[x-pubpol] Brazil to debate 'anti-ACTA' bill, defying US

[Keith Davidson]

www.thinq.co.uk/2011/10/5/brazil-debate-anti-acta-bill-defying-us

Brazil to debate 'anti-ACTA' bill, defying US
Developing nations counter anti-piracy treaty

Brazil looks set to strike a blow against international anti-piracy 
treaty ACTA, with a bill under discussion in the country's parliament 
that sets out a civil rights-based framework for the internet.

The country has been the most outspoken among the BRICS group of 
emerging economies - including Russia, India, China and South Africa - 
to challenge the US-led Anti Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, none of 
them having been involved in its behind-closed-doors negotiation.

Criticised for protecting the vested interests of big business in the 
developed world, ACTA includes some fairly draconian provisions to 
rooting our infringements of copyright and patents - provisions that are 
directly called into question by the Brazilian legislation.

An English translation of the bill can be found here, but key provisions 
include protection of net neutrality and the privacy and personal data 
of individuals - directly contrary to the carte blanche given by ACTA 
for copyright holders to demand traffic logs from ISPs to identify 
alleged offenders.

The legislation also directly addresses the so-called "three strikes" 
rule advocated by ACTA, which sees internet users' connections 
terminated after three warnings for illegal downloading.