[A2k] p2pnet news Union des Consommateurs online ACTA meeting

[Manon Ress]

http://www.p2pnet.net/story/34614

Union des Consommateurs online ACTA meeting

p2pnet view P2P | Politics:- The entertainment industry=92s ACTA [Anti-
Counterfeiting Trade Agreement] is more than merely another
transparent ploy designed to keep consumers around the world under
tight corporate control

If it=92s passed in its present form, it=92ll not only turn countries into
marketing and free-fire copyright enforcement divisions, even worse,
boardrooms will replace governments.

Quebec consumer protection group the Union des Consommateurs, at the
forefront of organisations protesting the =91agreement=92, has organised
an online press conference for tomorrow announcing a joint declaration
calling on governments everywhere to ensure their citizens=92 rights are
protected.

The conference will be recorded and posted on the union=92s web site.

Taking part are >>>

     * Rashmi Rangnath- Public Knowledge (USA)
     * Michael Geist- Ottawa University (Canada)
     * Jeremy Malcolm- Access to Knowledge (A2K) Consumers International
     * David Fewer- Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest
Clinic (CIPPIC) (Canada)
     * Dominique Peschard- Ligue des droits et libert=E9s (Qu=E9bec)
     * James Love- Knowledge Ecology International (USA)
     * Jeremy Zimmerman- La Quadrature du Net (France)
     * Olivier Charbonneau- Association pour l=92Avancement des sciences
et des techniques de la documentation (ASTED) et Corp. des
biblioth=E9caires professionnels du Qc (CPBQ) (Qu=E9bec)
     * Anthony H=E9mond- Union des consommateurs (Qu=E9bec)

You, too, can sign the joint declaration, which reads >>>

Governments of Australia, Canada, European Union, Japan, Mexico,
Morocco, New Zealand, United Arab Emirates and United States are
amongst those undertaking secret negotiations for a so-called Anti-
Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTAi). Amongst the many topics it
reaches, ACTA would:

     * allow Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to snoop on their
clients and cut them off the Internet if sharing copyrighted files is
alleged;
     * establish =91graduated response=94 measures and Internet Service
Provider (ISP) liability, which leads to Internet filtering, as well
as limits to the interoperability of legally acquired digital works;
     * authorize border guards to search laptops and MP3 players and
to seize them if they contain material that could seem to infringe on
copyright; and
     * introduce new criminal sanctions for copyright infringements,
including sanctions for certain uses of the Internet that previously
were not criminalized;
     * affect other important issues, such as access to medication.

This is reason enough, in our opinion, to express concern about the
consequences this agreement will have on the fundamental rights and
freedoms of the citizens of the concerned states.

Our concerns are confirmed by documents from the European Commission,
which clearly indicate that this Agreement will restrain certain
rights and freedoms, particularly freedom of expression and protection
of privacy.

The current process of negotiation, which is shrouded in secrecy, held
in closed meetings between representatives of the participating
Countries, is of particular concern for consumers. In fact,
governments have participated in these meetings for over 18 months,
without divulging the texts under negotiation or allowing the public
to observe or participate.

This negotiation process, in itself, raises important questions about
the lack of transparency and about respect of democratic principles.
It is extremely disconcerting to know that certain American industries
have had access to ACTA documents, while the European Parliament and
consumer groups have been refused such access.

Governments have the duty to inform their citizens about projected
agreements under negotiation that will directly impact on their
fundamental rights and freedoms.

Therefore, we call on the Members of Parliament, Congress or such
representative assemblies of the negotiating countries to ensure that
their governments act in a transparent manner in the current
negotiation process by publishing the proposed Agreement, and to
oppose any provisions that would impinge upon fundamental rights and
freedoms.

Find out more on the new ACTA resource page.

A =91caricature of businesses plotting to harm the public=92

Meanwhile, the ACTA talks proceed, the latest having been staged (word
used advisedly) in Mexico.

=93Geraldine Juarez writes in to let us know of her experience attending
what was billed as a =91public hearing=92 about the ACTA treaty in Mexico
(link in Spanish, Google translation here), which sounded really
messed up,=94 says Mike Masnick on TechDirt, continuing >>>

First, despite it being a public hearing, originally those putting on
the event wanted attendees to sign nondisclosure agreements.

After pushing back on this, they finally agreed to remove that
requirement, but there was a lot of confusion about it and it may have
kept people with serious questions about ACTA from attending.

The room, then, was mostly industry people, who were apparently
concerned as to why everyday citizens were in attendance, and they
even booed a lawyer who questioned the human rights angle.

As for Geraldine, she tried twittering the event, and the industry
folks demanded she leave (and had a guard escort her out).

It=92s almost like they=92re trying to make themselves into a caricature
of businesses plotting to harm the public. When others asked where the
actual ACTA discussions in Mexico would be held, they were told that
was =93confidential.=94

=93It appears that the public is certainly not welcome,=94 Mike observes.

Stay tuned for more on the Canadian conference.
***************************************************************************
Manon Ress
manon.ress@keionline.org
Knowledge Ecology International
1621 Connecticut Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20009 USA
Tel.:  +1.202.332.2670, Fax: +1.202.332.2673

Il vaut mieux remuer une question, sans la d=E9cider, que la d=E9cider,
sans la remuer. (Pens=E9es, essais, maximes et correspondance de J.
Joubert  p.249)
Translation: It is better to debate a question without settling it
than to settle a question without debating it