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Leaked Cable Shows Heavy US Influence On Swedish Copyright Policy
Debuting on Slashdot, seezer writes with a piece by Rick Falkvinge about a recently release diplomatic cable. From the article: "Among the treasure troves of recently released WikiLeaks cables, we find one whose significance has bypassed Swedish media. In short: every law proposal, every ordinance, and every governmental report hostile to the net, youth, and civil liberties here in Sweden in recent years have been commissioned by the U.S. government and industry interests."
This is from a Pirate Party founder and so might be slightly exaggerated, but there is certainly evidence in the cable that the U.S. exerted quite a bit of influence of Swedish copyright law. The U.S. government appears particularly vexed that the Swedish public doesn't seem to think anything is wrong with copying protected works, and (not unexpectedly) was quite concerned that Pirate Party members might actually be elected.
When Julian Assange was recently accused of sexual assault in Sweden, I maintained that this had "CIA discrediting campaign" written all over it. One of the main responses to this was "But the U.S. government doesn't have any control over Sweden or what they do."
I think people really underestimate the power and sweep of the U.S. government and its wealthy corporate allies. The IMF, the UN, the World Bank, unrest in virtually every oil-producing country that doesn't support U.S. policy, attacks on anyone who criticizes or threatens the U.S. dollar, and in a million other places--you'll find the hand of the U.S. government and its most powerful corporations either calling the shots outright or at least having a significant influence on events.
Just look at the WIPO copyright treaty (the treaty that brought the DMCA and DMCA-like laws to almost every first-world country in the world). Hollywood and the U.S. music/publishing industry pretty much DICTATED that treaty, with the U.S. government then pressuring countries to implement it with a multitude of carrots and sticks.
Some may accuse me of hyperbole here. And, believe me, I wish I were exaggerating. But you never have to dig very far.
SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
Yea, I remember having several totally aggravating arguments with tools who didn't seem to understand that the fake rape charges being drummed up against assange were not at all related to what he was being sought for by all the world's governments.
There are tools who are so completely controlled that this notion simply sailed right over their heads.
One day I feel I'm ahead of the wheel / the next it's rolling over me / I can get back on / I can get back on
....the cartel/mafia/cabal with the U.S. government in its pockets appears particularly vexed that the Swedish public....
Some people cant see beyond their nose.
We call them politicians.
into
Which simply doesn't translate. The US here is asking for something like the DMCA (which is required by treaty), not for "three strikes" legislation. Also injunctive relief does not mean "without a trial", nor is any disconnection from the internet being demanded here. It's bad enough without making stuff up. Further:
I don't know about Sweden, but in the US, prosecution is an executive function.
It's pretty annoying that the US think they can and should govern the whole world.
-- Cheers!
Funny how "friendly" countries bully each other. Globalization brings and end to the sovereignty of nations?
Yep the U.S. are all for promoting democracy around the world except when people might vote for someone they dont like
As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a reference to Godwin's Law approaches 1
United States tries to protects its own interest.
It's not PC but it happens, the US also bends to allow other nations interests to go threw too. It is called Diplomacy. These stints of making a compromise that prevents issues from building up and becoming a major issue.
The reason why it is not made public because the average Joe doesn't understand the concept of a good compromise where at the end both sides are equally unhappy. So they will make these small viewed complaints (Swedish make copyright policy just so we can get the latest American Blue Rays films) While the complexity of international trade is ignored, not realizing this effects shipment of more then just Films, but software, books, and other sources of information. If a company doesn't see your country as a profitable place to sell goods they won't sell to you. And you end up with loosing out on receiving goods and services that make that company unique. This isn't just about a monopoly every company has something that gives it a competitive advantage over someone else. Blocking trade has probably been considered more costly then the Copyright Policy.
If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
The more power global corporations gain, the more pressure there is to homogenize every country into a "corporation friendly" environment.
SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
Wait until you hear about what the IRS are making foreign banks do to all their customers in order to weed out US citizens living abroad...
Who elected these people ? What claim do they have to represent the people of the United States ? I sure don't remember anyone touting their kowtowing to foreign special interests at election time.
The US government seeks to support US business interests in other sovereign nations. In my view, this goes beyond the constitutional basis for the US government. Some may (and will) disagree with this, but each nation needs to be respected as this nations needs to be respected. If you cannot persuade honestly and openly, then you are going too far where international relations are concerned.
In fact, I see this as government interference with business... the very same interference that these businesses claim to be against! So what they are actually saying is "it's okay when we get help from government, just don't tell us what we can't do or what we must do." That's crap.
