Why fight against ACTA ?

french version here


What ACTA is ?
  ACTA => Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement.
The goal of the ACTA is to protect the intellectual property at an international level, to prevent theft or counterfeiting of products and brands.
Adopt an international legislation for copyrights.


What is Counterfeiting ?
  Counterfeiting is "a fraudulent imitation of something else".
In IT, copying a file is not an imitation ; the copied file is identical to the original. It is not stolen. The original is still present. This is a free sharing of information. The IT is not affected by counterfeiting. 


And the intellectual property ?
  The intellectual property must exist on the Internet. However, ACTA does not define it precisely. ACTA define the intellectual property as a trademark, or any idea or information that might be copyrighted, restricted or criminalized in the long term. And this on the Interner but also anywhere.


Where the trouble is ?
  The trouble is the application of ACTA. You can access a resource or knowledge by paying (example : a cooking class). You return home and share this knowledge with your family. Because they didn't pay access to the resource and it is you who gives them, you and your family are criminals in the eyes of ACTA. And in such situations, if you are suspected of sharing informations relating to copyrights, you'll not have access to such resources, fined and are likely to go to jail.


But in private, i risk nothing ! There is no ultimate monitoring !
  For the moment. However, ACTA plans it. ACTA plans to record and listen all your converstations, all those of your family. Matter of precaution. But if you have nothing else to hide, you don't need civil rights, de privacy or freedom, obviously.


Such a construction is impossible. Especially on the Internet !
  Really ? Trying to see how this is supposed to be set up.
The communication of your computer to the Internet is done via data packets in both directions (in and out of your computer). ACTA anticipate the ISPs (Internet Service Provides, the intermediary between you and the Internet) will be obliged to analyse every single data packet passing your computer, to search for copyrighted data. If such data are recorded in the sending or receipt of resources from your computer, your internet connection will be cut. You will also face prosecution.


All of this relates people who cheat on the Internet, I'm not involved with this !
  Are you really sure ? 
In fact, send a .mp3 file to a friend via instant messaging software, upload a video of a party where we can heard a copyrighted music, or quote a copyrighted newspaper in an e-mail, all of this will be considered as illegal, and you like a criminal. Especially since the copyrighted informations that you have used will be forwarded to their publishers, who can ask you to be fined or sentenced to jail. ISPs will have to check that no copyrighted content or link to copyrighted content can be found on their servers. This means the end of many websites we know (Youtube, Twitter, a part of Wikipedia...) and also the end of Internet as we know it.


This still make justice to the creators...
  Even no. They are equally losers and must meet the same rules. A copyrighted idea can no longer be extended, improved. Phrases may be copyrighted and subject to restrictions. This agreement only benefits the "Content's Mafia", (RIAA, MPAA...), business with an obsolete system that were threatened by the Internet.


Of course, all the techniques to circumvent the monitoring political of ACTA will be considered criminal and will be punished.



And with regard to Europe (because this agreement is international), ACTA is developed by people who where not elected. 


After the acceptance of such agreement, all information known as "embarrasing" will be deleted without notice. Any copyrighted information will also be deleted.
Maybe the suspension of you Twitter account, for posting a picture where we can see a piece of Coca-Cola label on the corner.


Above all...
  ACTA was supposed to go without citizens be aware. For three years this legislation is developed in great secrecy by 39 states, including the 27 of the European Union. The greatest silence was made and the original idea was to vote the agreement before the name of it have leaked. We can thank those who have done their job poorly, and those who did it well (small return on WikiLeaks), but this is not terminated.



What the consequences are ?


- Internet censorship
- restriction on freedom of expression
- the loss of net neutrality
- a total surveillance of all your online activities
- the loss of freedom and rectrictions of civil rights
- multiples sanctions, ranging from cutting off your connection to the prison.


Yet all of this, we get nothing beneficial. Neither us nor the authors of musics, film...


Do not forget that the Internet is the only space on earth where everyone is free and equal. That may not continue.


Get Informed. Get people arround informed. Take Action.


Finally, an article without sources have no value, even low-value links are better than nothing.
- first, very strong inspiration for this text.
- then, a little more detailed
- the ACTA's current state
- politicians : all bad ? all unhealthy ?
- regarding Kader Arif.
- the reaction : a petition in place. Sign here.