Canada Launches ACTA Bill

TrueSatan writes "In an utterly craven move, the Canadian government has launched a bill to bring Canada into full compliance with the discredited, U.S.-led ACTA agreement — an agreement to which most of the world does not agree. To further pressure the acceptance of this awful bill, the U.S., on the same day, released their Trade Policy and Agenda Annual Report (PDF), which calls on Canada to comply with ACTA obligations. For ACTA to take effect, it would require six signatures from the major economic blocks. Tt appears to have no remaining possibility of getting them, yet the U.S., and now Canada, continue to push it forward. The Canadian bill features claims based on spurious health and safety concerns that have been thoroughly debunked by a U.S. report. Despite these claims being so dubious, they remain a cornerstone of the Canadian bill. Similarly, the claimed losses due to counterfeiting ($30 billion USD) stated in the bill have also been debunked. The Canadian bill seeks to give border guards an unprecedented level of control, without the possibility of judicial oversight. Despite a lack of evidence to suggest that Canada is a major source of counterfeit product, the bill puts at risk the fully-legal parallel import of generic items — pharmaceuticals, for instance. The bill would also change copyright infringement from a civil dispute to a breach of criminal law. Pity Canada if this bill is enacted!"

Comments

I'm not sure I understand...

[Anonymous Coward]

Could the editors please present a less objective article because I'm not sure if I understand how I'm supposed to feel about the issue.

Thank you.

Soma Soma Soma

Propose != Launch

[TechieRefugee]

From my understanding of TFA, it's not official legislation yet. Honestly, I don't see this going through, so calm down, title!

Re:Propose != Launch

[Beerdood]

The conservatives didn't pass the last similar bill through, though they could have. They *could* pass any bill they like, but if there's enough public backlash they may decide against passing it. They do plan on winning seats in future elections, so they won't just pass anything unless it has a minimum threshold of public support.

Re:Propose != Launch

[StillAnonymous]

Why is it that we have to fight shit like this on a seemingly CONSTANT basis? Seriously, they're dredging up oppressive legislation faster than it can be struck down. You can block a thousand of these things, but all it takes is for just one of these pieces of toilet paper to slip past the goalie and it's game over for public, it'll never go away. It seems just short of impossible to get rid of any bad law.

Re:If you're not familiar with ACTA... masturbatio

[Carewolf]

It isn't bias if he is right. It may be unprofessional to call bad things bad names, but it doesn't make it biased or wrong, just unprofessional.

Re:If you're not familiar with ACTA... masturbatio

[drinkypoo]

I don't know about you, but I don't actually feel like anyone has jerked me off. It is clear how they want me to feel about it, which would be offensive in a newspaper but which I find completely acceptable in a blog. Slashdot is not and never has been a credible news outlet, because it is not a news outlet. It is a blogreggator. Yes, I made that word up to make you hate me.

Re:If you're not familiar with ACTA... masturbatio

[Impy the Impiuos Imp]

This site is turning into a meme instantiation mechanism apart from the normal substrate of human minds.