ACTA Passed, we failed.

[bakan]

snip

I'll regret this but... please explain to me how this treaty could kill people.

A big fear is that pharmaceutics get too expensive, as a lot of them are counterfeits - take them away and humans will die.

You are in support of counterfeit drugs? Sorry, sounds dangerous and life threatening to me. I'd rather they be off the market and I bet that would just as likely save some lives.

I am not supporting illegals which use dubious vehicles and stuff.
I should have used the correct term.

I meant generic drugs, which don't count as counterfeit, but lets be honest, they are counterfeit products.

Without generic drugs certain pharmaceutics will be unaffordable.

 

[Irridium]

When will the "bill x IS SO MUCH WORSE THAN bill y AND WILL DESTROY EVERYTHING WE HAVE EVER HELD DEAR" stuff stop? It is getting rather annoying.

I'd say when we stop getting horrendous bills written by the entertainment industry to shore up their outdated business model. We need to go back to the copyright provisions that were actually in the constitution, not the BS that we're saddled with now because corporations with lots of copyrights (and therefore money) are good at bribing congress.

Which is why I'm trying to get the word out about this little proposed constitutional amendment [http://www.sanders.senate.gov/petition/?uid=f1c2660f-54b9-4193-86a4-ec2c39342c6c] which states that companies are NOT people and therefore do not get the same rights as people, are subject to regulation by the people, forbiding companies from making donations and/or expenditures during elections for candidates (no more buying candidates, something the MPAA head Dodd said happens), puts regulation on campaign spendings, and make all contributors to the candidates public so we can all see who's donating to who.

While it won't really stop them from introducing shitty legislation, at least with this they'll hopefully have a much harder time getting it through, since they can't more or less buy candidates with donations.

 

[Irridium]

Our intense overreaction to this string of bills is beginning to read like a Dragonball Z season --

"Here comes the biggest and worst enemy of all time!"
"You may have beaten me, but I'm not really the biggest and worst -- now he's coming, and you're in for it!"
"You think you've won, but only because this isn't my true form! Now I'm even bigger and badder!"

Eventually, you're going to overdose your audience, and they're not going to believe you. See also: boy who cried wolf.

And then when something really bad does come along, we'll all go "pfft, yeah right. That's what you said the last five times".

This is what the movie/music/TV industry has become (Oh no, Radio will kill us! Oh no, free cable channels will kill us! Oh no, VCR's will kill us! Oh no, DVR will kill us! Oh no, the internet will kill us!).

Do we really want to become like them?

The current version of ACTA is much, much weaker than what it was. And by itself, does nothing. All it does is let countries pass laws to enforce it. What people need to be vigilant for is how their respective nations do that. The treaty also states that it can not, and does not, make countries infringe on their respective civil liberties and rights in pursuance of the agreement. Now that doesn't mean countries won't try passing things that infringe on rights (as we've seen with SOPA/PIPA), which is why we'll need to be vigilant to make sure legislators don't try it.

I suggest people read this [http://www.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/or8ag/ive_read_the_final_version_of_acta_heres_what_you/]. Yeah, it's not really the best thing ever, but it is not the world-ender people are making it out to be. At least, not anymore.

Basically, we need to watch our government like hawks to make sure they don't try to abuse this stuff. Which we really should be doing anyway.

 

[PatrickXD]

I get the feeling that, seeing as the Obama administration refused to let SOPA go through because it was way to restricting on free speech and the like, that ACTA is not actually gonna do much. It feels more like a system to get the really bad countries for Piracy, like China, on board with anti piracy legislation similar to what we already have.
Obviously I'm no expert, but I doubt it's going to remotely scan every piece of tech with an internet connection for pirated content.

 

[Ronan Gallagher]

If Ireland signed it there would have been something said on the news, So no, I don't think Ireland has signed ACTA...

 

[IamLEAM1983]

Having looked at other sources for info on the agreement, I'm a little confused. So what ACTA does is enable stricter control over physical forms of piracy. Is that right? And that somehow includes pharmaceutical generics *and* can potentially extend to putting videos down by bringing up ACTA against them?

If that's the case, I understand that non-physical media won't be affected and that this agreement isn't applicable to electronic piracy. If I'm getting this right, then the big outcry about ACTA ruining the Internet is partially false. The only applicable part is potential infringement notices - as *somehow*, a trade agreement applies to the Web.

Am I getting this right?

 

[Sylveria]

IT'S NOT A BILL.

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD WILL YOU ALL PLEASE STOP CALLING IT A BILL.

A wise man one said: The internet makes you stupid.

Crawl out of the basement everypony and go outside and make some friends already. Engage these new friends in important topics of the day and save the internet for the only thing it has ever been good at, hilarious shit posts.

Yeah, nevermind the rapid expansion of international culture, rapid spread of the awareness of worldwide news and the incredible contribution to the arts that come with borderless spread of information, music, video and multimedia. And the huge boon of jobs in the creative industries. Or the amazing independent studios and projects that have cropped up only because information can be spread from country to country as easily as from mouth to mouth. The internet's just for lolcats and dumb people! It hasn't improved anybody's lives significantly at all! Radio and television too. What trite. We should all live in the forest and sing camp songs passed down through generations and consist off of mushrooms we pick ourselves and live life free of responsibility and connections to the world. Sounds good!

