Public Interest Groups Face Uphill Battle at WIPO Meeting

Patrick Norager writes "As WIPO creates new rights for broadcasters, documents critical of these rights created by EFF and IP Justice were stolen and recovered in a bathroom trashcan." EFF has a general statement on the meeting with links for more information.

Comments

Guard the Table, EFF!

[mfh]

Both yesterday and again today, written statements provided by IP Justice and the Electronic Frontier Foundation, which were placed on the table designated for floor papers, were stolen within minutes of being deposited on the table. Additionally yesterday documents provided by the Union for the Public Domain were also missing shortly after being placed on the table.

I find these tactics to be what I would expect from the thug-like governments and greedy corporations; they can't secure with truth and justice what they can secure with theivery and wickedness. Not all companies would condone this kind of behaviour, but it is becoming evident that the amoral progress towards global capitalism are shattering our freedoms... freedoms our forefathers fought and died to protect... freedoms our nations were built upon. I find these recent criminal actions to be very enlightening, in turn, that the very message protecting our rights for programming and developmental freedoms, was forced to place a guard at the table.

The guard at the table, protecting the documents to be heard at WIPO, seems to be a good image, but also a telling image. How long will it be before we can no longer place a guard at the table? How long before justice itself is patented by some company?

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) will be there to urge delegates to reject aspects of the treaty that would impoverish the public domain and thwart innovation.

Guard the table oh great EFF! I will continue to write, program and design anything I want to, IP bullshit be damned!!!

Acts of Desperation

[Doesn't_Comment_Code]

While I never like to see sleezy behaviour, I've always thought it was a good sign when your adversary starts acting out of desperation. It means:

-you are a real threat
-their normal measures have not beaten you
-they are likely to make mistakes due to their "emotional" state

It is terrible that someone stole material and threw it away. And it is terrible that people's hard work has been set back. BUT, whoever did this is backed into a corner and feeling very threatened.