guardian.co.uk— David Meyer: The anti-counterfeiting trade agreement could criminalise internet users globally. But it hasn't been ratified yet …
Feb 3, 2012View in Crawl 4
The human rights of all the people in this world of our's is once again being trampled all over, just so some mega rich company's & rights holders can only possible get to make even more money, allegedly?
As one of millions of people in creative industries who has closed a business because of these very activities - which are already illegal - I see absolutely no problem with any of this.
Really, you lost your business because somebody somewhere stripped the DRM from a file they'd purchased?
Illegal downloading should remain just that, illegal, but breaking DRM or my using VLC to get screenshots from a DVD I legally purchased are not activities that cost the industry anything.
The thing to be mentioned is the politicians need to know how people feel about the agreement. Signing petitions is all well and good but snail mail, phone calls, and face to face meetings have more impact. On top of that, anything people write or say has to have a well thought out argument otherwise the politicians will ignore the issue. Act like a kid or a thug and you will quickly be dismissed.
Next people have to recognise the patterns and which "game" is being played. It's no good to build up a full head of steam and get distracted from what is really happening. Specifically who are the ones who can make a difference? What is necessary for them to change their minds? Where can people go to influence these people? What is the real issue instead of what people think it is?
I've been trying to get people to realise the ACTA is a series of political agreements having nothing to do with technology. Yet people persist in thinking there is a technological connection. This distracts them from what is going on. Although this was submitted to World News and Politics, it was also submitted to Technology. It is important to focus on what is happening. If someone approaches a politician and asks why they are going to take away peoples MP3 players (that would be a tech issue), the politician can truthfully say that is something they are NOT going to do. Most people will leave the politician alone at that point. This will result in the ACTA being ratified and certain bills introduced.
This (and other similar laws/regulations around the globe) is simply the old guard's last final attempt at caging the digital revolution. They are scared and confused at what the internet is and their inability to check control it like other forms of information exchange. How often are they stymied thanks to the internet in general?
The internet is your greatest resource, a vast unending tap of information and human knowledge. Dont give it up so easily. Especially not because some old codgers aren't making as much money as they used to. You can support the artists without kowtowing to suited scrooge mcduckians.
Even if they slammed a lead-lined lid on the net as we know it, you'd have a pirate undernet take its place. Already in the works.
While I agree with your sentiment, I unfortunately believe that this is not their "last gasp". I see this as their first major attempt (on a worldwide scale) which may be doomed to failure, but will be quickly followed up by a series of smaller and less obvious agreements which will inevitably lead down the same path. Without constant vigilance, these media corporations will one day have their way.
If you get a law past Congress. make it a trade agreement! Bah. FYI nobody is against piracy, but in the US the "fair use" exemption is used by millions of original content creators and enjoyed by hundreds of millions of people on the interwebs.
ukdirectorFeb 4, 2012
The human rights of all the people in this world of our's is once again being trampled all over, just so some mega rich company's & rights holders can only possible get to make even more money, allegedly?
Bacillus_AnthraxFeb 4, 2012
You're such an idiot, if this passes free speech could to certain degrees be made illegal by other nations, as this is an equally binding treaty.
asfinktersezwutFeb 4, 2012
Amazing how so many people seem to forget that this treaty runs in multiple directions.
termousadkaFeb 4, 2012
As one of millions of people in creative industries who has closed a business because of these very activities - which are already illegal - I see absolutely no problem with any of this.
Really, you lost your business because somebody somewhere stripped the DRM from a file they'd purchased?
Illegal downloading should remain just that, illegal, but breaking DRM or my using VLC to get screenshots from a DVD I legally purchased are not activities that cost the industry anything.
blankmikeFeb 5, 2012
The thing to be mentioned is the politicians need to know how people feel about the agreement. Signing petitions is all well and good but snail mail, phone calls, and face to face meetings have more impact. On top of that, anything people write or say has to have a well thought out argument otherwise the politicians will ignore the issue. Act like a kid or a thug and you will quickly be dismissed.
Next people have to recognise the patterns and which "game" is being played. It's no good to build up a full head of steam and get distracted from what is really happening. Specifically who are the ones who can make a difference? What is necessary for them to change their minds? Where can people go to influence these people? What is the real issue instead of what people think it is?
I've been trying to get people to realise the ACTA is a series of political agreements having nothing to do with technology. Yet people persist in thinking there is a technological connection. This distracts them from what is going on. Although this was submitted to World News and Politics, it was also submitted to Technology. It is important to focus on what is happening. If someone approaches a politician and asks why they are going to take away peoples MP3 players (that would be a tech issue), the politician can truthfully say that is something they are NOT going to do. Most people will leave the politician alone at that point. This will result in the ACTA being ratified and certain bills introduced.
xx4001Feb 4, 2012
I live in America free speech and democracy don't exist
jphrFeb 4, 2012
http://www.avaaz.org/en/eu_save_the_internet/?tta
Already more than 1.5 million signatures!
dondraganonFeb 4, 2012
f**k ACTA!
smpaisnutrientsFeb 4, 2012
This (and other similar laws/regulations around the globe) is simply the old guard's last final attempt at caging the digital revolution. They are scared and confused at what the internet is and their inability to check control it like other forms of information exchange. How often are they stymied thanks to the internet in general?
The internet is your greatest resource, a vast unending tap of information and human knowledge. Dont give it up so easily. Especially not because some old codgers aren't making as much money as they used to. You can support the artists without kowtowing to suited scrooge mcduckians.
Even if they slammed a lead-lined lid on the net as we know it, you'd have a pirate undernet take its place. Already in the works.
asfinktersezwutFeb 4, 2012
While I agree with your sentiment, I unfortunately believe that this is not their "last gasp". I see this as their first major attempt (on a worldwide scale) which may be doomed to failure, but will be quickly followed up by a series of smaller and less obvious agreements which will inevitably lead down the same path. Without constant vigilance, these media corporations will one day have their way.
smpaisnutrientsFeb 4, 2012
I was referring to the whole legislation process as the last gasp.
asfinktersezwutFeb 4, 2012
Ahhh. sorry, I didn't quite get that... 8-)
futfanaticoFeb 4, 2012
If you get a law past Congress. make it a trade agreement! Bah. FYI nobody is against piracy, but in the US the "fair use" exemption is used by millions of original content creators and enjoyed by hundreds of millions of people on the interwebs.