Q&A: How ACTA plans could rise from the dead

 

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By Stewart Mitchell

Posted on 12 Jul 2012 at 12:23

Q. Are the prime objectives of the agreements the same?

A. Because CETA is far broader, it has many more objectives. On the IP side, CETA is still broader as it includes additional provisions not found in ACTA. However, where the ACTA language is reused, it seems safe to assume that the objectives are the same.

Q. Do you worry that CETA might pass through more smoothly because it hasn’t had the same negative publicity?

A. The reaction to CETA this week has been remarkable. I think CETA has received more attention in Europe in two days than the agreement did over the prior two years. With the public now very focused on ACTA and one-sided IP agreements, I think it will be very difficult to sneak ACTA through the CETA backdoor.

Q. The EU has now said that the ISP elements, such as customer bandwidth controls, have been removed, but what are the main unpalatable similarities that remain?

A. There are many ongoing concerns including digital locks, damages, criminal provisions and border measures. The European Parliament's rejection of ACTA was about far more than just the ISP elements.