This presentation was given at the February MLUG meetup in Minsk. Slides in PDF and latex-beamer (including links to sources) are attached as comments to the Russian version of this message. Summary of the presentation:
SOPA, ACTA, TPP: Internet Archipelago
Problem?
- SOPA: extrajudicial killing of sites, de-facto ban on user-generated content
- ACTA: criminalization of copyright infringement, human rights erosion for the benefit of the big content
- TPP: further expansion of the “intellectual property” regime, restrictions on buffer copies
Taking issue with the procedure:
- Laws and agreements are written by Hollywood behind closed doors, while other affected parties, including the public, are informed after the fact
- “Intellectual property” policy is routed around “inconvenient” international organizations such as WIPO
- Trade agreements supplant law in violation of the principle of separation of powers (aka “policy laundering”)
Unseen War
1992. AHRA mandates digital audio copy protection, imposes a tax on blank media
1994. TRIPS makes copyright enforcement a condition of WTO membership
1997. NETA increases penalties for copyright infringement
1998. DMCA outlaws breaking DRM
2000. My.MP3.com is taken out
2001. Napster is taken out
2005. Grokster is taken out
2008. PRO-IP allows USA to take over domains of foreign sites
2010. Dajaz1.com blocked for a year “by mistake”
2011. USA demands that UK extradites Richard O’Dwyer even though his site TVShack did’t violate UK laws
2012. Megaupload is shuttered, BTJunkie gave up, The Pirate Bay admins lost the appeal and are going to jail
Alms for the Rich
| 2000 | 2010 |
|---|
| Studio album releases | 35000 | 75000 |
| Movie releases | 472 | 578 |
| 1998 | 2010 |
|---|
| USA GDP contrubution of big content | 0.4% | 0.4% |
