European ISPs slam secret ACTA talks
p2pnet news view P2P | Politics:- Secret Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) negotiations threaten the Internet, say 1,700 European ISPs, all members of EuroISPA,
Its “heavy-handed measures would create a serious danger of undermining and restricting the open innovative space that lies at the very heart of the Internet`s success,” says association president Malcolm Hutty.
“This agreement would have a negative impact on Internet users without having an appreciable impact on fighting illicit use of copyrighted material.
Leaks “suggest that the series of measures being considered are severe and wide-ranging including the possibility of users being disconnected from the Internet,” says the group today, going on »»»
EuroISPA is concerned that the attempt to implement such measures through a trade agreement, rather than a conventional legislative process, will not allow the various stakeholders, such as European citizens’ representatives, to enter the debate.
If some of the proposals currently under discussion in the context of these trade negotiations are adopted, Internet Services Providers will have to implement ‘graduated response’ measures, which could lead to users being disconnected from the Internet. Action points discussed at the last round of negotiations would also threaten the protection granted to online businesses by the EU.
With their MPAA as the front, the major Hollywood studios have escalated their efforts to force ACTA, their secret copyright `initiative`, into being, said p2pnet recently, continuing »»»
Our interests in a robust ACTA are broad, ranging from providing ex-officio authority for law enforcement and customs officials to securing both the legal and practical tools necessary to protect intellectual property rights online, says the LaLaLand enforcer.
Ex-officio authority for law enforcement? Hollywood pseudo-cops with powers to do whatever they want without reference to any legal authority.
But it isn`t only the MPAA. Big Music`s RIAA is also pushing ACTA for all it`s worth.
And it isn`t only ACTA. The entertainment industry â read the Big 4 record labels and Hollywood â is simultaneously hammering its Three Strikes plan, trying to have it adopted as law in countries such as Britain and France.
Implemented, it would have administrations acting as industry copyright agents, and local ISPs targetting their own customers on behalf of the cartels, we said.
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EuroISPA- EUROPEAN ISPs WARN AGAINST A TRADE DEAL THREATENING INTERNET OPENNESS, November 30, 2009
p2pnet – Hollywood touts ACTA, November 22, 2009
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