This is what diplomats DO all day. They try to influence policy in foreign countries to promote the interests of the government of their own country. (Which is separate from consular services, the other part of an embassy that handles visas, citizen services, etc.) Sometimes they succeed, sometimes they don't. The country they are operating in is more than welcome to tell them to go jump in a metaphorical lake.
This is why corporations should be destroyed. The use of WMDs should be allowed to do so.
After reading this, does anyone doubt that the indictment on Julian Assange was motivated by US interests ?
This is just a trivial translation error. The statement, "...The U.S. government appears particularly vexed...". I can not find a single documented case of any American government staffer losing sleep about what Sweden, as a population, or culture, or government, or Web Master thinks about Copy Write laws, anywhere. Now if the parent had written, "...The Lawyers representing the Copy Write Ranting Corporations that use the staff of the U.S. government as tools appear particularly vexed..." The translation would have been more accurate. Why? Because Lawyers, and Corporations use the U.S. government staffers as tools; as an off topic thought, it appears that U.S. government staffers repeatedly demonstrate themselves as tools. American English, when translated by people that only write American English, into American English can sometimes make small mistakes; like what other people can write for themselves.
Which simply doesn't translate. The US here is asking for something like the DMCA (which is required by treaty), not for "three strikes" legislation.
Wrong. The "injunctive relief" legislation that is being pushed is indeed ISP disconnection. From the PDF that TFA links to:
Injunctive relief in civil cases -- EU Copyright Directive: The law implementing Sweden’s obligations under the EU Copyright Directive entered into force on July 1, 2005 (Law 2005:360 amending the Act on Copyright in Literary and Artistic Works, Law 1960:729). Particularly disappointing has been the lack of a specific injunctive relief remedy against ISPs as required under Article 8.3 of the Copyright Directive (and Article 11 of the Enforcement Directive). Proposed legislation to provide such a remedy is now pending in the Swedish Parliament.(3) If adopted by the Parliament, the amendment would go into one of the major deficiencies that rights holders have faced and which IIPA highlighted in its 2008 submission. (3)(http://www.iipa.com/rbc/2008/2008SPEC301SWEDEN.pdf)
And if you follow the link to the 2008 IIPA paper on the proposed legislation...
civil litigation, without preliminary injunctive relief, is just too slow to act as a deterrent.... Unfortunately, we have also heard that the present draft proposal does not contain a right to injunctive relief in a civil case against ISPs, and that it therefore fails to cure Sweden’s inconsistency with Article 11 of the Enforcement Directive and Article 8(3) of the Copyright Directive. In September 2007, a report was issued by Swedish Chief Judge, Cecilia Renfors (“Renfors Report”), recommending that the upcoming legislation contain provisions requiring ISPs to take action to terminate the contracts of certain users who repeatedly use the Internet to infringe copyright.... While this report and, in particular, the suggestions regarding disconnection of repeat infringers is welcome, it does not go far enough to bring Sweden’s legal and enforcement regime into harmony with international trends even assuming that the proposed legislation is adopted in its present form
So, not only do they want ISP disconnections, they actually want even stronger laws.
Sorry, off-topic: I've seen your signature before and wondered then as I do now, is that tongue in cheek or do you really want to remove ALL CO2 from the atmosphere?
We show geeks how to get their dream girl at EyesOfOdessa.com
The spirit of copyright was to protect the authors for a limited amount of time in return for the works to fall into public domain after a fixed, limited amount of time.
You screwed everyone by effectively removing the public domain part of the copyright idea, so we're screwing you out of the protected part.
This is why corporations should be destroyed. The use of WMDs should be allowed to do so.
That would take out innocents. I think a huge amount of targeted wet work would be more appropriate.
The US Government is as much victim as perpetrator. Haven't you been listening to the US right's hatred and contempt for government? And their proclivity for blanket statements and oversimplifications? It's expressed so well in this Reagan quote: "Government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem." Our scientists and researchers do their jobs and come up with answers, and the right ignores them or makes ridiculous accusations of bias and incompetence. We pay for this attitude in many ways, not least being the low morale among bureaucrats. These hypocrites who profess such hatred for government are not shy about abusing and expanding government power when they are in control. The only parts of the government they like unconditionally, and like entirely too much, are the parts to do with security and force.
Intellectual Property is a monopolistic, selfish, and defective concept. It is "tyranny over the mind of man"
There have been recent leaks similar to this showing how the US has had a strong hand in shaping the Canadian DMCA laws.
Those laws have failed to pass, so far.
Sorry, off-topic: I've seen your signature before and wondered then as I do now, is that tongue in cheek or do you really want to remove ALL CO2 from the atmosphere?
