ACTA Passed, we failed.

[Generalissimo]

well, frack. it appears the first steps to an actual potental world war 3 are happening. why? because the goverments and large corporation are ganging up on us. the corps are using the govs as a tool to get to us, and if it happens once too many times. i promise you, there will be blood.

and lots of it.

 

[Versuvius]

Actually it doesn't seem too bad. http://ec.europa.eu/trade/creating-opportunities/trade-topics/intellectual-property/anti-counterfeiting/

As in no new legislation is being put in, hardware isn't monitored, sites wont be siezed etc. All it allows is counterfeiting to be persued and prosecuted, because bootlegging in the EU is still quite a big thing. It isn't as bad.

 

[Andy of Comix Inc]

Until the whiners and "this is end of everything!!" whiners actually read the treaty, then I will firmly hold my belief that they're spewing unjustified hyperbole.

Do you want everyone to have free rights? I mean, beyond basic human rights; do you want copyright to be worthless? Do you want companies to not own anything? Enough is enough, of course, but without these things in place it would be anarchy. Do you WANT it to be anarchy??

These trade agreements exist for good reasons and will not impede on anyone's wellbeing or freedoms. They will only go so far as to punish those who are breaking international law. I would have thought that's a good thing. I guess people will just assume "PIPA/SOPA" being followed by this, that it's some kind of trend. It's not. ...it's really not.

ACTA basically just breaks down borders and allows international copyright and such to be truly universal. It is not censorship of the internet. It is not the end of free or fair trade. It is not SOPA. You are all blowing this waaay out of proportion. The worst part of ACTA is that it was formed behind the public's backs, but since it does so little to actually affect the public, I dunno why that's an issue. I'm sure traffic laws were formed behind our backs too. We don't complain about that, though.

Edit: why does everyone keep calling this a bill? It is a TRADE AGREEMENT. It's not being signed into legislative law. You guys are uneducated morons who'll jump at anything, are you? That's... that's disheartening. I thought we'd see some actual critical thinking being done here.

 

[teebeeohh]

When will the "bill x IS SO MUCH WORSE THAN bill y AND WILL DESTROY EVERYTHING WE HAVE EVER HELD DEAR" stuff stop? It is getting rather annoying.

... well I assume it will stop when we finally decide to stop proposing bills that will destroy everything we have ever held dear >.>

So basically everyone used to handwrite everything, and then the printing press was invented and it changed the whole world. Suppose, then, that some stupid handwritten publishing firm comes along and goes "gasp! These newfangled printing presses will make it easy for people to copy our books without any effort and they won't have to pay us anymore for taking the time to handwrite them and we'll lose a shitton of money!" So he gets a law in place that bans the printing of books. Next thing you know it's the year 2012, and we're all still a bunch of catholic assholes in the dark ages who don't know anything because everyone teaches us shit in a language none of us understand, and we think that's okay because we're stupid like that because we never learned to read because the damn printing press was banned. And then we all die of black plague when we're 12 anyway so it's not like it matters.

Yes, that is one hell of a slippery slope, but it gets the point across: The reason people make such a big fucking deal out of these things is verily because these things are a big fucking deal.

if i remember correctly there were bishops who opposed the printing press because it removed their monopoly on books(because no-one but monks had the time and patience to copy books by hand). When Luther came around some Catholics were like SEE WHAT THE PRESS DID TO US? THEY ARE THINKING.
then again, the church also tried to ban the crossbow because it allowed anyone who had a few hours of training to kill a knight who was wearing a small fortune in armor and arms and had spend his whole life training

 

[Blacktooth]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzS5rSvZXe8 perhaps this will convince those who are "apathetic." What people don't seem to understand is that much of the piracy is in fact supported and distributed by media companies themselves. Yet they are never held responsible for their own actions. Companies like CBS are some of the biggest hypocrites I have ever seen in a long time.

