We need to talk about the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement.

roxanneritchi:

ACTA is dangerous and devastating legislation essentially proposed and funded by corporations that can and will end the internet as many of us know it as well as limit or even outright ban generic medications and severely hinder agricultural development and the helpfulness of such all in the name of money. While it is being described as the European SOPA/PIPA, the reality is that it is a global effort. The United States of America, Japan, Australia, and many other countries have committed to or are in negotiations to commit to this trade act. ACTA has been under closed door discussion since 2007; it has received little to no media coverage and most of that only within the last year. This isn’t about preventing counterfeiting. This is about giving corporations greater power at the expense of the voices and lives of everyone else; it is the prioritization of money over human beings.

As of October 2011, eight nations have signed ACTA: the USA, Australia, Canada, Japan, Morocco, New Zealand, Singapore, and South Korea; at that time, the European Union, Mexico, and Switzerland had not signed but had promised to do so ASAP. The agreement is open for signature until March 2013, which means additional countries may commit to it. If you live in the USA and you’re rejoicing at the (temporary) disarmament of SOPA and PIPA, know that if ACTA goes into effect, it doesn’t and won’t matter if SOPA and PIPA died. ACTA is far more dangerous, and it is on the cusp of happening.

Information:

• Here is a Youtube video which briefly summarizes the threat posed by ACTA.
• The Electronic Frontier Foundation has a fairly comprehensive overview of ACTA.
• The Wikipedia article has a more comprehensive overview with additional links.

Protest:

• At least one USAmerican on-line petition exists; please do sign it if you’re able.
• This petition for the UK goes directly to Parliament; again, if you are able, please sign it.
• If you live in one of the eleven countries that have committed to or expressed intent to commit to ACTA, and if you are able, please contact whatever political representatives you have and/or signal boost the issue. If you live in a country that has not committed or expressed intent to commit, and if you are able, please voice concerns to your representatives as well.

If you know of additional efforts to combat ACTA, please let me know that I might add them to this post.