by tomorrow, mostly all of you will be breaking the law.

[Kollega]

If you ask me, the end is nigh. Because if the Internet goes under, the consequences will be far-reaching and disasterous. If, metaphorically speaking, the governments want to shoot themselves in the foot because they hope to get the insurance money, let them. It's going to suck either way.

Good thing for me that my country has nothing to do with it... but ultimately it dosen't matter, as all of my friends would be affected.

 

[Kair]

200 years ago it was illegal for a man with dark skin to look a man with white skin in the eyes.

 

[Cynical skeptic]

This definitely sounds like one of those things that could never happen.

Safe to say thats what they want everyone to think.

You have to realize this is mostly the work of multinational corporations hiring armies of lobbyists to practically drown thousands of officials in grease. Its possible it will pass, its possible it wont. But apathy only helps its pass.

I'd imagine it'll be a bit of a non issue. Mainly because the act, in its current wording, is almost totally unenforceable. By doing this, they'd force ISP's to shut down the accounts of at least 70% of Western internet users, which is just insane. There's no way America and other western nations, stalwarts of the free market as they are, would risk causing such a huge cash leak in the internet industry.

Now, I'm not saying don't be worried, or don't fight it, but I doubt this is the foretold end of the internet, just based on how deranged anyone would have to be to actually fully enforce it.

Remember that "net neutrality" business? This is plan C. The treaty is worded to place full control of the internet in the hands of a small group of large corporations. All content providers would have to individually authorize their material for distribution with each ISP. Since the lines of communication with these entities are already extremely narrow, and the ISPs will hold all the cards, you'll essentially have to pay them for access to their networks.

This is exactly what the cable companies want. Instead of being forced to provide all content, they get to choose which content they provide and get paid by the content's creators to provide it. They want to create a bastard child between the internet and cable television.

 

[PessimistOwl]

It's a treaty... it's not law. So once people figure out exactly what it means for them, the outcry will force the involved countries to break their part of it.

depends, I imagine that major corporations will instead buy the countries loyalty on this and, in turn, ensure that most countries stay with this

 

[TheYellowCellPhone]

Ah, *****, it's coming this soon? Crap. I've got a lot of deleting to do.

Hopefully our president overturns this act.

 

[SimuLord]

Love the foil-hat crowd, really. Since I don't pirate, file-share, or use P2P networks (except for their lawfully intended purpose, ie Skype), I'm not so worried about the Trilateral Commission or the Bilderberg Conference or ACTA bringing Hulkamania down on me.

 

[Timotei]

I don't think this will pass. But if it does, there will be MASSIVE protest rallies in every capital city in the world with access to internet. We'd probably see one of the biggest protest movements since the civil rights and Hippie rallies, all calling for the demise of this treaty. Soon politicians would have to be facing "Overturning ACTA" as a promise while campaigning if they even want a chance to be elected.

And what's to stop this from becoming bigger? Already this is violating many nations' civil rights, so what's to stop those enforcing ACTA from adding more amendments onto the treaty to give them more control over the web and public as a whole?

 

[KwaggaDan]

I don't think this will pass. But if it does, there will be MASSIVE protest rallies in every capital city in the world with access to internet. We'd probably see one of the biggest protest movements since the civil rights and Hippie rallies, all calling for the demise of this treaty.

And what's to stop this from becoming bigger? Already this is violating many nations' civil rights, so what's to stop those enforcing ACTA from adding more amendments onto the treaty to give them more control over the web and public as a whole?

Yeah, but didn't every PC gamer threaten the same after Ubisoft when DRM crazy... Not that protesting matters much anymore.

 

[Optimus Hagrid]

Is this happening in Britain? Or not?

Regardless, I am sageing it.

 

[GundamSentinel]

The method is flawed, the goal is flawed. Pirates contribute more to the entertainment industry than non-pirates. When will they realize?

 

[lacktheknack]

It's a treaty... it's not law. So once people figure out exactly what it means for them, the outcry will force the involved countries to break their part of it.

depends, I imagine that major corporations will instead buy the countries loyalty on this and, in turn, ensure that most countries stay with this

Major corporation's temporary good grace or your entire country screaming for your head, a quarter of them serious about it?

Not hard.

 

[PessimistOwl]

Love the foil-hat crowd, really. Since I don't pirate, file-share, or use P2P networks (except for their lawfully intended purpose, ie Skype), I'm not so worried about the Trilateral Commission or the Bilderberg Conference or ACTA bringing Hulkamania down on me.

Do you have a single copyrighted song, picture or video on your computer? Do you ever view videos on Youtube that have copyrighted music? If so, you'll be breaking the law. Still so sure it won't effect you?

I don't think this will pass. But if it does, there will be MASSIVE protest rallies in every capital city in the world with access to internet. We'd probably see one of the biggest protest movements since the civil rights and Hippie rallies, all calling for the demise of this treaty.

And what's to stop this from becoming bigger? Already this is violating many nations' civil rights, so what's to stop those enforcing ACTA from adding more amendments onto the treaty to give them more control over the web and public as a whole?

No there won't. It's all back room bullshit. Most people will never know. Besides, people don't protest anymore, they'll just riot.

hmmmmm riot works to though.... it's just more destructive...

 

[AndyFromMonday]

it won't be signed until late september and the odds of it passing are SO small. Microscopically small. Why? Because it effects too many people. It's just idiotic so it won't get out.

Giving that the ones enforcing this are major corporations and the head of states I'm fairly sure the chances are not "microscopical". If the people had a say in this, it wouldn't pass. Giving, however, that our voices are being silenced this will pass and no ammount of turmoil will get rid of it. ACTA is here to stay and there's nothing you or me can do apart from protest and we all know how protesting does jack shit.

 

[GundamSentinel]

The method is flawed, the goal is flawed. Pirates contribute more to the entertainment industry than non-pirates. When will they realize?

Is flawed your way of saying the first step to 1984?

In a way, though I doubt that will actually become reality.

 

[Shale_Dirk]

I don't think this will pass. But if it does, there will be MASSIVE protest rallies in every capital city in the world with access to internet. We'd probably see one of the biggest protest movements since the civil rights and Hippie rallies, all calling for the demise of this treaty.

And what's to stop this from becoming bigger? Already this is violating many nations' civil rights, so what's to stop those enforcing ACTA from adding more amendments onto the treaty to give them more control over the web and public as a whole?

No there won't. It's all back room bullshit. Most people will never know. Besides, people don't protest anymore, they'll just riot.

I hate this whole "Well, if it happens, there'll be hell to pay" mindset. Apathy allows more progressively controlling bills to pass through. The only reason this one sticks out is because its a larger jump than the normal progression of enforced control. When it passes, nobody will do anything. Like usual.