Did ACTA pass?

The short answer is No.

But that is not the same as saying they have given up.

First, I want to offer a word of thanks to the brave anonymous souls who took the risks necessary to leak the ACTA Texts throughout. It’s good to know there are some people left in some of our governments who continue to value democracy.

One of the chief sources of information and organization in the fight against ACTA has beenLa Quadrature Du Net whose latest word on the subject is: ACTA is No Done Deal

There is still no final agreement on the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, ACTA. Bei der, in the 11th Negotiating Session.”
Heise Online: ACTA negotiators to meet its target in Tokyo (via Google Translation)

Reuters: Countries reach tentative anti-counterfeiting pact

A “tentative anti-counterfeiting pact” is a far better outcome for the citizens of the world than a secret ACTA treaty signed and used as a battering ram to force the governments of the signatory countries to alter their domestic laws in order to comply with the wishes of corporate special interests.

(Make no mistake, ACTA would be just as bad for American citizens as any other.)

An excellent film that explains ACTA can be found at Stop ACTA – Stop the Kraken
(Ogg versions/transcript available via my personal blog)

The fact that ACTA did NOT go as planned probably means they will fight harder to achieve their goals in different ways. Canada is likely to get more “special treatment” since we’ve provided a hot bed of opposition. The fact that ACTA has not passed probably means that there will be an even stronger push to get the dreadful Bill C-32 passed.

In the meantime, American freedoms are under attack on their own home ground:

Debate Rages Over Proposed Website Filtering Legislation

MPAA asking if ACTA can be used to block sites like Wikileaks

A few more ACTA links:

• Although my concern is largely with copyright issues, the scope of ACTA is much more than this: Secret Trade Agreement Threatens Internet Freedom, Affordable Health Care and More
• Tokyo meeting agrees on anti-counterfeiting accord
• New Zealand: International accord on repressive policies
• Countries reach tentative anti-counterfeiting pact
• Swiss Authentication: Chinas Rise, United States, and Asia’s Angst + ACTA
• Another Line of Flight: ACTA Update – Japan meetings finished
• Extra Torrent: No UK MP Seen ACTA Text
• Message of Anonymous to ACTA Supporters
• Danger of international accord on repressive policies in final ACTA talks
• BytesStyleTV: New ACTA Leak Confirms Major Threat to Internet Freedom, Privacy
• Theft, a History of Music
• Robocopyright ACTA
• Acta: Game Over?
• Michael Geist recently set up a dedicated Acta Watch site.

For more information on ACTA I’ve also posted ACTA W5

Because it’s important for us all to know about it. Spread the word.