I got caught up on that one. It's sarcasm. Hard to say if he is trolling and what he means by it.
Because until recently there has always been a pro-Canada party either in charge or with enough power to force a change. With the most pro-USA, anti-Canada party every elected to a majority now in charge, a DMCA copyright bill will be passed shortly.
What Sweden does with their copyright laws is none of the US's business, and pressuring other countries to change their laws completely disrespects their sovereignty.
This is my signature. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
The US position defending copyright is the correct position.
By "defending copyright" do you mean to include "defending repeated extensions to the term of copyright" and "defending the narrowing of fair use, first sale, and other limitations on the scope of copyright" and "defending copyright even when the owner of copyright in a particular work cannot be determined with reasonable research"?
A Puffy Shirt maybe...
I might be more inclined to agree with you but for two things. 1) Assange really just does seem like the type. 2) If the accusations are false, it's more likely that the accuser is trying to profit somehow.
Seriously though, if we were that powerful, don't you think we would have conquered China by now? I'd rather have them than Iraq.
It has been shown that the US & its lobbies have strong-armed (off the top of my head):
- NZ
- Australia
- Spain
- Sweden
successfully to re-write their copyright laws.
There have been efforts in Canada, but thankfully the government has thus far been ineffectual.
Has anyone compiled a consolidated listing for each country of:
- evidence of strong-arming
- resultant legislation/negotiation
It would be interesting to compile this information to show to policy makers and journalists, so that they cannot hide behind banners, such as "Canadian made copyright reform", and other analogous euphemisms.
At least call it what it is.
...the Swedish Central Bank was also a recipient of some of that $16.1 trillion spewed forth from the Fed (thanks to GAO audit), and Carl Bildt was a director at Lundin Petroleum when those massacres were taking place in Sudan (moving people off of the oil-rich lands they lived on, etc.). Plenty of reasons, not even counting DoD contracts to Swedish defense firms, for pressure from the USA.
....and so many of those characters involved in attempting to extradite Assange are financially connected to the Bonnier family??? (And the Brits should be focusing on extraditing the Murdoch family, given everything coming out about their knowledge and collusion with all that cellphone spying!)
Since the end of WW2 the US had an airport on okinawa (japan) right within a large city. It's incredible they manage to keep it despite the enormous strain on local residents and the public outry for well over 60 years.
If you fail to grasp this example: Imagine central park being a german/british/whatever airforce base with planes starting/landing every 5 minutes 24/7/365.
The US does dictate decisions world wide, just look at ACTA as the next big thing. African/Indian interests (as far as manufacturing and buying cheap pharmaceuticals goes) don't matter at all. Copying of Software/etc becoming a crime (the first time criminal punishment is part of a trade agreement).
All of this is very sad considering how it will hinder the growth of second/third world countries and ensure the continued dominance of established megacorps vs. middle class competition.
"Geeks are so full of shit that "beating the crap out of them" takes a whole new meaning."
Wow, pointless hostility towards one's own. Grow up.
Don't you realize how green this planet would be if we could eliminate all the CO2?
SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
don't you think we would have conquered China by now?
We would, but Walmart won't let us.
SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
"Funny how the US bullies everybody.."
There. Corrected for you.
It's even more amusing how everyone caves to US bullying so easily. Pussies.
pressuring other countries to change their laws completely disrespects their sovereignty.
No it doesn't, not in the least. Especially when your dealing with international issues, such as respecting international copyright laws. Like it or not, countries are connected. Diplomats are going to argue for their countries point of view, and if a country wants to keep any connections to the outside world (even America) they are going to have to compromise on some of the things they want.
If I'm a citizen of X and the diplomat of Y says "we're not going to help you with problem 2 if you don't deal with problem 1" my sovereignty is not being disrespected. I'm simply given a choice as to whether I value the help with problem 2 over my personal stance on problem 1. In fact, I'd say it's an affront to nation Y's sovereignty to demand that they provide help with problem 2 irregardless of any of their wants or needs.
Sweeds you will be issued sweat shorts, 'nutrition' bars, and boxed sets of 'The Kardashians' to help indoctrinate you.
There are many rules, too many to read, but the TV 'news' will help guide you as to which ones are actually being enforced.
Novel theory: Modern Man evolved from psychopath
"The Democrats are the party that says government will make you smarter, taller, richer, and remove the crabgrass on your lawn. Republicans are the party that says government doesn't work, and then they get elected and prove it." -- P. J. O'Rourke (conservative author)
I don't get it; Big Business wants it both ways. They want the USA to protect their corporate interests around the world *at taxpayer expense*, and then, their CEOs get on TV and shout that we need smaller government, and the government should get it's nose out of business, and there needs to be less regulation.
