Pirate Parties Blocked From WIPO After US & Other Countries Complained That They Don't Support WIPO's Mission

from the but-of-course dept

Wed, Sep 25th 2013 2:34pm — Mike Masnick

A little over a year ago, the Pirate Parties International (a group representing various different local Pirate Parties) asked for permission to have "observer" status at WIPO, the UN-based World Intellectual Property Organization, an operation somewhat renowned for its generally maximalist agenda. Last year, we noted that, after complaints from Swiss, French and US delegations to WIPO, the PPI request was delayed for an entire year. Well, that year is up... and WIPO has officially rejected the request while it approved all other requests except for the Pirates and Kenya Innovation Council.

Once again, US officials were among the folks trying to block PPI from becoming an observer, expressing concerns that the Pirate Parties "don't support the objectives" of WIPO. So who did get approved? Well, among others, there was the International Society for the Development of Intellectual Property (ADALPI). So it's not like WIPO rejected organizations that came into things with a clearly biased perspective. It just wanted to reject organizations whose position WIPO officials don't like. Ridiculously, as Jamie Love points out, the US State Department first talked about being able to discuss things "free from undue interference or censorship" and then went out and blocked the Pirate Parties from being able to join WIPO as observers. Hypocritical as always. And, if you're wondering, other political parties have been allowed into other UN organizations in the past, so it's not just because the Pirates are a political party.

Once again, we see that WIPO is not actually focused on determining the most effective intellectual property regime, but rather they'll push for protectionism and maximalism because a few countries benefit strongly from such positions. And they'll even go so far as to lock out organizations that have other viewpoints.

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Filed Under: intellectual property, ngos, observers, pirate parties international, state department, wipo

33 Comments

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Dreck Skinner, 25 Sep 2013 @ 2:41pm

Um... Isn't that the whole point?
It's not really a debate if there's no opposing viewpoint, right?
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out_of_the_blue, 25 Sep 2013 @ 2:47pm

Huh. Call yourselves pirates, decent people shun you.
'expressing concerns that the Pirate Parties "don't support the objectives" of WIPO.' Is that in controversy?

"rather they'll push for protectionism and maximalism" -- Umm, you can't debate with people who don't agree that there IS any valid intellectual property. That's just axiomatic.

Disclaimer: almost anything with "World" in it I'm against, so just don't assume that because I support rational copyright that I go for this globalist crap.
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DannyB (profile), 25 Sep 2013 @ 2:53pm

Re: Huh. Call yourselves pirates, decent people shun you.
You have it backwards as always. It is the decent people being shunned.
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Anonymous Coward, 25 Sep 2013 @ 3:07pm

This is pot speaking, we are generally known to be associated with the color black.

We don't know what this errr, group's color is that wants to join us. It's sort of the same color as night, sort of associated with being left in a fire, sort of associated with being the opposite of white, but it ain't like us. We don't want to be contaminated with it.
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Anonymous Coward, 25 Sep 2013 @ 3:11pm

Maybe, just maybe, it wasn't the best idea to adopt the name "Pirate Party" when you're hoping to participate in meetings that, in part, are focused on stopping piracy. Seriously, could these party leaders be any dumber?

It's like the idiots that chose the name GIMP for their open source program, and then complain that no legitimate businesses want to use a program named after a slur for disabled people.

I swear, techno-fetishist's are their own worst enemy.
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S. T. Stone, 25 Sep 2013 @ 3:11pm

Re: Huh. Call yourselves pirates, decent people shun you.
you can't debate with people who don't agree that there IS any valid intellectual property

Yes, you can. You can debate over the merits of intellectual property law in a civilized and reasonable manner with someone who doesn�t believe IP law should exist. It only takes having an ounce of respect for the other party and opening your mind to an opposing viewpoint instead of writing them off as dirty filthy pirates who don�t deserve due process, civil rights, or even the remotest form of human tolerance.
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Zakida Paul (profile), 25 Sep 2013 @ 3:22pm

They are scared shitless of progressive ideas, that is what it is about.

