Wikileaks has the full text of a memo concerning the dread Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, a draft treaty that does away with those pesky public trade-negotiations at the United Nations (with participation from citizens' groups and public interest groups) in favor of secret, closed-door meetings where entertainment industry giants get to give marching orders to governments in private.

It's some pretty crazy reading — among other things, ACTA will outlaw P2P (even when used to share works that are legally available, like my books), and crack down on things like region-free DVD players. All of this is taking place out of the public eye, presumably with the intention of presenting it as a fait accompli just as the ink is drying on the treaty.

Honestly, it's becoming clearer and clearer that the entertainment industry is an existential threat to the idea of free speech, open tools, and an open communications network.

Who is really behind ACTA? Follow the money: Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA)[4] Top four campaign contributions for 2006:



Time Warner $21,000



News Corp $15,000

Sony Corp of America $14,000



Walt Disney Co $13,550 Top two Industries:

TV/Movies/Music $181,050



Lawyers/Law Firms $114,200 Other politicians listed also show significant contributions from IP industries.

Link

(Thanks, Espen!)

See also: Anti-counterfeiting treaty turns into maximum copyright free-for-all