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New ACTA Leaks: Criminal Enforcement, Institutional Issues, and International Cooperation

New ACTA leaks have emerged this week that fill in the blanks about the remainder of the still-secret treaty.  While earlier leaks provided extensive detail on the Internet and civil enforcement chapters, these latest leaks shed new light into the criminal enforcement section, the chapter on ACTA institutional issues, and international cooperation.

Criminal Enforcement

As described by KEI, the European Union has proposed language to require criminal penalties for "inciting, aiding and abetting" certain offenses, including "at least in cases of willful trademark counterfeiting and copyright or related rights piracy on a commercial scale."  Willful copyright infringement includes instances that "have no direct or indirect motivation of financial gain."

Institutional Arrangements

KEI reports that the Institutional Arrangement chapter – Chapter 5 of the ACTA text – is the second longest in the treaty.  It includes the creation of an ACTA Oversight Committee that may have the power to amend the treaty itself.   The leaked text reveals the following proposal:

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March 19, 2010 22 comments News

Clement: Copyright Bill Before the Summer

The Wire Report reports that Industry Minister Tony Clement has confirmed that the government plans to introduce a new copyright bill before the summer recess.  Clement also commented on ACTA, stating that it is his position that "whatever comes out of ACTA has to be compliant with our laws."

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March 19, 2010 5 comments News

Globe on Angus Fair Dealing Motion: A Welcome Move

The Globe and Mail's masthead editorial today comments on the Angus fair dealing motion: "Mr. Angus also tabled a motion that would expand the Copyright Act's definition of "fair dealing," allowing the reasonable use of copyrighted materials for innovation, research and study – a welcome move."

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March 19, 2010 Comments are Disabled News

Editorials Express Support for Levy Proposal

Yesterday I pointed to two editorials opposed to the Angus private copying bill.  Today, the Edmonton Journal expresses support, while the Globe says debate on the issue is the best outcome.

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March 19, 2010 Comments are Disabled News

Official ACTA Responses Begin To Mount

As public outrage over ACTA mounts, there have been a series of official responses to questions posed by legislators or raised through access to information requests.  In addition to yesterday's statement from International Trade Minister Peter Van Loan's office confirming Canada's support of release of the ACTA text, recent documents […]

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March 18, 2010 4 comments News