ACTA -- A Patriot Act For the Internet

ACTA -- A Patriot Act For the Internet: "This week 40 or so countries are meeting in South Korea to consider text for a new international agreement on the enforcement of intellectual property rights. It is called the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA). The term 'counterfeiting' is designed to demonize the agreement critics as friends of organized crime, much like the name of the Patriot Act seemed better than the 'Elimination of Civil Liberties Act.' It is really an agreement that addresses a wide range of intellectual property enforcement issues -- involving patents, copyrights, trademarks and other IPR. (Details here)

If you are a lowly member of the public, the text is secret. The names of persons who attend the meetings are secret. The titles of the documents are secret. If you represent a big firm or law firm -- pretty much any big firm it seems, the U.S. government will show you documents after you sign a non-disclosure agreement - curbing your right to speak out on the contents of the documents you see."