I read about this originally at: ACTA in Malta « Melaharts blogging adventures.
A strong protest against the new ACTA “Trade agreement” is gaining strength in Malta in a co ordinated effort to ensure that elected representatives in power take the opportunity to vote against a treaty that has been negotiated in private over the past three years.
Watch the short video on ACTA below to find out more:
To take action in Malta please use these links:
Protest against ACTA - https://www.facebook.com/events/372841852732565/
Malta Anti-ACTA group - http://www.facebook.com/groups/284478734946368/285495728178002/?notif_t=group_activity
Write to your MEP using the details at:
ACTA in Malta « Melaharts blogging adventures.
This is why I would take action now:
- There has been little public debate on this, most of the agreement has been created in secret. This means there is plenty of financial interest being wrapped up as something else “in the public good”. If it smells like a duck and quacks like a duck then you know it probably is a duck. The way this has been done smells like something to be avoided.
- The “police” for this new agreement are commercially orientated ISP (Internet Service Providers). That means the ISP’s will control what you find on the internet curbing your right to freedom of speech. Bad news – you want to have this level of control put on you?
Read a more in depth article from the EFF the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
In Malta the Malta Independent reports that
Malta was one of 22 EU members to sign the controversial Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement on Thursday, along with the EU itself – but the agreement will need the European Parliament’s approval to come into force.
Time for you to act to protect your personal freedom?
MrMusic
February 10, 2012
Hi There Philrichards,
Thanks you for your post, For those who don’t know, ACTA stands for the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement. It is a worldwide agreement to stop piracy.
I don’t think ACTA should be passed because of the major privacy violations it would bring. I think piracy is wrong to an certain extent, but I also think it can be justified in some cases.
I think pirating a song is acceptable if it is and will never be released in your area. If you can’t find it in a local store, on iTunes or on any online store in your area, then you should be allowed to pirate it. Importing the song would be worthless to the entertainment industry because almost all of the money goes straight to the import company and postal services. Same for movies.
I also believe that artists should get more money from albums then they do. Did you know that the artist get less then one or two cents for every dollar you spend on their music? The artist makes the songs, they should get more then that by right!
For me, software piracy is a little different. I believe in a try before you buy method. Video game distributors tend to cut out so much in a demo that it ends up looking nothing like the final product.
I’d like to be able to try the full thing before making the decision to buy it. Replay value is an important part of a video game. I’d like to be able to play a few levels of a new Mario game so I can tell if it’s good or not. If I like it, I’ll buy it.
ACTA will criminalize try before you buy, screw over artists even more and make it difficult to import.
It will make piracy into a felony.
It will hurt everyone.
My concerns with ACTA are the fact that ISPs will be forced to monitor everything you do. Places like YouTube and FanfictionDotNet will likely be shut down for copyright infringement.
An artist or ISP will be able to accuse of piracy and not need to back it up. Once they do this three times, you will be banned from the internet. You would be unable to fight this decision because you wouldn’t be able to take it to court.
A police officer will be able to search your computer without a warrant. Do you back up your CDs on your laptop? If you can’t prove you actually own them at any given time, you’re an instant felon. Do you use a no CD crack to avoid scratching your new copy of The Sims 3? You’re a felon if you don’t carry your disc around with you anyway to prove you really do own it.
I think making piracy a felony is just dumb. You can get put in prison with murderers and rapists because you downloaded that no CD crack to protect your Sims 3 disc.
The ISPs have to spy on you more then they already do and you have to pay for it.
Everything will be decided for you and you won’t be able to do anything about it.
For me, the consequences outweigh any benefit gained. I don’t think ACTA should be passed.
What about you?
Cheerio