The US Trade Representative is asking for comments on US foreign trade policy. This means the American public may comment on The Anti Counterfeiting Trade Agreement or ACTA. This is the secret trade agreement that supposedly is about counterfeiting, but has many provisions that would effect the US public, such as voiding safe harbor provisions in US law, requiring border guards to search laptops for illegal software, & enforcing a three strikes policy on households without judicial review.
A direct link is here. Please remember to type '2010 Special 301 Review' in the comments field. As you may notice, the end of the comment period is just seven days away. I hope many folks here on Daily Kos submit comments.
Under the Special 301 process the U.S.T.R. seeks input from U.S. copyright, trademark, and patent owners about whether policies and practices in foreign countries deny them adequate IP protection. The process has generally been used by IP holders to complain not only about lax enforcement in other countries, but also about limitations and exceptions in their laws that are beneficial to libraries, to education, to innovation, and to the public interest generally. The ability to comment in the Special 301 process is not limited to IP owners only. Any member of the public is free to file comments. If you believe in the importance of balanced copyright policies, file comments with the USTR and make your voice heard.
Comments can be filed electronically via http://www.regulations.gov, docket number USTR-2010-0003. You have to include the term "2010 Special 301 Review" in the "Type Comment and Upload File" field. More information about the Special 301 process is available here. Deadline for filing is February 16 by 5 p.m.
Here are my comments:
I have several comments on the Anti Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, & the secrecy surrounding it.
All positions on ACTA to be advocated by the US trade representative should be released to Congress, posted on the White House website, & released to the media.
All consultations with businesses interested in ACTA should be released to Congress, posted on the White House website, & released to the media.
Americans will not support enforcement of a treaty they believe was formed in secrecy.
I also wonder how ACTA can really stop counterfeiting when the countries most identified with counterfeit products-Russia, China, India- are not part of the negotiations.
ACTA should not be used as a vehicle to change US law so that current safe harbor provisions are voided.
ACTA should not be used as a vehicle to force third-world countries to follow expensive mandates that benefit only first world corporations & businesses.
The Disney Company appears to have stolen the premise of the movie The Lion King from Osamu Tezuka's Kimba the White Lion. Would ACTA help bring Disney to justice?
ACTA should not be used to allow global DMCA, to allow border guards to search laptops & other electronics at borders, & to force ISPs to enforce three-strikes provisions on households.
I thank you for your time.
Thanks to Cory Doctorow of BoingBoing for posting this.