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Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement

SpaceAdmiral writes "The Canadian government is secretly negotiating to join the US and the EU in an Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement. The agreement would give border guards the power to search iPods and cellphones for illegal downloads, as well as to force ISPs to hand over customer information without a warrant. David Fewer, staff counsel at the University of Ottawa's Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic, characterizes ACTA this way: 'If Hollywood could order intellectual property laws for Christmas what would they look like? This is pretty close.'"

7 of 390 comments (clear)

  1. This is a little ridiculous. by Mongoose+Disciple · · Score: 5, Funny

    I mean, all the standard talk about Big Brother and the futility of fighting music piracy and the ethical problems of fighting the means of music piracy etc. aside...

    IPods full of American music smuggled past Canadian customs? I'm sure that's exactly how Canadians are getting illicit copies of American music. (And vice versa.)

    1. Re:This is a little ridiculous. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      IPods full of American music smuggled past Canadian customs? I'm sure that's exactly how Canadians are getting illicit copies of American music.

      If you've got a better way to do it, please share... iPod Shuffles are not the most comfortable things to hide in one's ass.

    2. Re:This is a little ridiculous. by neoform · · Score: 2, Funny

      Shh, make them think that's how we get our pirated music, I don't want them to know I actually have the mp3s shipped via FedEx.

      --
      MABASPLOOM!
    3. Re:This is a little ridiculous. by Anomolous+Cowturd · · Score: 4, Funny

      Obviously not an Apple fanboy.

      --
      Software patents delenda est.
  2. Um, okay... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    So when I travel, do I have to carry proof of purchase for all the stuff on my iPod? How exactly do they plan to enforce this?

  3. Re:I wonder... by urcreepyneighbor · · Score: 5, Funny

    You: Haha! I've got it encrypted! wooo! You're SOL, ain't cha?! Fascist!

    Them: Give us your passwords or we'll confiscate your device.

    You: But.. I... I've got to make a flight! I have riii--

    Them: That's it, Bob! Tase that fucker and keep his iPod! We'll show this twat what we Canadians are all a-boot!

    --
    "The fight for freedom has only just begun." - Geert Wilders
  4. Re:I am no political scientist by tsm_sf · · Score: 4, Funny

    Oh come on. Just because something doesn't work the last twenty times you've tried it doesn't mean it damn well shouldn't.

    --
    Literalism isn't a form of humor, it's you being irritating.