The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) - Knowledge Ecology International (original) (raw)
The governments of the United States, the European Commission, Japan, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Canada, and Mexico are negotiating a trade agreement named the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA). Despite the name, the agreement is designed to address not only counterfeiting, but a wide range of intellectual property enforcement issues.
Despite several recent leaks, many important details of ACTA remain secret, including the names of participants in negotiations. What follows is a collection of documents, statements, media reports, blogs, analysis and comments regarding this proposed treaty. Attachments and the most recent items are given at the end.
Recent KEI statements on ACTA
February 26, 2012. What’s (still) wrong with ACTA, and why governments should reject the illegitimate agreement
October 3, 2011 KEI comment on US signing of ACTA.
September 20, 2011. Two areas where ACTA is inconsistent with US law, injunctions and damages, KEI Policy Brief, 2011:2 .
Older Items
- USTR Request for Comments on ACTA due Feb 15, 2011.
- KEI Letter to the European Parliament regarding ACTA, October 25, 2010
- October 20, 2010. KEI note: Access to Orphan Works, and ACTA provisions on damages.
- October 19, 2010. Senators Bernard Sanders (I-VT) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) write David Kappos, the Director of the USPTO, asking for an assessment of conflicts between the October 2010 ACTA text, and U.S. law.
- October 9, 2010. KEI Note: Areas where the Oct 2, 2010 ACTA text is inconsistent with U.S. law
- October 8, 2010. Senator Wyden writes the American Law Division of the Congressional Research Service of the Library of Congress, asking that it undertake and provide to Congress “a written, independent determination of whether the commitments put forward in the agreement diverge from our domestic laws or would impeded legislative efforts that are currently underway. The letter asks the division to “pay particular attention to the provisions relating to injunctions, damages, and intermediary liability.”
The May 11, 2011 “final” text of ACTA.
The December 3 , 2010 version of the ACTA text
The October 2, 2010 version of the ACTA text
August 25, 2010 version of the ACTA Text
*** Part 1: Notes on the August 25, 2010 version of the ACTA consolidated text September 7, 2010.** *** Part 2: Notes on the August 25, 2010 version of the ACTA consolidated text, September 8, 2010.** *** USTR’s February 10, 2009 memo on Transparency Soup** *** James Love, White House Blocks Disclosure of Secret Intellectual Property Trade Text, Huffington Post, September 3, 2010** *** KEI [letter to Felipe Calderón Hinojosa, Presidente Constitucional de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos](KEI letter to Felipe Calderón Hinojosa, Presidente Constitucional de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos)**
Recent KEI blogs on ACTA.
New blogs regarding damages, injunctions, and remedies in the July 2010 text:
*** July 1, 2010 ACTA text on injunctions** *** July 1, 2010 ACTA Article 2.2.1 on damages** *** July 1, 2020 ACTA Article 2.3 on “Other Remedies”**
Comments on ACTA Provisions on Injunctions and Damages, KEI Research Note 2010:1, April 6, 2010.
Leaked or public versions of the ACTA Text:
The August 25, 2010 ACTA Text. A wiki of this text is available here
The 15 November 2010 version of the text, as released by USTR and others.
See also:
*** The July 1, 2010 ACTA Text or transcript in html format.** *** The April 16, 2010 version of the consolidated text, without country positions.** *** January 18, 2010 version of consolidated text, original image, or text version by werebuild.** *** The September 2008 proposal and other 2008 documents**
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Relevant TACD Documents
*** Resolution on the enforcement of copyright, trademarks, patents and other intellectual property rights (IP 09-09) (adopted June 2009) (pdf version)**
Older KEI Blogs, Commentary and other Documents
*** December 3, 2009, Ambassador Kirk: People would be “walking away from the table” if the ACTA text is made public** *** 9 November 2009, Missing Safeguards in ACTA present risks to consumers in the United States, KEI/PK letter to Congress** *** 5 November 2009, ACTA for beginners.** *** 4 November, 2009. The ACTA Leak is useful, but there are still plenty of secrets.** *** 4 November 2009, ACTA — A Patriot Act For the Internet, Huffington Post.** *** 3 November 2009, Transparency of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), Huffington Post.** *** 3 November 2009. Petition to President Obama, regarding transparency of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement** *** 15 October 2009, White House Creates Secret Process as Solution to Transparency For Key IPR Negotiation, Huffington Post.** *** 13 October 2009, USTR’s access by invite and NDA policy for ACTA : White House shares the ACTA Internet text with 42 Washington insiders, under non disclosure agreements.** *** 12 September 2009. James Love. “USTR’s system of NDAs to provide private sector access to ACTA position” KEI Policy Blog.** *** 31 July 2009. James Love. “White House: ACTA still “secret in the interest of national defense or foreign policy”” KEI Policy Blog.** *** 31 July 2009. James Love. “ACTA and changes in global norms for damages and injunctions (for enforcement of intellectual property)” KEI Policy Blog.** *** 22 July 2009. James Love. “NGO Letter to USTR on transparency” KEI Policy Blog.** *** 25 June 2009. KEI Staff. “Meet the chief US ACTA negotiator: Kira Alvarez, the Deputy Assistant USTR for IP Enforcement” KEI Policy Blog.** *** 15 June 2009. James Love. “Damages, Injunctions and Transparency key issues in ACTA negotiations” KEI Policy Blog.** *** 10 July 2008. James Love, "PhRMA comments on ACTA: ISP Liability, Parallel Trade and Generic APIs," KEI Policy Blog.** *** 3 June 2008. James Love, "The Counterfeit Treaty," The Huffington Post.** *** 20 March 2008. "Comments of Knowledge Ecology International on the Proposal for Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA)," Submitted to United States Trade Representative Request for Public Comments.**
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## Transparency and ACTA