 

[Andy of Comix Inc]

Here's a fantastic post on reddit that should clear up what ACTA actually does and how it'll affect you. Apply critical thinking and you're educated.

http://www.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/or8ag/ive_read_the_final_version_of_acta_heres_what_you/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzS5rSvZXe8 perhaps this will convince those who are "apathetic." What people don't seem to understand is that much of the piracy is in fact supported and distributed by media companies themselves. Yet they are never held responsible for their own actions. Companies like CBS are some of the biggest hypocrites I have ever seen in a long time.

I hope you haven't been getting all your information from a Youtube video, made up your mind, then found other people who reaffirm that opinion (likely others who have seen the video) and taken that it's fact. Do try to look at both sides of the debate, will you? Jumping to conclusions based on half the story is... well it's not exactly smart.

And if you found out about this via Youtube and made your mind up on the spot then I beg you to stop doing that.

 

[gigastar]

Some of us, you lot apparently aren't in this group, care about our rights and don't want to give them up just because big business wants more control. If forcing Congress to listen to the fucking citizenry for once in it's useless existence insults you, tough fucking shit.

Sorry, not everyone on the internet is a techmonkey nor do they want an R4 device for thier 3DS.

As far as i understand it ACTA covers only hardware, and the trading thereof. Which is fine by me as long as the hardware that i buy works. Its not messing with consumer rights to be a techmonkey, or his right to biuld rube goldbergs, or whatever it is you do with hardware you get your hands on.

Dont whinge yourself out on the internet just because you cant face a world where you cant get a cheaper alternative that probably doesnt work and is still inferior to the real thing.

 

[Harla]

For the record: things that ACTA allows and supports include, as part of their copyright infringment provisions, a near abolishment of the principals of fair-use.... not mandatory, of course, but it allows it, and facillitates it. If read int he spirit in which it is intended ot eb red, then ACTA is a good thing, and seems fine... but read it carefully and think about what it's actually allowing to be done, and you find the real problems.

Want to put up a Let's-Play on youtube? Someone Citing ACTA could have it taken down.
Want to to make a fan-vid tribute using songs and footage from your favourite subject/game/actor/character? Again, by ACTA, it can be counted as infringement and removed.
Want to publish a fan-fiction that you wrote on a fan-fiction or shrine site? ACTA has the power to deny that as well.

Worse, it's still in the form of Take Down Now, -maybe- ask questiosn and listen to appeals later... which is unfair to individual people.

WILL these things all defintiely happen and be enforced globally against individuals? Likely not... However, they CAN, and if they -are-, there's nothing any individual can do about it. That is the real problem, and the real injustice.

P.S.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Counterfeiting_Trade_Agreement

Have a read, and while there you can find some more comprehensive links to more detailed texts. If it is enacted, then we really do have a lot to be concerned about.

 

[Ipsen]

Really, as much as the OP seems like a fool for being tired of all the threats to our rights as internet users, I can empathize.

Since the Escapist does not seem to want to put up all of them, I'll ask this out of my position of ignorance.

Are there any OTHER bills that are cropping up (besides SOPA, PIPA, an ACTA) that infringe on internet rights recently?

 

[Versuvius]

Don't get me wrong. PIPA, SOPA were terrible, horrendous things but all said and done, this seems not as extreme as no new legislation is passed. Within the EU human rights are enshrined in law, anything that could infringe on privacy or rights (The 'internet is a human rights' thing is still going) and i don't see the wishy washy EU leaders face-heel turning, especially with the netherlands protesting, shouting at EA over Origin being obtrusive and violating privacy laws, germany joining in the last one. Perhaps the US having signed it will be able to abuse it, but within the EU i think we are for the most part, safe. Unless we run a large bootlegging operation anyway.

 

[TorqueConverter]

A wise man one said: The internet makes you stupid.

Crawl out of the basement everypony and go outside and make some friends already. Engage these new friends in important topics of the day and save the internet for the only thing it has ever been good at, hilarious shit posts.

