Secret trade talks take aim at internet piracy

 

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By Stewart Mitchell

Posted on 5 Nov 2009 at 13:16

Internet rights campaigners are expressing serious concerns over information leaking out of the controversial Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) negotiations taking place in Korea.

The ACTA talks are far-reaching international trade talks that have major implications for the internet, but consumer rights campaigners say the talks have been hijacked by lobbyists and negotiators for media heavyweights, such as Hollywood studios and Rupert Murdoch's News International.

Details emerging from the meeting suggest that rather than focusing on commercially counterfeit goods, the delegates are discussing copyright protection and how to force ISPs to police their networks.

“The leaks confirm everything that we feared about the secret ACTA negotiations

“From the copies of the leaked material, which are but an outline of the agreement under negotiation, it is clear that the talks are reaching into areas like personal copyright and three strikes rules that reach into the home,” Intellectual Property Watch spokesperson William New told PC Pro.

According to observers, if implemented, the ACTA could drastically alter intellectual property enforcement in all countries and trade zones signing up to the treaty, including the EU.

ISPs held liable

Sources that have seen the leaks say ACTA signatories would have to reinforce copyright enforcement, impose liability for copyright breaches on third parties, such as ISPs, and implement a graduated response rule to cut off repeat copyright offenders.

The agreement would also force signatories to implement anti-circumvention rules to outlaw breaking DRM.

“The leaks confirm everything that we feared about the secret ACTA negotiations,” writes Electronic Frontier Foundation policy director Gwen Hinze, on the organisation's website.

“The internet provisions have nothing to do with addressing counterfeit products, but are all about imposing a set of copyright industry demands on the global internet, including obligations on ISPs to adopt three-strikes internet disconnection policies, and a global expansion of DMCA-style laws.”

The furore surrounding the talks has been exacerbated by the fact that they are being held behind closed doors amid almost complete secrecy. The only outsiders to have been given official briefings – mostly major media owners and advisers – have signed non-disclosure agreements and have not been allowed to remove any material related to the meetings.

“They are international trade negotiators that are running the meeting, but it's hard to find evidence that public interest concerns are being represented,” said New. “The negotiators are working under close advice and counsel of the industry.”