From Wikepedia: : The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) is a plurilateral agreement for the purpose of establishing international standards for intellectual property rights enforcement. The agreement aims to establish an international legal framework for targeting counterfeit goods, generic medicines andcopyright infringement on the Internet, and would create a new governing body outside existing forums, such as the World Trade Organization, theWorld Intellectual Property Organization, or the United Nations.[1][2][3]
The agreement was signed on 1 October 2010 by Australia, Canada, Japan, Morocco, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and the United States. In January 2012, the European Union and 22 of its member states signed as well, bringing the total number of signatories to 31. After ratification by 6 states, the convention will come into force.
Supporting and negotiating countries have heralded the agreement as a response to the increase in global trade of counterfeit goods and pirated copyright protected works, while opponents have lambasted it for its potentially adverse effects on fundamental civil and digital rights, including freedom of expression and communication privacy.[4][5][6][7] Others, such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation, have derided the exclusion of civil society groups, developing countries and the general public from the agreements negotiation process and have described it as policy laundering.[8][9] The signature of the EU and many of its member states resulted in the resignation in protest of the European Parliaments appointed rapporteur, as well aswidespread protests across Poland.[10][11][12]
Things You Need to Know About ACTA:
1. ACTA isnt the European SOPA. It is nearly GLOBAL, and will apply to every country that signs the treaty.
2. ACTA is far more aggressive! ACTA will not simply affect websites and have them blocked out of the internet- its measures go as far as surveillance of anything you share through private channels.
3. ACTA doesnt have a campaign against it that is as wide-spread and organized as the SOPA one. This is DANGEROUS, as theres less time between now and the final signing of ACTA.
4. ACTA has effects on healthcare, trade, and even tourism.
5. ACTA MUST BE STOPPED.
There is a plot in this country to enslave every man, woman, and child. Before I leave this high, and noble office, I intend to expose this plot.
President John F. Kennedy, 7 days before his assasination.