There is an interesting implication in the research paper from the British Medical Journal relating to possible tobacco advertising on YouTube. The part which struck me was this statement:

"Since content may be removed from YouTube if it is found to breach copyright or if it contains offensive material, there is scope for the public and health organisations to request the removal of pro-tobacco content containing copyright or offensive material."

It seems to be a suggestion that the ability to claim for copyright infringement should be available, not just to the author, but anybody who might find it useful as a tool for censorship.

Regards Paul Lockett

Better than that, forthcoming remedies available to our copyright holding overlords need only suspicion as grounds to disconnect/excommunicate individuals or websites from the Internet.

The beauty of it is that all those whiny individuals and websites that raise a stink about it, can thus be excommunicated at will.

The Internet can then be restored to its proper use as another media channel for content consuming couch potatoes.

Intellectual Property = Reign of Terror

Yes Steve, and without the means to disclose the state's corruption (viz WikiLeaks) who will ever become aware of those 'silenced' from such disclosure?

ACTA is a reprise of the Statute of Anne, the state's defensive control of a beholden press (suppressing insurrection & sedition) through the reward of privilege - a lucrative monopoly.

ACTA simply transfers ownership of the Internet to the state and its press. If they are granted powers to arbitrarily exclude then they recreate the powers of any property owner. If they don't like what you have to say, no-one will hear it, you will cease to speak it, and no-one will notice - if any complained they would join you.

Statute of Anne - national US Copyright - continental ACTA - multinational/global

Let me know when they finish terraforming Mars, I suspect this planet has run out of libertarian sanctuary.

Crosbie:

There is always Somalia.

you mean because of the support of piracy? :D

Samuel:

Amusing.

I was thinking more about their lack of government. If there was ever a place available for a pure Libertarian society, Somalia seems like the place.

Somalia has a government, and the conflict there can reasonably be described as a civil war outside of Puntland and the Northwest.