All I have to say is, liberal democracy, my arse.
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CK20XX, 25 Sep 2013 @ 3:29pm

Maybe it would be worth trying a Skies of Arcadia approach? In that game, there are two factions of pirates: the Black Pirates who steal and plunder from anyone they darn well please, and the Blue Rogues, who only target the ships of the wealthy, corrupt empires, frequently battle with the Black Pirates, and are more interested in seeking challenges than getting ahead by any means. You gotta admit, the Blue Rogue Party does sound more palatable.
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Anonymous Coward, 25 Sep 2013 @ 3:30pm

Can't read German
Did the wipo give a "reason" why?
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CK20XX, 25 Sep 2013 @ 3:38pm

Re: Huh. Call yourselves pirates, decent people shun you.
There's actually an entire trope about the phenomenon at work here.

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AppropriatedAppellation

Christian, Mormon, Jew, Yankee, Pixelante, The Big Bang, Impressionism, Vigilante Taxonomist, Obamacare, and now Pirate are but a few examples of insulting names that have come to be worn with pride.
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John Fenderson (profile), 25 Sep 2013 @ 3:54pm

Re:
then complain that no legitimate businesses want to use a program named after a slur for disabled people.

How do you know that's what is was named after? The insulting term for disabled people is only one of the things "gimp" means. It could have been a reference to people who enjoy sex while wearing full-body latex suits, not disabled people.

Or it could just mean "GNU Image Manipulation Program". But why go with that when it's so much more fun to imagine that some insult was intended?
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Out_Of_Naboo, 25 Sep 2013 @ 3:57pm

Problem with PPI
The problem PPI has is a lack of legitimacy. They've admitted they might have a bank account somewhere, but haven't been able to access it for 3 years. They have a conference and apparantly don't follow their own rules at it, rigging votes or excluding those they know won't keep the 'status quo' (such as kicked out the Dutch pirate party based on a single email some random party member sent)

In their annual reports last year, half the board said 'the other half are a problem, and here's the facts to prove it'. The problem half were, however, running the voting, and 'mysteriously' got re-elected.

PPI, it's a farce.
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Anonymous Coward, 25 Sep 2013 @ 4:09pm

*facepalm*
So WIPO is attempting to close of the PP's venues for actual copyright reform. Guess what that'll lead to? Oh yes, the abolitionist half of the PP is going to get even more influence.
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Anonymous Coward, 25 Sep 2013 @ 4:23pm

Monopolies eventually lead to fierce backlash in one form or another.
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JMT (profile), 25 Sep 2013 @ 4:33pm

Re: Huh. Call yourselves pirates, decent people shun you.
"Umm, you can't debate with people who don't agree that there IS any valid intellectual property."

They didn't ask to come along and debate, they asked to observe. If you're a such a strong supporter of copyright, why would you be afraid of having people who disagree with your position simply listen to you?
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Anonymous Coward, 25 Sep 2013 @ 6:14pm

Why not invite the Ku Klux Klan and Nazis as observers to UN conferences on race and tolerance. It'd be just as useful and productive. PPI- suck it.
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Anonymous Coward, 25 Sep 2013 @ 6:36pm

Response to: Anonymous Coward on Sep 25th, 2013 @ 6:14pm
it's a group about good IP policy. only idiots would leave out views leaning towards weaker. copyright because then you just get mindless drones
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Anonymous Coward, 25 Sep 2013 @ 6:44pm

Response to: Anonymous Coward on Sep 25th, 2013 @ 6:14pm
also love how you compare people who don't believe in artificial scarcity to klansmen and nazi

stay classy ac
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Anonymous Coward, 25 Sep 2013 @ 6:58pm

WIPO is a farse.
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Tracyanne (profile), 25 Sep 2013 @ 7:04pm

Response to: Anonymous Coward on Sep 25th, 2013 @ 3:11pm
Dickhead GIMP Is an acronym NOT a name. The name of the program is Gnu Image Manipulation Program. F'King dumb Yank.
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James Love (profile), 25 Sep 2013 @ 9:10pm