*** December 3, 2009, Ambassador Kirk: People would be “walking away from the table” if the ACTA text is made public**
22 July, 2009. NGO letter to USTR Transparency
*** Transparency in Negotiations Involving Norms for Knowledge Good: What Should USTR Do? 21 Specific Recommendations** *** ATTACHMENT 1. ACTA is secret. How transparent are other other global norm setting exercises?** *** ATTACHMENT 2. Transparency of negotiating documents in selected fora** *** ATTACHMENT 3. Participation by the public in selected negotiations**
Petition to President Obama, regarding transparency of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement
13 October 2009, USTR’s access by invite and NDA policy for ACTA : White House shares the ACTA Internet text with 42 Washington insiders, under non disclosure agreements.
12 September 2009. James Love. “USTR’s system of NDAs to provide private sector access to ACTA position” KEI Policy Blog.
31 July 2009. James Love. “<White House: ACTA still “secret in the interest of national defense or foreign policy”>” KEI Policy Blog.
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Papers and Articles
April 2008. Aaron Shaw, “The Problem with the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (and what to do about it),” KEStudies, Vol. 2.
9 June 2008. Susan Sell, "The Global IP upward Ratchet, Anti-Counterfeiting and Piracy Enforcement Efforts: The State of Play," Institute for Global and International Studies, George Washington University.
2 June 2008. "The Proposed Anti-Counterfeiting Trade: Agreement (ACTA): Global Policy Implications," IQSensato's In Focus, Volume 2, Number 8 | Monday, 2 June 2008
30 April 2008. Canadian Internet Policy and Interest Clinic, "Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement."
25 March 2008. Robin Gross, "IP Justice White Paper on the Proposed Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA)."
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Civil Society Comments and Websites on ACTA
June 23, 2010. International Experts Find that Pending Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement Threatens Public Interests. Visit American University Washington College of Law website for more information
22 August 2009. FFII. “Unconstitutional aspects of ACTA (EU)”
22 March 2008. Essential Action, "Comments on Proposed Anti-Counterfeiting Treaty."
21 March 2008. IP Justice, "ACTA’s Misguided Effort to Increase Govt Spying and Ratchet-Up IPR Enforcement at Public Expense: IP Justice Comments to U.S.T.R. on the proposed Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA)."
21 March 2008. Public Knowledge, "Comments of Public Knowledge Re: Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA)."
21 March 2008. Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), "Electronic Frontier Foundation Submission to Office of the United States Trade Representative on Proposed Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement."
EFF website on ACTA
Public Knowledge website on ACTA, containing links to more public comments.
Essential Action website on Enforcement
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Government Documents and Statements Regarding ACTA
USTR website on ACTA
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada. “ACTA and Issues Related to Pharmaceuticals and Counterfeit Medicines”
8 July 2008. "World Economy," The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. See sections 17 and 18, Protection of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR).
26 March 2008. New Zealand. "Information Sheet: Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement."
13 November 2007. Australia. "Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Discussion Paper: An International Proposal for a Plurilateral Anti‑Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA)."
October 2007. United States. "Fact Sheet: Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement."
October 2007. European Union. "Fact Sheet: Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement."
23 October 2007. United States. "Ambassador Schwab Announces U.S. Will Seek New Trade Agreement to Fight Fakes," Press Release from the USTR.
23 October 2007. Canada. "Canada Joins Discussions toward International Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement. " Press Release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade."
23 October 2007. European Union, "European Commission seeks mandate to negotiate major new international anti- counterfeiting pact," Press release from EU Trade Commission.
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The WikiLeaks Document
This “Discussion Paper on a Possible Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement” was originally circulated to a handful of corporate lobbyists, and is now available on Wikileaks. For greater detail regarding the possible content of ACTA, consider the industry "asks" reported below.
