Neue Details rund um ACTA

Bei den Geheimverhandlungen rund um das internationale Anti-Piraterie-Abkommen ACTA sind mehr Details an die Öffentlichkeit gekommen. Und wie man erwarten konnte, ist der derzeitige Stand bedrohlich für eine digitale Gesellschaft. Der kanadische Rechtsprofessor Michael Geist hat die Internet-relevanten Details gebloggt und kommentiert: The ACTA Internet Chapter: Putting the Pieces Together.

1. Baseline obligations inspired by Article 41 of the TRIPs which focuses on the enforcement of intellectual property.

2. A requirement to establish third-party liability for copyright infringement.

3. Restrictions on limitations to 3rd party liability (ie. limited safe harbour rules for ISPs). For example, in order for ISPs to qualify for a safe harbour, they would be required establish policies to deter unauthorized storage and transmission of IP infringing content. Provisions are modeled under the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement, namely Article 18.10.30. They include policies to terminate subscribers in appropriate circumstances. Notice-and-takedown, which is not currently the law in Canada nor a requirement under WIPO, would also be an ACTA requirement.

4. Anti-circumvention legislation that establishes a WIPO+ model by adopting both the WIPO Internet Treaties and the language currently found in U.S. free trade agreements that go beyond the WIPO treaty requirements. For example, the U.S.-South Korea free trade agreement specifies the permitted exceptions to anti-circumvention rules. These follow the DMCA model (reverse engineering, computer testing, privacy, etc.) and do not include a fair use/fair dealing exception. Moreover, the free trade agreement clauses also include a requirement to ban the distribution of circumvention devices. The current draft does not include any obligation to ensure interoperability of DRM.

5. Rights Management provisions, also modeled on U.S. free trade treaty language.

Vor allem der zweite Punkte ist interessant. Hier geht es um Internetsperrungen und das blocken von Seiten wie ThePirateBay durch Provider. Mal schauen, welche Details noch an die Öffentlichkeit kommen.