Yes and more yes. Lets not forget the amazing arrow the knee jokes, world wide furry awareness, pokemon fan fiction and the ability to beat off to porn within the comfort of our own homes. I mean that last one alone was simply earth shattering. I can protest all sorts of strange things I don't understand and couldn't be bothered with in real life. Sorry, I mean IRL. All thanks to the internet. + 1 internet praising meme to you!

Ya know what I really hate? Asians. I mean, sure, Asians have been responsible for many of the largest technological advancements in the past 40 years, including all those lil toys that make sites like this possible. But, they also had panties in vending machines, invented tentacle hentai, and helped spread communism. So because of those things they've done, all their good things are null and void.

Don't even get me started on white people.

 

[MPerce]

ACTA, to my understanding, is basically a formality between countries in the matter of combating piracy, and a pretty weak one at that. On its own, the treaty doesn't do anything. Any law that incorporates aspects of ACTA still has to pass through the country's legislature, and cannot infringe on said country's interpretation of freedom of speech and whatnot.
In other words: this isn't a big deal, just pay attention to what your government's doing.

 

[mega48man]

I'll be glad once we all get over this annoying (and slightly hypocrtical) "dah intahnet is ehn danger the gubbement is evil" phase and maybe move on to freaking out about something else. Like those aliens. Up to something, I tell ya.

suuure suuure, the whining and complaining is annoying now, but just you wait until they take your internet away. then YOU will be doing the whining and complaining!

 

[xvbones]

Until the whiners and "this is end of everything!!" whiners actually read the treaty, then I will firmly hold my belief that they're spewing unjustified hyperbole.

Do you want everyone to have free rights? I mean, beyond basic human rights; do you want copyright to be worthless? Do you want companies to not own anything? Enough is enough, of course, but without these things in place it would be anarchy. Do you WANT it to be anarchy??

These trade agreements exist for good reasons and will not impede on anyone's wellbeing or freedoms. They will only go so far as to punish those who are breaking international law. I would have thought that's a good thing. I guess people will just assume "PIPA/SOPA" being followed by this, that it's some kind of trend. It's not. ...it's really not.

ACTA basically just breaks down borders and allows international copyright and such to be truly universal. It is not censorship of the internet. It is not the end of free or fair trade. It is not SOPA. You are all blowing this waaay out of proportion. The worst part of ACTA is that it was formed behind the public's backs, but since it does so little to actually affect the public, I dunno why that's an issue. I'm sure traffic laws were formed behind our backs too. We don't complain about that, though.

Edit: why does everyone keep calling this a bill? It is a TRADE AGREEMENT. It's not being signed into legislative law. You guys are uneducated morons who'll jump at anything, are you? That's... that's disheartening. I thought we'd see some actual critical thinking being done here.

I hope you get your money's worth out of the MPAA for that. :\

Jesus fucking Christ, son, you are actually accusing him of being paid off because he does not feel ACTA is the end of the world?

He does not agree with you and fall into perfect lockstep with your wild and unfocused, thoroughly unresearched and sadly fucking ignorant hyperbole, therefore he is a shill for the MPAA?

Really?

Really?

Here, let's play a game.

Why don't you explain to me what you think ACTA is and does.

I am... fascinated to hear this. Riveted. On the edge of my fucking seat.

before you start typing, though, please keep in mind that I have actually read it. (have you?)

Proceed.

I'll be glad once we all get over this annoying (and slightly hypocrtical) "dah intahnet is ehn danger the gubbement is evil" phase and maybe move on to freaking out about something else. Like those aliens. Up to something, I tell ya.

suuure suuure, the whining and complaining is annoying now, but just you wait until they take your internet away. then YOU will be doing the whining and complaining!

You have absolutely no idea what ACTA is, do you.

Seriously, just admit you don't, because this right here is fucking embarrassing.

(ACTA != SOPA)

 

[Hunter15]

*insert every epic NO ever said from everywhere here*

 

[CrazyBlaze]

I may be wrong but isn't ACTA meant to create a world copyright agreement? Wasn't it made so that copyrights worked worldwide. Because I'm pretty sure that China and America's copyright laws are different. So someone in China could take a band's latest album and sell copies of it at a lower price or take a movie put it on some DVDs and sell them for low. So ACTA is meant to get everyone on the same page about foreign properties?

 

[TheVioletBandit]

Obama proves irreversibly and forever that he is a real piece of shit who just doesn't give a fuck and has SIGNED ACTA: http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2011/10/us-signs-international-anti-piracy-accord.ars

This just in, Syzygy23 proves irreversibly and forever that hyperbole is the only way to go, right away, about everything, forever.

