Internet NZ weighs in on secret copyright negotiations

by Earl Mardle on 15 December 2009

In its December newsletter (pdf file), Internet NZ is alarmed by media stories indicating a change in direction in the latest round of Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) negotiations.

The ACTA negotiating round was held in Korea in early November, and has reportedly shifted focus to deal with non-commercial infringement of copyright material by ordinary citizens, and arguing for termination of people's Internet accounts.

"If correct, this is cause for alarm and shows a significant change in ACTA's focus,” says InternetNZ Policy Director Jordan Carter.
"Instead of focusing on customs procedures and stopping large scale commercial piracy, it seems the negotiations are turning to areas that should be out of bounds.

"Because the ACTA process is secret, none of us can know the precise details of what is being discussed.

If you would like to know more about this issue, a group of people representing InternetNZ, the New Zealand Open Source Society, ISPANZ, the Creative Freedom Foundation NZ, and Tech Liberty NZ have banded together to provide information about ACTA and its potential impacts in New Zealand, and have created a website at www.acta.net.nz.

The Group’s intent is to call for transparency in ACTA negotiations, and to ensure New Zealand makes clear and considered decisions, as entering into this treaty without due public consultation could damage New Zealand's economic prospects, the civil rights of citizens, and businesses that support and rely on the Internet.

The most unsettling part of this prcess is that, a significant part of the future of most open, transparent medium in history is being decided behind closed doors. While leaks are never the best way to deal with these issues, when they are all that we are offered, we have to treat them seriously.

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