[x-pubpol] 'The Economist' And 'Financial Times' Already Writing Off ACTA As Dead

[Joly MacFie]

http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120210/11023517730/economist-financial-times-already-writing-off-acta-as-dead.shtml

Under the headline "ACTA up", The Economist says: "Protests across Europe
may kill an anti-piracy treaty <http://www.economist.com/node/21547235>",
and points out: "Internet activists used to be dismissed as a bunch of
hairy mouse-clickers with little clout. Not any more."

The Financial Times' headline is "Latest pact on internet piracy set to be
derailed<http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/a52f57ec-533d-11e1-aafd-00144feabdc0.html>",
and the post makes an explicit connection with SOPA and PIPA:**

*A controversial international trade agreement, which campaigners fear
would restrict internet freedom looks likely to be delayed or scrapped, the
latest in a string of measures planned to combat online piracy to falter in
the face of co-ordinated protests.*

It also offers some interesting thoughts on why the ACTA revolt has been so
strong in eastern Europe:*

The issue has stirred up deep passions there, where access to the internet
is seen as one of the rewards of belonging to a democratic society. Illegal
downloading is also popular, in part because those societies are poorer
than those in western Europe, and in part because many content providers
have made it difficult for central Europeans to buy music and films legally
online.

*Finally, it has a fascinating comment from David Martin, the new European
Parliament rapporteur on
ACTA<http://www.socialistsanddemocrats.eu/gpes/public/detail.htm?id=136643&section=NER&category=NEWS&startpos=0&topicid=-1&request_locale=EN>,
who took over after Kader Arif
resigned<http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120126/11014317553/european-parliament-official-charge-acta-quits-denounces-masquerade-behind-acta.shtml>
in
protest at the way ACTA had been negotiated. Martin says he wants to
"canvas views broadly", and to get an opinion from the European Court of
Justice on whether ACTA is compatible with the European Union's current
laws. As result of this approach, he says:*

"Realistically, if we go down this route we are looking at a vote in the
spring of 2013," he warns.

*The FT quotes an unnamed diplomat who suggests that this delay may "give
enough time for the post-SOPA venom to clear," so that governments can
quietly ratify ACTA in their national parliaments and in Brussels next
year. It sounds like a clever ploy -- let protesters tire themselves out,
then push through ACTA -- but on the basis of the strength of feeling
that's manifested itself in Europe recently, I wouldn't bet on it working.


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