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Industry Documents
7 July 2008. International Chamber of Commerce, "Business and the Global Economy: ICC statement on behalf of world business to the Heads of State and Government attending the Hokkaido Toyako G8 Summit, 7-9 July 2008."
5 June 2008. International Chamber of Commerce – Businiess Action to Stop Counterfeiting and Piracy (ICC-BASCAP), Letter to Canadian Minister of Trade and Foreign Affairs.
3 June 2008. ICC BASCAP, "Memorandum to ACTA Negotiatiors."
21 March 2008. PhRMA comments on ACTA.
21 March 2008. International Intellectual Property Alliance (IIPA), "Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement: Request for Public Comments." Comments submitted to Rachel Bae, USTR Director for Intellectual Property & Innovation.
17 March 2008. Recording Industry Association of America. "RIAA Suggestions for content of ACTA."
3 March 2008. International Trademark Association and the ICC BASCAP, "The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement: Business Support for an Important Initiative," Paper presented to US Trade Representative Susan Schwab.
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Government Meetings Held on ACTA
July 2009. Swedish Presidency of the European Union. “ACTA 5th Round of negotiation (Rabat, 16-17 July 2009)“. Press Release
26 June 2008. DFAT Consultative Group Meeting, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australia. Meeting notes provided by the Australian Digital Alliance.
23 June 2008. EU ACTA Stakeholders Consultation Meeting, Geneva, Switzerland. For more information, contact michelle (dot) childs (at) keionline.org
3-4 June 2008. EU ACTA Stakeholders Consultation Meeting. U.S. Mission in Geneva, Switzerland. Official EU report is here. Official US report is here.
30 April 2008. Canada. "The Government of Canada is seeking the views of Canadians on the proposed Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA)."
15 February 2008. United States. "Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA): Request for Public Comments," Federal Register Notice, Volume 73, Number 32.
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News Stories and Blogs
16 July 2008. Monika Ermert, "Europe May Put ACTA Back On Faster Track," Intellectual Property Watch.
1 July 2008. Wendy Seltzer, "The RIAA has an ACTA Wish-List," Wendy's Blog, July 1, 2008
1 July 2008. John Healey, "ACTA Turning ISPs into Enforcers," LATimes.
30 June 2008, Nate Anderson, "RIAA's ACTA wishlist includes gutted DMCA, mandatory filters," Arstechnica.
25 June 2008. James Love, "A Few Important Stories that Are Not News (in the US)," The Huffington Post.
19 June 2008. Shamnad Basheer, "Is the Indian Drug Controller Participating in the ACTA Negotiations?" Spicy IP.
15 June 2008. "Opposing Lack of Transparency in IP: KEI and Michael Geist on the ACTA." Spicy IP.
13 June 2008. Mike Palmedo, "Negotiations for an Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement Raise Concerns." American University Program on Information Justice and Intellectual Property.
11 June 2008. "ACTA Negotiations Move Forward Amid Controversy," Bridges Volume 12, Number 21.
10 June 2008. Graeme Philipson, "Digital copyright: it's all wrong," The Sydney Morning Herald.
9 Jun 2008. Michael Geist, "Transparency needed on ACTA," The Toronto Star.
6 June 2008. Cory Doctorow, "Secret super-copyright treaty MEMO leaked," Boing Boing.
6 June 2008. William Patry, "Secret Government Part III," The Patry Copyright Blog.
5 June 2008. Monika Ermert, "Speculation Persists on ACTA as First Official Meeting Concludes," Intellectual Property Watch.
5 June 2008. Ari Abramowitz, "The Art of the End Around," Public Knowledge.
3 June 2008. William Patry, "An ACTA Call to Arms: No More Secret Government," The Patry Copyright Blog.
2 June 2008. "Anti-Counterfeiting ACTA talks commence Tuesday." FYI.
2 June 2008. Nate Anderson, "The real ACTA threat (it's not iPod-scanning border guards)," Ars Technica.
30 May 2008. "Embattled ACTA Negotiations Next Week In Geneva; US Sees Signing This Year." Intellectual Property Watch.
4 March 2008. Liza Porteus Viana, "Business, Governments See Momentum For ACTA, But EU Snags," Intellectual Property Watch.
23 October 2007. Cory Doctorow, "Anti-counterfeiting treaty turns into maximum copyright free-for-all," Boing Boing.
23 October 2007. Howard Knopf, "'ACTA' – a New Plurilateral Policy Platform," Excess Copyright.
April-June 2008. Michael Geist's blogs on ACTA, michaelgeist.ca
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## Attachments and Recent Blogs
(not organized in chronological order.)
