ACTA (or how the internet will be tamed)

[badgernine]

So, thanks for clicking on my little thread with its attention *crow caw* of a title. Anyways, the point of this is to bring notice to a treaty that is being negotiated by several countries called ACTA. In a nutshell, ACTA is a treaty that is meant to curb counterfitting of protects, protect IP, and stop Internet Piracy.

Anyways, like I said I wanted to let you guys know about this if you dont already, and would like to hear your thoughts on it as well.

Here are some of the links I was able to find on it.

A anti-ACTA site, obviously its biased.
anti-acta.com/index.php

The mother load of information on ACTA. It may be wikipedia, but as of now its the page with the most combined information and the most unbiased article.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Counterfeiting_Trade_Agreement

the United States webpage about ACTA. Again, biased.

www.ustr.gov/acta

Sorry if you have to copy/paste the links, but read through it, read at least the anti-acta webpage and the US one if you dont want to read the wiki article.

[1deadcop]

the acta docs got leaked a long time ago,

[carnogaunt]

I think this project has quite a lofty goal. At best it will drive piracy deeper underground, similar to how the US reacted to prohibition and the "war on drugs." The problem is that the system will be undermined by the vast number of citizens who either disobey it or don't report offenders.

Media companies should either accept current circumstances (people will always buy at least some of their music and movies, it's not like they're at risk of going under) or focus on finding other ways to make money rather than clinging to an old system. It seems like ACTA will just turn into a bloated money pit.

The only major change I see is that, for a while at least, companies will be able to be as pushy as they want about what constitutes a violation of their IP. A lot of undeserving sites could get shut down for a bit if they get overzealous.

[Thlaylie]

If you want to shut down the war on piracy, remind the record industry that every record, cassette tape or CD you have bought was you buying the rights to have a copy of the song.

Then threaten to bring in every one of them for a brand new replacement as you have purchased the right to have a copy and their media has failed in this contract.

Then threaten to tell all your friends.

We could bankrupt the industry in a short amount of time.