Avoiding Responsibility

One of the cornerstones of a democratic system is transparency. We elect our officials to make decisions on our behalf, putting out faith in them that they will protect our interests and do right by us. And to make sure that they are keeping that faith, everything they do becomes part of the public record and we can check up on it, read the documents and ask serious questions. That's what transparency is for.

So it's concerning when Australian politicians start doing things behind closed doors. There is immediately the suspicion that whatever they are doing, it isn't in my best interests. Then the question is, whose best interests are they concerned about.

Most of you will probably have never heard of ACTA. It is a treaty being negotiated between Australia, USA, Canada, EU, Japan and other nations regarding the enforcement of Intellectual Property rights. Pretty dull huh. Why would you want to know anything about it?

Two reasons:

1) the negotiations are being held in secret (well, being kept away from the public anyway)

2) if you own a computer with an Internet connection, it will probably effect you.

To the first point: why are the only people being invited to these negotiations either the people who will push the laws through parliament, and companies with very sizeable vested interests in strong enforcement of Intellectual Property rights (eg pharmaceutical companies, record companies, luxury goods manufacturers)? What makes them so special that they get to know whats going on and we don't? I mean, they are our fucking politicians, not the drug companies? (A bit naieve I know, but I'm trying not to be cynical here).

To the second point: let's say you copy a CD to your iPod. You think this is fine. You've bought the CD, you've rewarded the artist, you should be able to listen to it on your iPod without having to buy another copy. Seems fair.

Except that that isn't how most of the music industry sees it. Oh they aren't going to come into your house and raid your computer (unless you've downloaded the songs without paying for them). But lets say you decide to take a well-earned holiday to Bali. You take your iPod with you to listen to on the plane. You return to Sydney relaxed and tanned. The customs officer then looks at your iPod and says 'Can you prove that you have a licence for every song on your iPod?' You stare at them blankly, whilst they begin writing our a summary fine of say $500, just in case you have actually infringed copyright. Oh you can contest the fine - enjoy spending $5,000 going to court to argue the matter.

This is not fantasy - this is the type of shit we are talking about with this treaty. Get educated about it, and see what your government is doing behind closed doors. Otherwise it's likely going to cost you. A lot!

See here:

http://www.michaelgeist.ca/content/view/3660/125/
http://www.keionline.org/blogs/2009/02/03/details-emerge-of-secret-acta/