Re: Can't read German
The process at WIPO is one where countries can block applications for whatever reasons they like. Some time ago, the USA blocked CPTech (our name before KEI) from becoming an observer in WIPO advisory committee on enforcement, but changed its position at later meetings. Today WIPO is generally a very easy place to gain accreditation, compared to other UN bodies, such as the World Health Organization. In the case of the Pirate Parties International, the opposition was clearly based upon the views and values of the Pirate Parties. This was the second time the Pirates sought permanent accreditation at the WIPO General Assembly. I will suggest they make a new attempt to gain "ad hoc observer status" in one of the committees, to move things along. I don't think Belgium, the US or Poland were that comfortable defending their actions, after the vote. The Pirates need to talk to the US and the EU before the vote, to make sure there are not further opportunities to block them over lack of information about such issues as the precedent for UN accreditation of political parties (Lots of socialist and liberal party groups have various UN accreditations now), of the relationship between the PPI and Pirate Bay.
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Anonymous Coward, 25 Sep 2013 @ 11:13pm

It's actually pretty hilarious, considering the hypocrisy of the US in other IP situations. For example, Antigua and Brazil, to name just two.

The Pirate Party should ignore them and turn up anyway, int nhe interests of "fairness and balance".
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Anonymous Coward, 25 Sep 2013 @ 11:29pm

The goal of WIPO, much like most of the international trade organizations made in the last of years, is to exert US dominance over foreign markets by infiltrating them with laws that the US can exploit. Much like how the US exported faulty standards, they export faulty legislation that specifically favors their companies and business. Nothing benefits more from ridiculous IP laws than the businesses that are based primarily in the United States. They want the draconian systems to become a global databank of ridiculous laws and procedures criminalizing anyone who doesn't have the lawyers to fight it or understand it.

So of course they're going to try to push out opposition, these aren't people willing to debate the folds in their pockets.
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Lurker Keith, 25 Sep 2013 @ 11:59pm

Re:
I never expected someone to mention Skies of Arcadia on this site.

VERY fun game, by the way... if you can find a copy.
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Anonymous Coward, 26 Sep 2013 @ 12:13am

Re: Huh. Call yourselves pirates, decent people shun you.
This is why "pirates" don't waste their time debating with IP believers.

Monopolies will always end in some uggly fashion, doesn't matter what you call them, eventually everyone realizes what they really are.
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Ninja (profile), 26 Sep 2013 @ 4:27am

Re: Huh. Call yourselves pirates, decent people shun you.
Well, there's no evidence that IP needs to exist for things to move forward. It's just some idiocy invented in the last century or two to protect established businesses.

If they can allow the International Society for the Development of Intellectual Property (ADALPI) who are clearly biased towards the IP extremism then why not allow the polar opposite?

As for the name, it's clearly established internationally that the Pirate Parties are a force to reckon. Only petty trolls like you or people that don't like them still make fun of the name. Pirate has become a symbol for freedom of speech.
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Anonymous Coward, 26 Sep 2013 @ 5:31am

this is what happens when industries are allowed to have such power in keeping their objectives at the forefront, objectives that benefit only themselves. there can never be open and objective discussion if opinions that differ from a self-interested party (particularly the hypocritical USA) are enforced and no others are allowed.
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Pragmatic, 26 Sep 2013 @ 5:53am

Re: Huh. Call yourselves pirates, decent people shun you.
I support rational copyright

Oh, no you don't! You want perpetual copyright, and that's not rational at all. What next, sacrificing our firstborn to the MPAA and RIAA?
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Anonymous Coward, 26 Sep 2013 @ 7:39am

Re: Huh. Call yourselves pirates, decent people shun you.
Little boy blue, we all already know you are incapable of debating with people who don't first concede the crux of your argument. Anyone that doesn't need to beg the question to debate, however, is fully capable of doing so.
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Anonymous Coward, 26 Sep 2013 @ 7:45am

Re:
Because copyright and patent enforcement are just like civil rights and the pirate party is therefor just like bigots and racists...
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Gwiz (profile), 26 Sep 2013 @ 8:23am

Re: Huh. Call yourselves pirates, decent people shun you.
Huh. Call yourselves pirates, decent people shun you.

Really? Are all 14,000 or so of the these so called "indecent" people to be "shunned" also?

http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3048178
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Anonymous Coward, 26 Sep 2013 @ 11:46am

Re:
Thank you, Godwin.
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toyotabedzrock (profile), 28 Sep 2013 @ 11:06pm

Union
Ask a union to petition to be an observer and allow them on its deligation.
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