Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement

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freitasm

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#308309 17-Mar-2010 14:45

Public Briefing on ACTA: Auckland, 24 March – InternetNZ
Media Release – 17 March 2010

InternetNZ (Internet New Zealand Inc) is inviting the public to find out more about the Anti Counterfeiting Trade Agreement at a briefing in Auckland next Wednesday afternoon.

“ACTA is something anyone interested in the Internet should know a bit about,” says Policy Director Jordan Carter.

“The meeting on Wednesday is a chance for people to find out more about it.”

Speakers at the meeting will include:
* Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
* Colin Jackson – a Wellington consultant and blogger at IT.gen.nz
* Jonathon Penney – the 2010 Cyberlaw Fellow at Victoria University of Wellington
* Jordan Carter - Policy Director, InternetNZ

The venue is the Coromandel Room, Level 1, Rendezvous Hotel, corner Vincent St and Mayoral Drive in Auckland's CBD.

It commences at 2.00pm and will be finished by 4.00pm.

“I hope that those who come along will make a submission in response to the Government’s call for these, in advance of the negotiating round being held in New Zealand next month,” Carter says.

More information regarding ACTA is available at www.acta.net.nz.

IF YOU WISH TO ATTEND PLEASE RSVP by sending an email to rsvp at internetnz.net.nz with AUCKLAND or similar in the subject line.

peteremcc

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#308315 17-Mar-2010 14:50

Any plans for a Wellington version? Am really keen.

freitasm

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#308776 18-Mar-2010 14:45

PublicACTA website launch, registrations are open
Media Release
18 March 2010

A dedicated website has been launched at www.publicacta.org.nz, to provide details on the PublicACTA event to be held in the Town Hall in Wellington on 10 April 2010, ahead of the controversial ACTA (Anti-Countereiting Trade Agreement) negotiations.

Respected Australian legal academic Kim Weatherall has confirmed as a speaker, joining Canadian law professor Dr Michael Geist, previously announced. Further speaker and programme details will be announced in coming weeks.

InternetNZ (Internet New Zealand Inc) is the organiser of PublicACTA, which is a day long event that will enable the public to voice its concerns about the ACTA negotiations. The outputs of PublicACTA will be provided to the New Zealand government negotiators.

Registrations are rolling in and can now also be accepted through the website. Attending PublicACTA is free of charge.

InternetNZ Policy Director Jordan Carter says the organisation is proud to provide this platform for public discussion. "The secrecy around the treaty is concerning, with even the location of the negotiations in Wellington from 12-16 April being kept hidden from the public."

"What is clear is that the negotiations extend well beyond trade and physical counterfeiting to include non-commercial infringement of copyright material by ordinary citizens, and digital rights management. This could affect everyone’s rights on the Internet and it is therefore very important that there is a forum for public discussion."

The aim of PublicACTA is to raise the public’s concerns, seek improvements to the Agreement, and provide an opportunity for people to connect and discuss the issues. The output will be an agreed statement that the public and interested organisations can sign up to, to be delivered to New Zealand government negotiators and politicians.

For more information go to www.publicacta.org.nz

freitasm

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#315299 6-Apr-2010 13:14

Released today:

Submission criticises absence of evidence for ACTA approach – InternetNZ
Media Release – 6 April 2010

InternetNZ (Internet New Zealand Inc) has released a submission responding to the Ministry of Economic Development’s consultation in advance of this month’s ACTA negotiations in Wellington.

The consultation sought information on how New Zealand should position itself on the main subject of the Wellington round – enforcement in the digital environment. The topics covered will be debated at the PublicACTA event in Wellington on 10 April.

“ACTA is shaping the enforcement of copyright, trademarks and other forms of law in a tougher direction, but there is no evidence that doing so is in the public interest,” says InternetNZ Policy Director Jordan Carter.

“Changes to enforcement make a real difference to the substantive rights Kiwis enjoy under copyright and trademark law. Changes that reduce the access the public have to creative content must only be considered where strong evidence suggests they are needed.

“That evidence simply does not exist.

“InternetNZ’s submission makes the argument that in the absence of such evidence, the whole digital enforcement framework should not be part of ACTA – and if it is, New Zealand should not sign the Treaty,”
says Carter.

“Our submission clearly explains the basis of this argument, as well as addressing the specific questions set out in the Ministry’s consultation paper.

“We prefer a safe harbour approach for minimising ISP liability, in line with the current New Zealand approach. We do not support the release of the details of alleged infringers to rights holders, and we do not support enhanced enforcement or protection of digital rights management systems or copyright management information.”

InternetNZ will be highlighting these issues and more at the PublicACTA event on 10 April. For more information about the event visit www.publicacta.org.nz .

InternetNZ’s ACTA submission is available online:
http://internetnz.net.nz/our-work/submissions/submission-ministry-economic-development-digital-enforcement-section-acta

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#315525 6-Apr-2010 21:43

no more apathy New Zealand. there is a war going on, democratic process is at risk not just your warez...

Sniffing the glue holding the Internet together

freitasm

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#317218 12-Apr-2010 09:01

Please note I've created a separate thread to discuss the PublicACTA Wellington Declaration here: http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=95&topicid=59761

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