 

[Keava]

Huh... the US and Canada signed ACTA several months ago.

*looks around*

Guess all this freakout over anti-piracy legislation WAS the overreaction I knew it to be. The Internet is safe guys, you can come out of your bunkers and stop behaving like children now!

Things like SOPA and ACTA threaten one thing. Theft.

That is all they target. That is all they have ever targeted. And that is all they will target. When these bills (or similar ones) get passed, they will not have the destructive impact on the internet that you guys think they do.

It's not squashing freedom of speech to say "No, you can't have my game/movie/book/song for free! Pay up, you fucking mooch!"

No. Not really. Signing a treaty like ACTA does not put in in effect from the moment it's signed. The whole signing process is pretty much only "good will" act, and only later it has to go through usual legislation process in each country involved (in case of EU it not only has to go through each of the member countries parliament but also through EU parliament).

Among worse things ACTA does is:
Forcing ISPs to track all Your internet activity and search all Your sent/received data packets for copyrighted material that You might have sent - which means all Your private conversation are now being monitored by someone. Maybe You enjoy being spied on - I do not.

It creates legal barriers for distribution of generic drugs and plant seeds, meaning suddenly charity organizations that focus on helping poor regions of the world will have a lot more trouble doing their work.

Any sort of innovation that bases on previous, patented/copyrighted work might be blocked thanks to ACTA by the patent holder. You want to improve a new medicine, piece of technology, etc? Tough luck if the corporation that holds the right to original decides that Your work might make em less money.

None of the non-government organizations, including human-right organizations were allowed to take part in creation of ACTA. If not the leak from 2010 we wouldn't even be able to read the thing before it goes into effect. That's not how law is supposed to be created. Maybe You are ignorant and do not care what Your government does, because, after all it does not effect You, but let me tell You a story

First they came for the communists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didn't speak out because I was Protestant.

Then they came for me
and there was no one left to speak out for me.

 

[Andy of Comix Inc]

IT'S NOT A BILL.

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD WILL YOU ALL PLEASE STOP CALLING IT A BILL.

A wise man one said: The internet makes you stupid.

Crawl out of the basement everypony and go outside and make some friends already. Engage these new friends in important topics of the day and save the internet for the only thing it has ever been good at, hilarious shit posts.

Yeah, nevermind the rapid expansion of international culture, rapid spread of the awareness of worldwide news and the incredible contribution to the arts that come with borderless spread of information, music, video and multimedia. And the huge boon of jobs in the creative industries. Or the amazing independent studios and projects that have cropped up only because information can be spread from country to country as easily as from mouth to mouth. The internet's just for lolcats and dumb people! It hasn't improved anybody's lives significantly at all! Radio and television too. What trite. We should all live in the forest and sing camp songs passed down through generations and consist off of mushrooms we pick ourselves and live life free of responsibility and connections to the world. Sounds good!

 

[Bobbity]

Shut up, SHUT UP, SHUT UP!

ACTA isn't all that bad. Despite the relative secrecy in which it was originally drafted, it's become more and more reasonable over time, with the more draconian aspects having all been already removed.

Secondly, unlike SOPA and PIPA, it does not take Orwellian steps to censor the internet, or take away our freedoms - it has no real purpose other than to stop piracy, a perfectly legitimate goal.

It doesn't even enact legislation on its own, so if you want something to fight over, then fight the legislation itself, when it comes.

 

[SamuelT]

I find myself wondering what will happen once a machine is made that can literally make food. It will be lauded as the greatest thing that ever happened until 'food-piracy' drowns out producers of food everywhere, and they will demand it be banned because they can't make a living anyway. They'll probably be reprimanded and told that, if it doesn't fit your buisness model you just have to do better.

 

[Dandark]

So I heard about this horrible ACTA thing and was thinking it must be just like SOPA from how everyone was describing it. However it doesn't sound all that bad, plus if most of the democracies that are not as retarded as Americas goverment support it then I doubt it's too bad.

