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anyone heard of ACTA. this is a must read!

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    #1

    anyone heard of ACTA. this is a must read!

    Excerpt:
    The name of the “Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement” – ACTA – is indicative of the overall approach being taken. First, this is a trade agreement, which means that it by-passes many of the more open processes for drawing up international agreements. This has allowed it to be discussed in secret, amongst a cosy club of interested parties and their chums – notably, those in industries based on exploiting intellectual monopolies.

    It makes it more difficult to distribute free software: Without file sharing and P2P technologies like BitTorrent, distributing large amounts of free software becomes much harder, and more expensive. BitTorrent is a grassroots protocol that allows everyone to contribute to legally distributing free software.
    It will make it harder for users of free operating systems to play media: Consumers will no longer be able to buy media without DRM -- and DRMed media cannot be played with free software.
    https://www.fsf.org/campaigns/acta
    https://secure.eff.org/site/Advocacy...rAction&id=383
    http://www.linuxjournal.com/content/...ust-react-acta
    I tried Enlightenment once, it was pretty cool.
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    #2
    Re: anyone heard of ACTA. this is a must read!

    Wow -- Thanks bootdoc! Looks like it's time for a letter to my senator and representative!

    EDIT: I hadn't realized how easy it is! I just dashed off the same message (using parts of the FSF objections) to my senator (Sherrod Brown) and my congressman (Mike Turner). I encourage my fellow Americans to do likewise.

    Messages to U.S. Senators can be sent here:

    http://www.senate.gov/general/contac...nators_cfm.cfm

    Representatives can be contacted via their websites, listed here:

    http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW.shtml
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      #3
      Re: anyone heard of ACTA. this is a must read!

      Letters sent!!
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        #4
        Re: anyone heard of ACTA. this is a must read!

        I've contacted my Senators as well!
        Windows no longer obstructs my view.
        Using Kubuntu Linux since March 23, 2007.
        "It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data." - Sherlock Holmes​
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          #5
          Re: anyone heard of ACTA. this is a must read!

          Letters sent! Note: If you use the EFF link to send your letters, they only go to your Senators and not to your representative. So you have to make a copy and manually send it to your Representative. BTW, this letter writing campaign should not be limited to us Yanks. Canadians, Mexicans, Europeans (even the Swiss), Australians, New Zealanders, Japanese, and Koreans will be affected as well.

          Note: As I write this, I'm listening to an Internet Radio Station which, I assume, would be forced off the air by this agreement.
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            #6
            Re: anyone heard of ACTA. this is a must read!

            Originally posted by askrieger

            BTW, this letter writing campaign should not be limited to us Yanks. Canadians, Mexicans, Europeans (even the Swiss), Australians, New Zealanders, Japanese, and Koreans will be affected as well.
            That's a great point, Al, thanks! Wherever you are in the world, if you think the U.S. should NOT be a party to the ACTA agreement, you can certainly send your message of objection to the U.S. senators and congressman, and their staff folk will read and (hopefully) become aware of the views of everyone who writes with an opinion on this subject.

            Thanks!
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              #7
              Re: anyone heard of ACTA. this is a must read!

              I've seen several articles in the online press about this. Even the media is concerned about the secretive nature of this.

              Letters sent.


              Tweak it 'til it breaks, then learn how to fix it!  LIFE
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                #8
                Re: anyone heard of ACTA. this is a must read!

                I got replies back from my two Senators today! One was an auto-generated reply, but it does say that a letter is to follow. The other Senator's reply was specific (I'm sure written by an aide) to the issue.

                Cool.
                Windows no longer obstructs my view.
                Using Kubuntu Linux since March 23, 2007.
                "It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data." - Sherlock Holmes​
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                  #9
                  Re: anyone heard of ACTA. this is a must read!

                  Originally posted by Snowhog
                  The other Senator's reply was specific (I'm sure written by an aide) to the issue.
                  Could you share that with us?
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                    #10
                    Re: anyone heard of ACTA. this is a must read!

                    Code:
                    Dear Paul:



Thank you for contacting me about international trade relations,
including the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA).



Twenty-nine countries, including the United States, have shown interest
in negotiating a trade agreement to promote international cooperation
with previous world trade agreements and develop a strong legal
framework for enforcement. 



      The ACTA remains a discussion piece between the countries
involved. Should an agreement to strengthen international trade policies
come to the Senate for discussion, I will remember your comments. 




     With best wishes, 



                           Cordially,

  

                           TED STEVENS
                           U.S. Senator
                    Windows no longer obstructs my view.
                    Using Kubuntu Linux since March 23, 2007.
                    "It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data." - Sherlock Holmes​
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                      #11
                      Re: anyone heard of ACTA. this is a must read!

                      Thanks. I have only gotten an auto generated message from one of my senators, that they received the letter.
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                        #12
                        Re: anyone heard of ACTA. this is a must read!

                        Yeah, I got an automated acknowledgement from one of my senators, nada from the other senator or my congressman.

                        It was interesting to note that when I wrote Senator Voinovich, on the drop-down list of "issues" was "Internet Independence" -- didn't see that on any of the others. Maybe he's already heard about stuff like this -- one can hope!
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                          #13
                          Re: anyone heard of ACTA. this is a must read!

                          Hey look -- one of my senators (or his staff) seems to have a clue about this:


                          Dear Mr. dibl:

                          Thank you for contacting me about negotiations over a possible "Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement" (ACTA).

                          I have heard from many constituents expressing concerns about reports of trade negotiations designed to battle counterfeiting concerns. Many of these apprehensions stem from a lack of public information about the closed-door proceedings, as well as possible draft documents of ACTA that have appeared online. Many are concerned that, among other extreme measures, ACTA would allow officials to search and seize personal computers and other electronic devices, as well as intrusively monitor online activities.

                          While participating countries may be considering possible measures to combat counterfeiting, any implementation of an "Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement" must be approved by Congress.

                          I share your concerns regarding the right to privacy and protection against unreasonable search and seizure, and I agree that we must ensure that measures designed to combat counterfeiting do not overly infringe on our civil liberties. Should the Senate consider an "Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement," I will most certainly examine it closely to ensure it does not violate the Constitutional rights of American citizens.

                          I appreciate your advocacy on this issue. Thank you again for contacting me.

                          Sincerely,
                          Sherrod Brown=
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                            #14
                            Re: anyone heard of ACTA. this is a must read!

                            Well, this is bad news.

                            http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,393562,00.html
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                              #15
                              Re: anyone heard of ACTA. this is a must read!

                              Bad news? Sad new, yes.

                              I'm an Alaskan. Senator Stevens is my Senator. I'm an American. I believe in the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. In America, the accused is just that - accused. And until actually charged, arrested, brought to trial, and convicted by a jury of ones peers, the accused remains innocent of any and all charges.

                              The very worst thing that can happen, is to be pre-judged and convicted in the 'court of public opinion.'

                              Senator Stevens is innocent until proven guilty - period.
                              Windows no longer obstructs my view.
                              Using Kubuntu Linux since March 23, 2007.
                              "It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data." - Sherlock Holmes​
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