Well sure. If the fat cats want unbridled capitalism with no restraint, then I say let that also be the end of copyright law, patent law, and every other government agency that works for Big Business, but is paid for by the common man.
Let Big Business hire private security to protect their interests.
If telephones are outlawed, then only outlaws will have telephones.
"This is just a trivial translation error." You overlooked your own translation error...it's "copyright" not "copy write".
There are no 'international copyright laws.' There are international copyright agreements, and involvement in those often has other strings attached, making them not entirely voluntary.
'Problem 2' is in most cases that the countries pushing copyright agendas are going to threaten trade sanctions or otherwise opt for unfavorable trade policies unless they can get what they want in regards to copyright policy. I think in most viewpoints, trade sanctions are seen as a punishment. So, the reality is that a country like Sweden is going to be punished by the US unless they do the US wants.
This is my signature. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
No argument here: you /are/ a cockroach. No doubt none of your posts to /. will be stained with anything resembling intelligence or insight. At least you get one thing right: you're society's retard, and you know it.
When Julian Assange was recently accused of sexual assault in Sweden, I maintained that this had "CIA discrediting campaign" written all over it. One of the main responses to this was "But the U.S. government doesn't have any control over Sweden or what they do."
There is a similar case going on just now. An Italian politician have, on an open street in Sweden, lifted his 12 year old son by the hair, the son was fleeing from a restaurant where his father had pounded him repeatedly in the face. One of the owners of the restaurant rushed out and was able to go in between, before the father did something worse. There are lots of witnesses to both incidents, the father/politician have not been judged yet, but he faces time inside a Swedish prison. If he was a Swede, his son would have been placed in protective care, until the father had learned how to behave like a "real" parent (the father will likely be judged to undergo behavioural therapy). Both the Italian politician and Italian media is upset because the Italian politician is punished because he "corrected" his sons behaviour.
Italian media (and likely many Italians) is very upset because of the "injustice" that is done to their countryman. There is two reason for this:
1) Cultural differences between Italians and Swedes. In Italy it is socially acceptable to give your offspring, student, et c. physical punishments. In Sweden, physical punishment of any kind is looked upon as barbaric, it deemed as even worse if you do it to a kid, and worse of all, if you do it to your own offspring or someone in your care (like if you are a teacher), compared to if you would hit some random strange kid that annoys you.
2) What happened is not reported correct in Italian media. According to Italian media, if they even report that the son was hit, the father only slapped his son with an open hand and grabbed him by the collar. What all witnesses say is that he pounded him with his fist in the face.
This is almost identical to how the Assange-case have been treated by internet media.
1) Cultural differences. At least in UK and NZ, Assange would face a similar punishment for the rapes as he would in Sweden (I'm not sure about Australia), the laws in those countries don't differ that much from Swedish laws (but the treatment in UK and NZ during prison time is much worse, so, de facto, the punishment would be harder then in Sweden). In many states of USA it wouldn't be considered rape, but in all states it would still be considered a crime, even if the punishment would be rather weak.
2) What Assange did to the girls have been downplayed by many foreign media. Much of the information, spread by internet, is outright lies in favour of Assange.
PS. An interesting detail is that most of the witnesses of the first beating of the son was not ethnic Swedes (it was inside a kebab restaurant), but from countries that is geographically and culturally close to Italy and still most of the witnesses was very chocked by the incident, most Italians would likely not even have noticed what happened.
if the population in this country is so dependent on entertaniment produced in the USA, then i can not, in front of "god" and truth, be uspet about the influence of USA on the government of this country...
if, on the other hand, we would keep to our own productions and culture, or even had one, for that matter, it would be different...
YHBT. HAND.
Celebrity worship is a poor substitute for Deity worship and costs more to boot.
Haven't you been listening to the US right's hatred and contempt for government?
Sure, I've listened to the rhetoric. I've also observed the reality. Conservatives despise government ... unless it's putting power in their hands and money in their pockets.
The correlation between ignorance of statistics and using "correlation is not causation" as an argument is close to 1.
Our country is under no obligation to buy or sell goods with any other country. And if a country is in the view of many of our citizens "stealing" or misusing our goods and services why should we continue to do so if they aren't willing to address the problem? Your not entitled to our business and your not entitled to our goods. Both are given because it is mutually beneficial. If giving you those can be exchanged for something beneficial to my fellow citizens then it is my countries officials very duty to negotiate for those terms. Sometimes that might just be the good will of the Swedish youth. Other times they can shove their goodwill up their collective ass and give us cold hard cash if they want to do business, or GTFO if all they want to do is steal our content.
