Secret IP Treaty Proposal Rubs Tech Wrong

Description

The negotiations over the International Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement that concluded another round this week in Seoul, South Korea, prompts watchdog groups to complain to President Obama about Hollywood's influence over the talks and the lack of transparency surrounding the entire negotiations.

Civilian libertarians, Internet privacy watchdog groups and libraries are irate over the secret negotiations in Seoul, South Korea, involving ACTA (International Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement). The negotiations, they claim, heavily favor Hollywood interests pushing tougher international copyright laws and, moreover, the entire process has been shrouded in secrecy.

The latest round of the treaty talks concluded Nov. 6 with a seventh round of negotiations scheduled for January in Mexico. Participants in the negotiations included the United States, Australia, Canada, the European Union, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, Singapore and Switzerland.

According to documents leaked earlier this week, the United States favors forcing international ISPs to proactively police copyright on user-contributed material and would require ISPs to cut off the Internet access of accused copyright infringers or face liability. In addition, the U.S. negotiators are seeking international notice and take down agreements and mandatory prohibitions on breaking DRM systems. The provisions are all favored by major U.S. content owners.

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http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Government-IT/Secret-IP-Treaty-Proposal-Rubs-Tech-Wrong-825478/

http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Government-IT/Secret-IP-Treaty-Proposal-Rubs-Tech-Wrong-825478/