UN Broadcasting Treaty May Restrict Speech

ashshy writes "A UN treaty under proposal could lead to unprecedented restrictions on free speech and fair use rights around the world. Ars Technica pulls together what you need to know from multiple sources." From the article: "The proposed broadcasting treaty would create entirely new global rights for broadcasting companies who have neither created nor own the programming. What's even more alarming is the proposal from the United States that the treaty regulate the Internet transmission of audio and video entertainment. It is dangerous and inappropriate for an unelected international treaty body to undertake the task of creating entirely new rights, which currently exist in no national law, such as webcasting rights and anti-circumvention laws related to broadcasting."

Comments

The UN is just so 20th century

[0123456]

I mean, seriously, it's a club for sad old socialists and communists who are still dreaming that they'll one day run the world. Why didn't we close it down years ago?

You'd think that Bush would at least have the balls to kick them out of New York.

Re:The UN is just so 20th century

[JavaLord]

What is with you Americans and this view of the UN?

We aren't socalists and we are stuck funding this anti-american establishment via our tax dollars.

It is the only framework we have for having nations try and work together peacefully, and establish the way they'll play together. It's not a perfect system, but it's better than saying "fuck it, just invade anyone you wish".

Do you think if the UN went away everyone would just say "FUCK IT"? Did the UN does not stop aggression at all.

Well, it was the US who helped to create the UN, after they said the League of Nations was no longer relevant.

Which it wasn't.

You can't throw away the only even remotely-functionaly international treaty organization every time you feel like throwing a temper tantrum because you didn't get your own way.

If we pay for it, we should be able to throw it away.

The US uses the UN to give them legitimacy when it suits them, and flagrantly disregards the fact that's a signatory to some of those treaties when they wish.

So why would you object to the US pulling out?

Walk away from it, and you could find yourselves a pariah state,

Get over your anti-american wet dream of things going badly for the US.

and your relationships with your allies could become rather tenuous.

Doubtful, they will still need us, and we will still need them which is why they are allies.

Although, they've been becoming tenuous over the last few years due to the protectionism/xenophobia your leaders are putting forth to the rest of the world.

Yeah, that protectionism is really hardcore in America, that is why they have such a large trade deficit with China. The xenophobia is really big too, I mean we have politicians right now trying to decide how to baby illegal immigrants correctly.

Le't hope America doesn't decide it want to go it alone so it can become the asshole/bully of the world -- though we see shades of that now.

Lets hope America pulls out of the Anti-American UN. It does not serve our national interests to be part of such an organization. Let Europe rot and become Eurabia, fuckem.

Re:American influence

[Chicken04GTO]

Blame Bush!...

Instead of using your supposedly more intelligent non-american brain and realizing this is about international media companies simply trying to remain releveant in an internet enabled world.

Newsflash to all the euro-trolls and other US-haters, the US does what it does because of a fundemental flaw in our governmental system...lobbying and other forms of influence on our elected officials.

the world is now run by huge international financial interests...not dubya.

But, if it makes you feel better and superior to ignore the real problem, as well as corruption and in BS in your own countries, feel free to blame Bush until you get blue in the face.

Re:Treaties and (US) Sovereignity

[swv3752]

Of course until something is declared unconstituitional by the Supremes (who currently seem to be corporate whores), it is law.