ACTA - Say goodbye to the internet

For those who haven't heard about this already, the ACTA, or Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, is a proposed international treaty that would more or less eradicate the internet as we know it. If passed, it would require several things:

• That ISPs have to proactively police copyright on user-contributed material. This means that it will be impossible to run a service like Flickr or YouTube or Blogger, since hiring enough lawyers to ensure that the mountain of material uploaded every second isn't infringing will exceed any hope of profitability.
• That ISPs have to cut off the Internet access of accused copyright infringer's or face liability. This means that your entire family could be denied to the Internet -- and hence to civic participation, health information, education, communications, and their means of earning a living -- if one member is accused of copyright infringement, without access to a trial or counsel.
• That the whole world must adopt US-style "notice-and-take-down" rules that require ISPs to remove any material that is accused -- again, without evidence or trial -- of infringing copyright. This has proved a disaster in the US and other countries, where it provides an easy means of censoring material, just by accusing it of infringing copyright.
• Mandatory prohibitions on breaking DRM, even if doing so for a lawful purpose (e.g., to make a work available to disabled people; for archival preservation; because you own the copyrighted work that is locked up with DRM)
• That ISPs be forced to supply information of suspected copyright infringers at request, even without a warrant (there goes Americans' 4th amendment rights)

This treaty has actually been in the works for awhile, but was purposefully kept hidden from the public eye until the documents got leaked. Even now you'll notice that you don't see much talk about it, and any government or trade body that has been asked to disclose the documents has declined (this includes the EU and the US). Don't be fooled though, it is a threat. The DCMA was passed in nearly the exact same fashion; An international treaty that was kept secret from the public as long as possible and passed with relatively little noise. In other words, unless we take action and actually do something about this, history will repeat itself and the internet will be thrust back to what it used to be back in the '90s.

A good starting place for action is to raise awareness of this draconian piece of legislation among the public, and to write your local politicians to ask them to oppose this treaty and why they should.

edit: For those who want links

Link (this one takes you to an official US document)

Moar Link

Even moar link (wikipedia link)

Imma firin mah linkz

Is dat sum link? (link to the offical EU document)

I'm not worried.

may god have mercy on us

This, is serious business. Mythbuster4ever

do you have any links?Dman0017

yeah, here you go:

Link

Moar Link

Even moar link

Imma firin mah linkz

If true :cry:

I can't afford anime.:cry:

[QUOTE="Mythbuster4ever"]This, is serious business. Iantheone

What makes you think that? It seems so extreme that you think it wouldn't, but keep in mind that this has happened before with the DCMA. You know, the legislation that made us all criminals for trying to back up our media, burn music CDs, fiddle around with certain electronics, and allow anyone to remove anything on the internet just by claiming that it broke copyright.

You also have to remember that politicians tend to be very computer illiterate. They see this and they think "oh, hey, this says it cuts down on crime. That's always good". They have no idea what the repercussions would be. And if they do, then chances are they're having pressure put on them by organizations like the RIAA and MPAA.

[QUOTE="Dman0017"]do you have any links?gameguy6700

yeah, here you go:

Link

Moar Link

Even moar link

Imma firin mah linkz

Well, that is unfortunate...

I expect a Revolution.

[QUOTE="Darth-Caedus"][QUOTE="gameguy6700"]

yeah, here you go:

Link

Moar Link

Even moar link

Imma firin mah linkz

Lilyanne46

If this crap passes, a LOT of people will be pissed. I know I will be. The internet is what I need. What the point of having computers without the internet? :?

I'm not worried.

EMOEVOLUTION

Why? History has shown that this type of thing can get passed. The various trade organizations and nations of the world are very serious about getting this passed if their complete relucatance to talk about it, citing reasons like "we don't want to harm the integrity of this bill", means anything. And it's an international treaty, so whether you live in the US, the UK, Japan, or Zimbabwe, this affects you.

Wow...just wow, this is ridiculous.

Democracy is sick in this world. We need actual Democracy, not this corporatist nonsense.

Copyrights are NOT important. If I pay 60 dollars to own a game, why cant I do what I want with it? if I dont actually own it, then I shouldnt have to pay 60 bucks.

[QUOTE="Darth-Caedus"][QUOTE="Lilyanne46"]

If this crap passes, a LOT of people will be pissed. I know I will be. The internet is what I need. What the point of having computers without the internet? :?

Lilyanne46

How am I going to know if I should get a game or not? How am I supposed to do research papers? How am I supposed to chat with OT? On other forums? Damnit I hate the government! :cry:

Well, that is unfortunate...

I expect a Revolution.

samuraiguns

Well, anon did catch wind of this a couple weeks ago and they're revving up for a cyberwar. Although knowing anon this will probably just be nothing more than some youtube videos, DDOS attacks, spam phone calls, black page fax spam attacks, and $500 pizza deliveries.

[QUOTE="Darth-Caedus"][QUOTE="Lilyanne46"]

How am I going to know if I should get a game or not? How am I supposed to do research papers? How am I supposed to chat with OT? On other forums? Damnit I hate the government! :cry:

Lilyanne46

:x

I'm no good in paint. :(

Not worried. If this did become law it would likely cause riots. The changes are far too radical and change far too much of how the world currently works, to be intergrated without mass outrage/hysteria.

