Next TPP Negotiation Session Has Only 3 Hours Allotted For Negotiators To Talk To Public Interest Advocates

from the no-time-for-the-public dept

Mon, Aug 13th 2012 8:07pm — Mike Masnick

The USTR's handling of public interest access to TPP negotiators has bounced around over the last few negotiating sessions, with many suggesting that last months' meetings in San Diego were actually handled somewhat decently. However, with the upcoming negotiating round in Virginia, apparently there's no more time to be talking to anyone representing the public interest. The oddly named "Direct Stakeholder Engagement" period is from 11am to 2pm on Sunday, September 9th and that's it. So not only have they reduced the length from previous sessions, but they put it at the same time as lunch. So if these groups actually want to talk to negotiators, they might want to serve some food... Either way, it really feels like the whole "stakeholders" sessions are just the USTR's way of saying "see? we're letting people in!" But, of course, that's completely different from real transparency.

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Filed Under: civil society, public interest, tpp, ustr

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Anonymous Coward, 13 Aug 2012 @ 8:49pm

Ratification Is Required
TPP? Is that thing still going? After what happened with ACTA, why does anybody believe that TPP will ever be ratified by the US Senate? It does have to be so ratified, because it has IP-law elements, which are very clearly the business of Congress. If POTUS just signs the thing, Congress can simply say, "Well, it is not ratified, therefore it is not in force. Stop wasting your time."

Congress will rightly insist on full disclosure of the text and full public discussion before even considering ratification. The public discussion will then be so acrimonious that there is no chance that the Senate will ratify.
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- Mason Wheeler, 13 Aug 2012 @ 9:47pm
  
  Re: Ratification Is Required
  Yeah, Senate ratification is required because of the IP element. But then again, it was required for ACTA too, and that didn't stop President Obama from illegally signing it on a flimsy pretense and trying to pretend that he wouldn't need to send it to the Senate afterall. You think he's going to play it any different for TPP?
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- Anonymous Coward, 14 Aug 2012 @ 2:01am
  
  Re: Ratification Is Required
  It is mostly information, but ACTA is not even close to dead. It is in a coma after what happened in EU, but in reality it is not even close to dead. Next year will see an opening of ACTA for new signatories and I expect some to enter the poker-game. EU will have a new vote on ACTA later and that will be the one able to determine ACTA in EU. If ACTA craters in EU after the second vote, expect USA to try and get the ball rolling on its own.
  That is the "great" thing about it: As soon as you have signed, the thread of ratification will forever hang in the air...
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Justin Olbrantz (Quantam), 13 Aug 2012 @ 9:20pm

Not the First Time
This isn't the first time they've had the meeting with public interest people during lunch, and the outcome will probably be exactly the same: all the negotiators sit together to eat so nobody from the public can talk to anybody with power. I couldn't hazard a guess whether this is a case of malice or incompetence; in TPP et al there's more than enough of both to go around.
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- Anonymous Coward, 14 Aug 2012 @ 6:28am
  
  Re: Not the First Time
  Representatives of the public should get really pushy and just muscle in on the tables where the negotiators are. Then scream at them for being corrupt. Get so obnoxious that security gets called. After being chucked out, get all whiny on the front steps in front of the news cameras.
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- gorehound (profile), 14 Aug 2012 @ 6:35am
  
  Re: Not the First Time
  Toilet Paper Pact has shit all over it.Frakkin gross is what that used Toilet Paper Roll looks like.
  Negotiators need to have that stuffed down their corrupt throats !
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Anonymous Coward, 13 Aug 2012 @ 9:27pm

End the plutocracy, abolish anti-competitive laws. Abolish IP.
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- Ophelia Millais (profile), 14 Aug 2012 @ 12:04am
  
  Re:
  OK, yes, we'll all get right on that. I'm sure all we have to do is ask nicely. Why didn't we think of this sooner?
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  - Anonymous Coward, 14 Aug 2012 @ 2:46am
    
    Re: Re:
    Why ask just ignore the law, is not like they can go after every and each person violating those nonsensical laws.
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Jaime Bilderberg, 13 Aug 2012 @ 11:02pm

The enlightenment draws nigh.
The forthcoming "World �bergovernment" (consisting exclusively of the wealthiest multinational corporations) has precious little time for mere mortal irritants such as the public.

