790 to 1891
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Re: Citation -- US a pirate nation from 1790 to 1891
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Re: Citation -- US a pirate nation from 1790 to 1891
It was not until the 1850's or so that France suggested perhaps foreign authors should be granted domestic rights in order to secure reciprocal treatment for french authors.
This suggestion did not coalesce until the Berne Convention.
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I wonder
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Re: I wonder
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Re: I wonder
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Let's recap...
"You think too small," this man says. "Instead of going after these theives retail, let's kill 'em wholesale. If the laws force you to actively defend your copyrights, why then, those laws are wrong."
Who is this mystery man? This man with a drinkers' nose and the cold dead eyes of a cardsharp? His name is Dodd...Chris Dodd, and his message is - dare we say it - staggering in its simplicity and scope. "I speak the language of whispers and deceits," he murmurs, "so lawmkers know me. Give me free rein and fat envelopes and I will change the shape of the world...not just America, not just Europe...the world."
The nods and handshakes are given, the deals are struck. The new laws proceed in practised obscurity, a machinegun-spray of paper guaranteed to gut piracy, and if a few innocents get in the way, what of it? Besides, who will know? If it doesn't get reported, it never happened.
But wait! What's that noise? One voice, a few voices, many voices coming from that pirates' haven, that troublesome Internet. And light! Light that shines on the deals, light that transfixes the deal-makers, light that shouldn't be!
"Ignore them." cautions Dodd. "Bloggers are not journalists, bloggers don't get on the 5 o'clock news. Nobody listens to them but the rabble, they are less than the clouds. You politicians are the rock upon which piracy will be broken forever."
A rock can ignore a few rain drops. A rock can lie unaffected in a creek. But the rock which ignores the spring thaw, denies reality.
Many voices become millions; politicians must relearn the old, old phrases of rabbits caught in the open: 'This law isn't ready for prime time.' 'Perhaps we need to reassess our position.' 'This proposal will be tabled for further debate.' And the current politicians relearn the oldest lesson of all: a people may be fearful, or complacent, or indifferent, but ultimately, rulers rule by consent.
So. Where now? Do we go back to sleep? Do we become cynical and think the way things are now are how things will always be? Or do we in our millions watch, and keep watching, for those who would steal our freedoms for pennies?
TL;DR version:
Content owners froth at the mouth over piracy!
Lobbyists promise the moon!
Politicians rub hands in anticipation of huge payoffs!
The Internets find out, complain!
People rise up, virtual pitchforks in hand!
Politicians back down, laws tabled!
lolcatz lulz!
Rinse and repeat.
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Re: Let's recap...
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And now the maximalists in the United States want to impose maximalist rules on developing and under developed countries. I guess what was good and worked for America isn't so good for anyone else. I'm still wondering how to convince the BRIC countries of that much less anyone else.
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They have dictators robbing the people blind, but copyright trumps all.
They have warlords killing people who believe different things, but copyright trumps all.
If copyright is this wonderful magical thing, why are there still problems in the world?
Why the F*** IS COPYRIGHT MORE IMPORTANT THAN HUMAN LIVES?
Shall we drop Dodd and Sherman in the desert with their copyrights and see how well they do? At what point is enough, enough? The world has way bigger problems then a pack of whining billion/millionaires, lets work on those before we fix their imaginary problems.
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africans celebrating the election of the U.S. election of a
president of african decent. I wonder how they feel now? Considering he is ramming the values of U.S. corparations down their throats.
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More mansick crap
Oh that is SO FUNNY,, Mansick you are such a joker !!
Would you like to detail some of the fields of endevour that the US leads ?
I guess not, it's just too easy just to talk shit, without actually 'you know' supporting your claims with actual proof.
We all know you have a rather rocky relationship with reality..
So, waiting for mansick to show a few examples to support his errant claims, but as usual not expecting anything.
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Re: More mansick crap
Dumb (ip)-ass(ociate)
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Re: More mansick crap
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Re: More mansick crap
What's your problem darryl, you upset that 'pirates' are cooler than deported petty thieves that no-one else wanted?
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Wipe out
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"Global IP Culture"
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Re: "Global IP Culture"
The IP and Culture bits are mutually exclusive. That which they would seem to wish to create can not, in fact, exist. Unless, of course, they're referring to "culturing" a virus which, ironically, would be rather deadly to culture.
Global IP Virus. Fixed.
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Dear USA
Now, don't get me wrong, some of you seem quite nice. But, what we mainly see are your tourists, and your insane laws...and honestly, the tourists are nicer.
We don't really need your "Free Trade Agreements", we were doing quite well thank you. We don't need your SOPA or PIPA. We don't need your ACTA or TPP (you really need to stop infecting international treaties and so on with your brand of "Intellectual Property" madness).
In conclusion, please go home and put your own house in order, it really needs your attention.
Regards
The Rest Of the World
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Re: Dear USA
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Re: Re: Dear USA
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Re: Re: Dear USA
FTFY
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Very disappointed!
Ok, so instead of spending money to alleviate starvation, poverty, diseases, refugee problems, and other urgent issues in Africa, the US is spending money on IP enforcement? That's just doesn't sit right with me. Very disappointed with the USA.
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