Woke up this morning, laying in bed was browsing Reddit on my phone and stumble upon this article (now removed) on /r/WorldNews.
http://wikileaks.org/tpp/
Like you, I've not got time to read through 90 pages of legal jargon so some folks were kind enough to share their interpretation:
More info: http://www.flushthetpp.org/
Original thread, removed from the frontpage of /r/worldnews: http://www.reddit.com/r/worldnews/comments/1qj6xd/
http://wikileaks.org/tpp/
Like you, I've not got time to read through 90 pages of legal jargon so some folks were kind enough to share their interpretation:
It means if you wanna do anything on the internet that could remotely be construed as a copyright infringment by an angry Warner Bros lawyer, and the surveillance state that is acting on their behalf, then you are gunna be reamed hard... to the extent that innovation and creativity will grind to a halt unless you have a team of lawyers on retainer.
Edit:
Here's a summary from an Australian perspective:
http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/trade-deal-could-be-bitter-medicine-20131113-2xh4p.html
And here's a few links and some earlier leaked elements for further reading on the broader TPP: http://pirateparty.org.au/wiki/Issues/TPP
This would threaten access to information, the Internet, and cultural works.
Similarly, lawmakers, politicians, and advocates from around the world have been challenging the legitimacy of this undemocratic trade agreement:
- Chilean Senators recently called for a public debate on TPP, requesting the President to provide “timely and accurate” information on the affects of the agreement on their country. They directly mention Chilean digital rights organization, ONG Derechos Digitales, and former Chilean TPP negotiator who spoke out against limits on access to knowledge and culture on the Internet.
- In New Zealand, a Parliamentary member is demanding answers from the Prime Minister about the secrecy of the agreement and how its provisions could undermine consumer protection laws.
- Canadian Member of Parliament Don Davies has called on the Prime Minister to give Parliamentary Member access to the TPP, especially in light of documents revealing how a small group of industry associations have had special access to Canada’s negotiating position.
- The Malaysian Cabinet released a statement saying that would not be bound by a fixed timeline on TPP, and called for more transparency in the process. Malaysian opposition leader, Anwar Ibrahim, also attacked the TPP.
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/06/26/stephen-harper-tpp-canada_n_3492531.html
- Journalists have been banned from a briefing about the TPP. http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/oct/30/trans-pacific-partnership-tpp-dfat
- Trans-Pacific Partnership: 11 Things Harper Doesn't Want To Reveal About Uber-Secretive Trade Pact
Lets see how this advances and progresses....What is in the draft and info about the TPP:
Trans Pacific Trade is a deal that is mostly not about trade. Of the 29 draft chapters, only 5 deal with traditional trade issues. Most would set rules on non-trade matters that affect our daily lives.
Who can see it in the US: Obama and selected team.
Limited access: Senate finance committee, Congress (both complain over how limited the access is)
Some worrisome information in the draft:
One of the laws stipulates that Every nation who signs this agreement agrees that any citizen who so much as provides documentation about copyrighted communications shall be under criminal penalty "even absent willful trademark counterfeiting or copyright or related rights piracy"
History on the document shows that Obama continues to veto including the following sentence which 10/12 countries want to include: "maintain a balance between the rights of intellectual property holders and the legitimate interests of users and the community".
It also allows companies to never have their drugs become generic worldwide granting endless monopoly and over pricing on drugs from life saving to mundane. The catch? Every 20 years they simply have to think of a new use for the drug.
History on the document shows Obama is pushing for all ISPs to be liable for any copyright violations users do on their network. Fortunately almost all the other nations oppose this.
Venezuela wants corporations to have the right to confiscate your computer for evidence, on mere suspicion. Lets hope this does not get added. "Judicial authorities shall have the authority [VN propose: , at the right holder's request,] to order [VN propose: as provisional measures] the seizure or other taking into custody of suspected infringing goods, materials and implements relevant to the infringement, and, at least for trademark counterfeiting, documentary evidence relevant to the infringement."
More info: http://www.flushthetpp.org/
Original thread, removed from the frontpage of /r/worldnews: http://www.reddit.com/r/worldnews/comments/1qj6xd/