Attachments
2352422-v1-ACTA_Text_for_Public_Release_16_April_2010.pdf 15nov2010-acta.pdf ACTA_TEXT_3December2010.pdf acta1105_en.pdf
Blogs
*** Senator Leahy patent reform bill out of step with ACTA provisions on patent damages** *** KEI looks at USTR letter to Wyden, and conflicts between ACTA and patent reform** *** KEI notes on the EU leak of the ACTA text** *** USTR positions in China WTO TRIPS dispute at odds with talking points on ACTA flexibility** *** De Gucht responds to MEP Françoise Castex. Says ACTA is binding agreement, consistent with EU 'acquis'** *** 2008 KEI Comments on ACTA Anti-Counterfeiting Treaty** *** 633 to 13, EU Parliament votes to make ACTA public, and more sensitive to civil liberties and consumer protection** *** ACTA New Zealand meeting agenda** *** ACTA Provisions on Injunctions and Damages** *** ACTA and changes in global norms for damages and injunctions (for enforcement of intellectual property)** *** ACTA to cover seven catagories of intellectual property** *** ACTA's Article 2.2.1, on damages:the July 1, 2010 text** *** ACTA's Article 2.3, on "Other Remedies": the July 1, 2010 text ** *** ACTA's Article 2.X on Injunctions: the July 1, 2010 text** *** ACTA: USTR's talking points to WTO Council for TRIPS** *** ACTA: the new institution** *** Access to Orphan Works, and ACTA provisions on damages** *** Agenda of 10th Round ACTA negotiations, August 16-20, Washington DC** *** Ambassador Kirk: People would be “walking away from the table” if the ACTA text is made public ** *** Areas where the Oct 2, 2010 ACTA text is inconsistent with U.S. law** *** China describes TRIPS Council proposal on ACTA and other plurilateral enforcement agreements.** *** Confirmation that Obama Administration was "lone hold out" for releasing bracketed ACTA text to the public in Summer of 2010.** *** Consolidated ACTA text is released, without country positions** *** Day after European Parliament votes against ACTA, Obama expresses support** *** Entertainment Industy letter to Obama on ACTA** *** European Parliament votes 478 to 39 to reject ACTA** *** European generic drug companies ask EU Parliament to remove patents from ACTA** *** Geneva workshop on ACTA, June 28, 2010** *** Greens/EFA MEPs Engström, Sargentini, Beliér, Albrecht ask question on ACTA and Vienna Convention ** *** KEI Letter to the European Parliament regarding ACTA, October 25, 2010** *** KEI comment on US signing of ACTA** *** KEI comment on US signing of ACTA** *** KEI comment on US signing of ACTA** *** KEI to appeal USTR rejection of FOIA of Congressional Research Service (CRS) study of ACTA** *** Letter to President of Mexico regarding ACTA** *** Luc Devigne's role in ACTA negotiations** *** Lunch with the ACTA negotiators, August 17, 2010** *** March 2009 news stories on the denial of access to ACTA documents under FOIA on national security grounds ** *** Meet the chief US ACTA negotiator: Kira Alvarez, the Deputy Assistant USTR for IP Enforcement** *** Mexico President writes KEI, asks Minister of Economy to respond to ACTA questions ** *** Mexico President writes KEI, asks Minister of Economy to respond to ACTA questions ** *** Michèle Rivasi asks question about ACTA and Access to Medicine** *** Missing Safeguards in ACTA present risks to consumers in the United States, KEI/PK letter to Congress** *** Non-responsive letter from David Kappos of USPTO to Senators Sanders and Brown regarding ACTA consistency with US law** *** Part 1: Notes on the August 25, 2010 version of the ACTA consolidated text** *** Part 2: Notes on the August 25, 2010 version of the ACTA consolidated text** *** Privacy challenges facing the European Union from ACTA** *** Senator Wyden asks for legal review of ACTA** *** Senators Sanders and Brown ask White House to make ACTA text public** *** Senators Sanders and Brown write to Kappos at USPTO, ask if ACTA is consistent with US law** *** Seven Secret ACTA documents from 2008** *** Six recent secret ACTA documents** *** The 18 uses of "at least" in the ACTA text** *** The ACTA Leak is useful, but there are still plenty of secrets** *** The November 15, 2010 version of ACTA** *** The October 2, 2010 version of the ACTA text** *** USTR's February 10, 2009 memo on Transparency Soup** *** USTR's Request for Comments on ACTA ** *** USTR's implausible claim that ACTA Article 1.2 is an all purpose loophole, and the ramifications if true** *** USTR's system of NDAs to provide private sector access to ACTA position** *** Video of Google, DC January 11, 2010 debate on ACTA** *** What's (still) wrong with ACTA, and why governments should reject the illegitimate agreement** *** White House says ACTA text a State Secret. EU parliament says time for more transparency ** *** White House shares the ACTA Internet text with 42 Washington insiders, under non disclosure agreements** *** KEI Statement on March 9 letter from Pascal Lamy, regarding Dutch confiscation of medicines in transit to developing countries**