 

[Ekit]

What is ACTA?

 

[TorqueConverter]

IT'S NOT A BILL.

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD WILL YOU ALL PLEASE STOP CALLING IT A BILL.

A wise man one said: The internet makes you stupid.

Crawl out of the basement everypony and go outside and make some friends already. Engage these new friends in important topics of the day and save the internet for the only thing it has ever been good at, hilarious shit posts.

Yeah, nevermind the rapid expansion of international culture, rapid spread of the awareness of worldwide news and the incredible contribution to the arts that come with borderless spread of information, music, video and multimedia. And the huge boon of jobs in the creative industries. Or the amazing independent studios and projects that have cropped up only because information can be spread from country to country as easily as from mouth to mouth. The internet's just for lolcats and dumb people! It hasn't improved anybody's lives significantly at all! Radio and television too. What trite. We should all live in the forest and sing camp songs passed down through generations and consist off of mushrooms we pick ourselves and live life free of responsibility and connections to the world. Sounds good!

Yes and more yes. Lets not forget the amazing arrow the knee jokes, world wide furry awareness, pokemon fan fiction and the ability to beat off to porn within the comfort of our own homes. I mean that last one alone was simply earth shattering. I can protest all sorts of strange things I don't understand and couldn't be bothered with in real life. Sorry, I mean IRL. All thanks to the internet. + 1 internet praising meme to you!

 

[TheVioletBandit]

Obama proves irreversibly and forever that he is a real piece of shit who just doesn't give a fuck and has SIGNED ACTA: http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2011/10/us-signs-international-anti-piracy-accord.ars

This just in, Syzygy23 proves irreversibly and forever that hyperbole is the only way to go, right away, about everything, forever.

Yes, assuredly, Obama signing a bill you don't agree with (or, possibly, understand) is proof that he is subhuman filth. There is no middle ground. He did something you (possibly) disagree with, therefore he does not give a fuck and is a real piece of shit.

Assuredly.

(you don't actually know what ACTA is or does, do you)

Obama signed into law the NDAA bill so he's definitely a piece of shit, also he's a POLITICIAN which is just a synonym for piece of shit. If you think he's you new best friend ever and that you need to rush to his add whenever he's criticized, wake up! the romance is over, he's just another pig in the white house. Democrats, republicans, both are just turds in a quickly flushing bole. Calling them a piece of shit isn't so much an insult as it is a sad fact.

 

[wintercoat]

IT'S NOT A BILL.

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD WILL YOU ALL PLEASE STOP CALLING IT A BILL.

A wise man one said: The internet makes you stupid.

Crawl out of the basement everypony and go outside and make some friends already. Engage these new friends in important topics of the day and save the internet for the only thing it has ever been good at, hilarious shit posts.

Yeah, nevermind the rapid expansion of international culture, rapid spread of the awareness of worldwide news and the incredible contribution to the arts that come with borderless spread of information, music, video and multimedia. And the huge boon of jobs in the creative industries. Or the amazing independent studios and projects that have cropped up only because information can be spread from country to country as easily as from mouth to mouth. The internet's just for lolcats and dumb people! It hasn't improved anybody's lives significantly at all! Radio and television too. What trite. We should all live in the forest and sing camp songs passed down through generations and consist off of mushrooms we pick ourselves and live life free of responsibility and connections to the world. Sounds good!

Yes and more yes. Lets not forget the amazing arrow the knee jokes, world wide furry awareness, pokemon fan fiction and the ability to beat off to porn within the comfort of our own homes. I mean that last one alone was simply earth shattering. I can protest all sorts of strange things I don't understand and couldn't be bothered with in real life. Sorry, I mean IRL. All thanks to the internet. + 1 internet praising meme to you!

Because as we all know, everything should be judged by the worst examples.

Oh, and you forgot cat pictures and videos.