TPP: Totally Pwned People.
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- Anonymous Coward, 14 Aug 2012 @ 7:49am
  
  Re: The enlightenment draws nigh.
  What forthcoming government? The corporations already own our asses!
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TFP, 14 Aug 2012 @ 3:21am

I wouldn't worry too much Mike, the rest of the world is finally growing tired of Hollywoods... I mean the US governments demands on copyright enforments. The French Hadopi is dying, the Canadians are introducing fair rights, our own UK Digital Economy Act hasn't even started yet and there are talks about defanging it, and it seems your own ISPs are questioning the six strikes plan.

Hollywood is a dying beast, animals are always at their most dangerous when mortally wounded, music, art and storytelling are finally returning to the hands of people who will find it pays, just not the obscene amounts they expect for it now.

Time to start sharing the wealth, 2/3rds of the planet are still going hungry people!
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- Anonymous Coward, 14 Aug 2012 @ 5:46am
  
  Re:
  @ #8
  
  shame that things are moving so slowly. the courts have now forced Virgin to block Newzbin2 now. no one seems to be interested in getting politicians to do the job they were elected to do, ie, looking after everybody. all governments and courts are interested in is looking after the companies that pays them the biggest bribes!
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- Anonymous Coward, 14 Aug 2012 @ 9:10am
  
  Re:
  Long live the revolution, comrades!! The dictatorship of the proletariat will conquer all!!
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Hothmonster, 14 Aug 2012 @ 6:17am

How long do you expect them to be able to dodge questions? 3 hours without really answering anyone will stillbe very impressive.
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- John Fenderson (profile), 14 Aug 2012 @ 9:22am
  
  Re:
  They're politicians. 3 hours of talking without listening or answering questions is a walk in the park for them.
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That One Guy (profile), 14 Aug 2012 @ 7:06am

Enough time?
Wow, are they sure three hours is really going to be enough time for them to fit in all their usual derision, arrogance, blatant lying and hypocrisy?
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- Baldaur Regis (profile), 14 Aug 2012 @ 8:45am
  
  Re: Enough time?
  Pfft. How long does it take to say "Thanks for your input. Now get away from me, you disgusting member of the public." Six seconds tops. Plenty of time to enjoy that shrimp cocktail!
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Anonymous Coward, 14 Aug 2012 @ 8:42am

Mike to quote you on your angry, almost drunken rant about Google and search rankings:

"It's never enough. The industry will always want more"

Just replace industry with "freetards" and you are pretty much good to go.

Whine much?
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- Baldaur Regis (profile), 14 Aug 2012 @ 9:35am
  
  Re:
  But, but Masnick is a wholly owned creature of Google! You said so yourself! Are you implying he cannot REMAIN bought? What do think he is, some fucking politician?
  
  Oh wait, I did what all you trolls do and just read the first two sentences. I didn't realize you were working off the "freetard" script.
  
  Nevermind.
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  - Anonymous Coward, 14 Aug 2012 @ 11:22am
    
    Re: Re:
    Umm I have said no such thing. Mike has worked with Google in the past, they have provided him and his company space to have meetings, and so on. Bought? I think that is a big term. Perhaps "rented"?
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    - Baldaur Regis (profile), 14 Aug 2012 @ 12:02pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      "rented": lol well played sir! I don't think you can do ANYTHING in Silicon Valley without being involved in some way with Google. I don't agree with your previous comment but I must give you +1 for your wit here.
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Anonymous Coward, 14 Aug 2012 @ 8:56am

So will Techdirt be manning a table? By the way, the public can sign up to make formal presentations to the delegation. A fact that somehow escaped the detailed, unbiased reporting of Masnick & Co.
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John Fenderson (profile), 14 Aug 2012 @ 9:25am

The most important stakeholders
The general public are the most important stakeholders when it comes to legislation that limits general freedom. Not IP holders, not media companies, not tech companies.

The most important stakeholders are getting three hours of nothing.

That says all that needs to be said about the TPP. It must be strenuously opposed on those grounds alone.
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