Yes, assuredly, Obama signing a bill you don't agree with (or, possibly, understand) is proof that he is subhuman filth. There is no middle ground. He did something you (possibly) disagree with, therefore he does not give a fuck and is a real piece of shit.

Assuredly.

(you don't actually know what ACTA is or does, do you)

Obama signed into law the NDAA bill so he's definitely a piece of shit, also he's a POLITICIAN which is just a synonym for piece of shit. If you think he's you new best friend ever and that you need to rush to his add whenever he's criticized, wake up! the romance is over, he's just another pig in the white house. Democrats, republicans, both are just turds in a quickly flushing bole. Calling them a piece of shit isn't so much an insult as it is a sad fact.

Because hyperbole is the only way to discuss politics. Seriously, zero middle ground, it is absolutely necessary to leap straight to 'he is a piece of shit' every single time.

Oh and should anyone attempting to be a voice of reason dare to sound like they might possibly be defending said pieces of shit, the only logical response is to mock them.

Because reason is for suckers, I always say.

Nah, you're right. Wild, virulent hyperbole is the only way to go.

(Do I need to point out that you've misspelled words like 'aid', 'bowl' and 'your'? And that doing so sort of makes me take your wild hyperbole even less seriously? I don't really need to say that, right? That would just be tacky of me. Yeah.)

Ouch, someone really hates the word hyperbole, or loves it? Either way talking about my poor spelling cut me deep (Way to go straight for the throat "Mr. Voice of Reason"). I actually wasn't even mocking you in my last comment, I was simply disagreeing with you. Also, to imply that I think "reason is for suckers" because of the one comment I have made to you on the internet seems a little unreasonable, where is the "middle ground" you spoke of?

Now, In regards to my atrocious spelling habits lets conduct an experiment.

A. 2+2=4
B. two plus two equals four
C. tu plas tu ekwals four

Now although the spelling in sentence C is very poor(far worse in fact than my spelling errors)and is different than both A and B it's obvious correctness isn't negated by this fact. It is I think a type of shallowness and blind arrogance to completely disregard a statements meaning in light of its appearance. Readability I think is the single factor of any importance in regards to spelling, and although my spelling and grammar are far from perfect I believe it's still readable and doesn't warrant insult.

 

[Wintermoot]

Lol, dude, the treaty is about HARDWARE PIRACY, like DVD-bootlegging. This isn't SOPA. The internet will be fine.

Edit: Actually, it seems to cover software as well, but not in any way that wasn't already enforced. What's the big deal?

ACTA checks what kind of data goes to and from your PC even if you don,t do anything illegal it,s still a scary thought other people know what you are doing on the net

 

[latiasracer]

Lol, dude, the treaty is about HARDWARE PIRACY, like DVD-bootlegging. This isn't SOPA. The internet will be fine.

Edit: Actually, it seems to cover software as well, but not in any way that wasn't already enforced. What's the big deal?

ACTA checks what kind of data goes to and from your PC even if you don,t do anything illegal it,s still a scary thought other people know what you are doing on the net

Doesn't EA Do that anyway?

Eh, Doesn't bother me.

As my freinds say i have "More money than sense" because i pay for all my stuff legally. So they aint got nothing on me yo'


....Right?

 

[direkiller]

Uh, ACTA was signed internationally by the United States, Canada, Morocco, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, and South Korea with strong support from the European Union, Mexico, and Switzerland. Congress didn't get a say, and it's not America's law, it's been in the making for years now and has support from the worlds leading powers. In all honesty, unless you think that some of the leading democracies in the world are against you, you shouldn't be too worried.

Yes it is law
its in the Constitution
"This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding."

 

[xvbones]

Ouch, someone really hates the word hyperbole, or loves it?

hy·per·bo·le   [hahy-pur-buh-lee]
1.obvious and intentional exaggeration.
2.an extravagant statement or figure of speech not intended to be taken literally, as ?to wait an eternity.?

I am calling you lazy for using nothing but hyperbole in your comments.

I am pointing at your statements and asking you where your actual content is, because all i see is wild, obvious and intentional exaggeration with no context or frame of reference.

I'm not even seeing opinions in your comments, just hyperbole.

The opposite of content.

I actually wasn't even mocking you in my last comment, I was simply disagreeing with you.

The comment in question was:

"If you think he's you new best friend ever and that you need to rush to his add whenever he's criticized, wake up! the romance is over, he's just another pig in the white house."

And your position is that this wasn't mockery, but disagreement.

Really.

Also, to imply that I think "reason is for suckers" because of the one comment I have made to you on the internet seems a little unreasonable, where is the "middle ground" you spoke of?

The comment in question was:

Democrats, republicans, both are just turds in a quickly flushing bole. Calling them a piece of shit isn't so much an insult as it is a sad fact.

I stand by everything I said to you.

Every word.

Readability I think is the single factor of any importance in regards to spelling, and although my spelling and grammar are far from perfect I believe it's still readable and doesn't warrant insult.

We are and will always be judged by how we present ourselves.

When you present yourself, on a pure text medium, with poor spelling and grammar, it is your own fault for how you are judged.