If Sweden cares more about pirating software then they do about US goods and market being open to them then good on em, that's their right as a sovereign country and no one can stop them. But don't cry foul when we decide to use our same rights as a sovereign country to decide not to do business with you.
Norway wasn't going to prosecute DVD Jon, but we (at the bidding of the MAFIAA) pressured them to do so, then to appeal his exoneration.
I like that my country is powerful and influential, but our influence shouldn't extend to interfering with the internal justice systems of foreign countries.
The Assange thing is really irrelevant as part of the revelation. It was clear Sweden was a US puppet state long before that when the Swedish police raided TPB at the request of US authorities, and when the Swedish judiciary later deemed a trial of the TPB owners by a judge who was an active member of a US oriented media industry lobby group to be fair. Even for those who believe Assange is guilty and the US has nothing to do with that there is still evidence enough of a separate issue here- the US has far too much influence in Sweden.
Quite how any of this could happen under an independent state I do not know which is why I simply believe it could not.
What Sweden does with their copyright laws is of the US's businesses' business.
Fixed that for ya.
Everyone knows that it is our collective of corporations that controls the government. What controls the government controls the foreign policy. Isn't one of our largest of our largest exports hollywoodized media/movies/music? It only stands to reason that the **IAA has such a strong influence on foreign policy...
Now that reasoning might be wrong, but it is reasoning nonetheless.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"First things first -- but not necessarily in that order"
-- The Doctor, "Doctor
The US position defending copyright is the correct position.
You're 100% correct. Anyone who disagrees with you or the US must be 100% wrong. Now, let's go and try to force these laws on another country that doesn't care about them. The potential loss of potential profit is a terrible "loss," right? So let's waste a tremendous amount of time trying to rush through laws and force other countries to adopt them.
Filthy, filthy copyrapists!
"Our country is under no obligation to buy or sell goods with any other country. "
That's not what's being argued. The 'obligation' is to let private Swedish entities and private American entities do business with each other as they so choose. At least on the American side, "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." Allowing Swedes and Americans to trade freely is thus the norm until a law or policy happens to change that. Thus, trade sanctions, tariffs, and so forth are the exceptions to the norm, and are undeniably punitive measures. Using the threat of punitive measures to influence other countries policies is disrespecting the sovereignty of those countries to govern themselves.
Also, it seems as if you think I'm Swedish. I'm American, and I think it was utter bullshit when European countries shoved shitty laws down our throats. It's also bullshit when non-American countries shove such laws down the throats of non-American countries.
This is my signature. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
They aren't stealing from US companies, so the US government shouldn't mess with them.
This is my signature. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
"It was clear Sweden was a US puppet state long before that when the Swedish police raided TPB at the request of US authorities" Yes, anyone remember how the Swedes changed their laws about how anyone could view papers sent to their parliament when the scientology cult got involved andf bribed some US senators to interfere.
Without the paperwork.
He was a Libyan citizen who had worked to overthrow his government. We caught him and gave him back to his government.
New Zealands new law was pretty much drafted by the US... and they also funded it with nearly $1m
Seriously, how many governments has the US has overthrown to protect its interests
A better question would be, how many first-world governments did US overthrow?
Wow, pointless hostility towards one's own.
One's own? Only because geeks are carbon-based? Jock Science has proved that geeks aren't even human to begin with, so they're no more "of my own" as cockroaches are.
You had me at "jock science."
Brilliant troll there.
The world you experience is only a close approximation of reality.
Although I am sorry for US citizens of good will, as a whole the influence of the USA in the world has been very detrimental lately. The issue of IP is just one example.
Therefore, I am quite happy with the self destructive ultra right wing tea party. It is the quickest way to get rid of the USA as a superpower. I can only welcome that.
In the UK we call it the "special relationship" because we are America's best buddies... Well, second best after Israel. US says jump, we say how high?
const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
Take hope in one important improvement: We did not support Mubarak, not this time, despite his friendliness with the US.
In the past, our government would have supported the ruler, as long as he professed friendship with the US, despite what US citizens or their people thought. The polite explanation was always "stability". Not so polite is "he's a bastard, but he's our bastard". Then the ruler and his cronies continue milking their people, who then hate us for supporting him. This always causes trouble, and undermines the very stability we sought. It's about time our government got smarter about this. Rulers who exploit and suppress their own people cannot be real friends of ours.
Intellectual Property is a monopolistic, selfish, and defective concept. It is "tyranny over the mind of man"