I guess this belongs here...

MasterShaper · **Joined:** Mon Sep 03, 2007 12:12 pm **Posts:** 154

I figured this information belongs here because it might affect fellow SWM players in one way or another, so...

I received an interesting email two days back:

Quote:

I have started a petition against the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, an international treaty which, if passed, will curtail the ability of everyone to share and enjoy Internet content, including fanfic, fanart, YouTube, fan sites, etc. Please sign my petition at:

http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/stopacta/

Also, please pass this message along to as many people as possible. If we work together, maybe we can stop this thing.

Save the Internet!: http://www.savetheinternet.com

And after reading this article on Wikipedia:

[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Counterfeiting_Trade_Agreement
[/url]

I'm wondering if they really are serious about this?

If yes, other sites like Bloomilk, Gamers, and many more look like they'll be shut down soon.

Just thought I'd bring this thing to the attention of others :/

MandaloreDaBeast · **Posted:** Tue Nov 17, 2009 8:59 am

in all honesty, a petition is only as good as the paper its written on.
to me, this seems like a stretch.

LoboStele · **Posted:** Tue Nov 17, 2009 1:22 pm

Let me see if I understand this correctly...

someone is trying to get a law passed that would make posting fanfic, fanart, etc. on the internet to be illegal?

If that's the case, there's no need for a petition. It'll never get passed anyways. That would be a violation of our Freedom of Speech rights, I think. Politicians waste so much time/money on stupid things.

Jedicartographer · **Posted:** Tue Nov 17, 2009 2:09 pm

Sorry masterShaper, this all seems a little silly to me. I'm sure this isn't legit.

MandaloreDaBeast · **Posted:** Tue Nov 17, 2009 2:16 pm

i wouldnt invest any stock in this what so ever.
to me, it sounds like someone who is peeved that their PUBLICIZED pictures were used in a way they didnt want used.

MasterShaper · **Joined:** Mon Sep 03, 2007 12:12 pm **Posts:** 154

It's not my petition, but I thought I'd just bring it to the attention of some others...

After all, it might be something that affects people on these boards if it actually gets passed, so figured you guys deserve to know about this kind of thing

Plus, it's not just the US. Several dudes seem to be working on this LOL

The secrecy surrounding the negotiations is sounding quite ridiculous, though.

Eroschilles · **Posted:** Thu Nov 19, 2009 2:44 pm

I've heard of the ACTA, and as I recall it's mostly concerned with physical counterfeiting. But it is also concerned with violations of IPRs, which might be stretched to cover rights violated over the internet. Though I doubt that portion of the negotiations will get very far because implementing the enforcement of that portion of the agreement would be too difficult. So, I don't think in the long run it will affect fansites like Gamers.

I guess this belongs here...

Who is online