Slashdot Mirror
Australia-US Free Trade Agreement Examined
PeterBecker writes "An evalutation of the impact of the changes Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) in the Australia-US Free Trade Agreement is available from the Australian Parliamentary Library (Research Paper #14). It takes a very critical stance, with statements such as "IPRs fit awkwardly in an agreement that has the aim of advancing free trade." and "While there has not been a comprehensive economic evaluation of IPRs, the Productivity Commission has found that, as a net importer of IPRs, Australia would lose more than it gains by strengthening IPRs. The net economic impact is thus likely to be negative.". Interesting read especially for those of you who might be affected but missed the fact thanks to close to no coverage in the mainstream media."
America... the land of the free (hence the intellectual thought police), and the home of brave (hence the amount of security in the US). What went wrong?
READY.
PRINT ""+-0
That's not a Free Trade Agreement,
[pulls out big piece of paper] THIS is a Free Trade Agreement.
1) Get pressured from US. 2) Sign DMCA like document. 3) ??? 4) Profit! In soviet russia, free trade signs you! I don't trade you insensitive clod!
Moo!
Because if it goes through, Johnny will get another photo-op with Arnie.
Actually I imagine it's just going through because most of the pollies are getting some sort of kickback from it.
And Johnny is firmly stuck somewhere in Dubyas pants.
I am government man, come from the government. The government has sent me. -- G.I.R.
Just another step closer.
An examination of some of the shortcomings of a trade agreement between the U.S. and Australia does not effect most people directly.
Agreed. It is rare that such an examination spontaneously generates the majority of Earth's population.
Vino, gyno, and techno -Bruce Sterling
As an Australian I despair that none of our elected reps can do anything other than present their rectums for pounding by America.
And since Australia, en masse, already loves to hate America, this just adds to the mix. Oh, Australia will happily lap up US culture and music, but we do have an overall impression of Americans as ignorant imbeciles who don't understand sarcasm. This joke, for example, was quite popular down here (even if it is British in origin):
NEWS FLASH:
"American Discovers Sarcasm"
Bill MacKenzie Jnr was visiting London in the British Isles, when he discovered sarcasm.
'Yup. It was, like, really cool, you know ? I was standing in, like, the pouring rain on one of those quaint little streets they have in Britain. Maaan, it was really coming down. There was this pin-striped dude next to me and he said "Hey, nice weather, huh ?"
'I was stunned, coz, like, it sure wasn't nice, you know what I mean ?'
It then occurred to this astute US citizen, that he had actually unearthed this phenomenon previously horded by the UK - sarcasm.
'Of course,' said proud Bill later 'I now use it all the time. For instance, last week, at my Sunday BBQ. I mean I had burnt the crap outta my burgers, so I shouted "Hey " Nice weather !"
That's alright, you can put your sugar into the product the US *really* wants from Australia: wine.
"I assumed blithely that there were no elves out there in the darkness"
hmm... now if only the French were a little (only a little) more like you...
"[Regarding the 'cloud,'] ownership was what made America different than Russia." -- Woz
This is only going to hurt any Australians that have actually devoloped something, then twenty years down the track the bloody "yanks" are going to steal it then patent it and we won't have a leg to stand on!!!!! Message to the yanks: Stop Stealing. First you steal the Name Ugg Boots, what next.