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Trans-Pacific Partnership Enables Harsh Penalties For Filesharing

Posted by Soulskill on from the legislation-via-industry dept.

An anonymous reader writes: The Electronic Frontier Foundation went through a recent leak of the secretive Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement, an international treaty in development that (among other things) would impose new intellectual property laws on much of the developed world. The EFF highlights one section in particular, which focuses on the punishments for copyright infringement. The document doesn't set specific sentences, but it actively encourages high monetary penalties and jail terms. Its authors reason that these penalties will be a deterrent to future infringement. "The TPP's copyright provisions even require countries to enable judges to unilaterally order the seizure, destruction, or forfeiture of anything that can be 'traceable to infringing activity,' has been used in the 'creation of pirated copyright goods,' or is 'documentary evidence relevant to the alleged offense.' Under such obligations, law enforcement could become ever more empowered to seize laptops, servers, or even domain names."

4 of 154 comments (clear)

  1. The Dangers of globalism by Subxerox · · Score: 5, Insightful

    You don't get a vote.

  2. Re:Jail terms by TheReaperD · · Score: 5, Insightful

    More like enshrining the outdated copyright cartels into law with their own legal enforcement powers so they can keep funneling money into political campaigns

    .

    --
    "Be particularly skeptical when presented with evidence confirming what you already believe." -
  3. Worked for drugs by hawguy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Harsh penalties have virtually eliminated illegal drugs, right? it's gotten to the point where I could purchase methamphetamine on the street far easier than purchasing legal Sudafed at the drug store.

  4. Secret Agreements, bah. by mbone · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I personally don't care what the TPP terms are, the process is irredeemably corrupt. It is an attempt for corporations to obtain in secret negotiations what they could never obtain through actual democratic processes, and should be opposed by anyone who supports our system of government.

    If they want to enact this, publish it, and submit it as a Treaty to the Senate for ratification. We have a Constitution for a reason, quit trying to do an end-run around it.