[QUOTE="Darth-Caedus"][QUOTE="Lilyanne46"]

:x

I'm no good in paint. :(

Lilyanne46

It's you. :x :P

....
I'm glad i'm going to Canada =(

....
I'm glad i'm going to Canada =(

MuddVader

....
I'm glad i'm going to Canada =(

MuddVader

it wont pass and even if it did: no country could afford to "police" or "keep check" of what is going on the internetDante2710

Exactly. It would also costs thousands if not millions of jobs, and total several industries and large companies. This simply cannot work and the only other option would be to effectively dismantle the internet. This is also impossible and in this day would not work because so much of buisness, social, entertainment, fiancing etc is done via internet.

Too many countries will be against this for it to be effective.

I don't know what to say to this...

The internet was designed to be open, and this organization is trying to destroy exactly what it was meant to be? What about free public access points? People can change their MAC address so they won't be tracked down and download whatever they want in public access points.

it wont pass and even if it did: no country could afford to "police" or "keep check" of what is going on the internetDante2710

They are using ISPs all they would need to do is allow government to put an *internet police* branch within the ISP.

I'm gonna go commando and take down the government if they do that...

My power level is well beyond 9000.

it wont pass and even if it did: no country could afford to "police" or "keep check" of what is going on the internetDante2710

Finland already does, as do several other countries such as China and Iran.

Hell, speaking of Finland, their Minister of Communications, Suvi Lindén, is currently fighting to get international internet censorship bodies put in place. She's also trying to put pressure on ISPs to change their business plans to "internet packages" that would only include certain websites. So, for example, a "basic plan" might run you $25 a month for only Gmail, twitter, wikipedia, and facebook (no need for google lol).

[QUOTE="Dante2710"]it wont pass and even if it did: no country could afford to "police" or "keep check" of what is going on the internetgameguy6700

Finland already does, as do several other countries such as China and Iran.

Hell, speaking of Finland, their Minister of Communications, Suvi Lindén, is currently fighting to get international internet censorship bodies put in place. She's also trying to put pressure on ISPs to change their business plans to "internet packages" that would only include certain websites. So, for example, a "basic plan" might run you $25 a month for only Gmail, twitter, wikipedia, and facebook (no need for google lol).

[QUOTE="Dante2710"]it wont pass and even if it did: no country could afford to "police" or "keep check" of what is going on the internetEspada12

They are using ISPs all they would need to do is allow government to put an *internet police* branch within the ISP.

For those who haven't heard about this already, the ACTA, or Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, is a proposed international treaty that would more or less eradicate the internet as we know it. If passed, it would require several things:

• That ISPs have to proactively police copyright on user-contributed material. This means that it will be impossible to run a service like Flickr or YouTube or Blogger, since hiring enough lawyers to ensure that the mountain of material uploaded every second isn't infringing will exceed any hope of profitability.
• That ISPs have to cut off the Internet access of accused copyright infringer's or face liability. This means that your entire family could be denied to the Internet -- and hence to civic participation, health information, education, communications, and their means of earning a living -- if one member is accused of copyright infringement, without access to a trial or counsel.
• That the whole world must adopt US-style "notice-and-take-down" rules that require ISPs to remove any material that is accused -- again, without evidence or trial -- of infringing copyright. This has proved a disaster in the US and other countries, where it provides an easy means of censoring material, just by accusing it of infringing copyright.
• Mandatory prohibitions on breaking DRM, even if doing so for a lawful purpose (e.g., to make a work available to disabled people; for archival preservation; because you own the copyrighted work that is locked up with DRM)
• That ISPs be forced to supply information of suspected copyright infringers at request, even without a warrant (there goes Americans' 4th amendment rights)

This treaty has actually been in the works for awhile, but was purposefully kept hidden from the public eye until the documents got leaked. Even now you'll notice that you don't see much talk about it, and any government or trade body that has been asked to disclose the documents has declined (this includes the EU and the US). Don't be fooled though, it is a threat. The DCMA was passed in nearly the exact same fashion; An international treaty that was kept secret from the public as long as possible and passed with relatively little noise. In other words, unless we take action and actually do something about this, history will repeat itself and the internet will be thrust back to what it used to be back in the '90s.

A good starting place for action is to raise awareness of this draconian piece of legislation among the public, and to write your local politicians to ask them to oppose this treaty and why they should.

edit: For those who want links

Link (this one takes you to an official US document)

Moar Link

Even moar link (wikipedia link)

Imma firin mah linkz

Is dat sum link? (link to the offical EU document)

gameguy6700

I seriously doubt that this will actually happen, but this is what happens when people act like assbags. These rules are being proposed for a reason, and a lot of people are just going out of their way to ruin things for everyone. THIS is why the "internet community" as a whole needs to take a stance against things such as piracy and copyright infringement. The people who do this stuff are making it very easy to put in place LAWS that **** EVERYONE over.

[QUOTE="Espada12"]

[QUOTE="Dante2710"]it wont pass and even if it did: no country could afford to "police" or "keep check" of what is going on the internetDante2710

They are using ISPs all they would need to do is allow government to put an *internet police* branch within the ISP.

China does it and so do other countries, the guy above even listed a few.

NOTE: Youtube already does the copyright thing as well.

[QUOTE="Dante2710"][QUOTE="Espada12"]

They are using ISPs all they would need to do is allow government to put an *internet police* branch within the ISP.

Lilyanne46

Hell, they can't even catch individuals, no way they can catch entire counties. There are well over 100 to monitor. :|

If this crap passes, a LOT of people will be pissed. I know I will be. The internet is what I need. What the point of having computers without the internet? :?

Lilyanne46

*shrugs*

I used computers years before the internet came along. Take the internet away from my computer, and I suppose I'll simply do something else instead.