David Post over at Volokh.com lends his (blogging) voice against the international cabal (and I don't feel that such a phrase is hyperbole in this instance) that is trying to foist a stricter copyright regime throughout the world via the ACTA treaty.

Read it here:

http://volokh.com/2010/03/26/outrageous-treaty-nonsense-or-the-copyright-tail-wagging-the-internet-dog/

I believe there is an overlooked aspect in the ACTA treaty. This is one of those cases of being careful for what you are asking for. The demand is for even greater "intellectual property" protection. The problem is that many components of the US economy, such as manufacturing, are moving overseas to countries that are cheaper.

A recent commenter on a New York Times pointed out that research and development will also move overseas for the same reason. If we claim strong "intellectual property" rights, we may find ourselves on the losing end when other countries start demand licensing/rental fees from us for our use of their "intellectual property".

We may be at the "top" now, but this country is running trade and budgetary deficits. There is also continued concern over the lack of quality education. Eventually we may have a brain deficit too as researchers move to greener and cheaper pastures. Once other countries demand conformance with their "intellectual property" rights protection, will we (as a nation) conform with their demands?

PS: Just to be clear, I would not support ACTA, so-called "intellectual property" has become an onerous burden to the free exchange of information and personal rights.

I believe there is an overlooked aspect in the ACTA treaty. This is one of those cases of being careful for what you are asking for. The demand is for even greater "intellectual property" protection. The problem is that many components of the US economy, such as manufacturing, are moving overseas to countries that are cheaper.

A recent commenter on a New York Times pointed out that research and development will also move overseas for the same reason. If we claim strong "intellectual property" rights, we may find ourselves on the losing end when other countries start demand licensing/rental fees from us for our use of their "intellectual property".

We may be at the "top" now, but this country is running trade and budgetary deficits. There is also continued concern over the lack of quality education. Eventually we may have a brain deficit too as researchers move to greener and cheaper pastures. Once other countries demand conformance with their "intellectual property" rights protection, will we (as a nation) conform with their demands?

PS: Just to be clear, I would not support ACTA, so-called "intellectual property" has become an onerous burden to the free exchange of information and personal rights.

Steve:

Regarding demanding conformance with IP rights. That might be interesting. Severe violation of IP rights is a criminal offense in China. You could end up in prison for infringement!

Well, I wonder why post appeared twice? Oh Well.

Let's connect some dots. The US went into Panama to take out Noriega. We evidently have DEA agents in Afghanistan helping with poppy control. So we are willing to extend the reach of our laws into foreign countries. We now have an intellectual property Czar to assure that intellectual property is protected.

We owe the Chinese a lot of money. By the looks of things we will be owing them even more. Not only that, but they are buying US assets. Geely to buy Volvo from Ford for $1.8 billion. Previously China bought IBM's personal computer business. Eventually, (hypothetically of course) we may find some poor Volvo owner approached, at the request of the Chinese government, by our intellectual property czar concerning unauthorized modifications to the car and provided with a one-way cruise to a Chinese prison. After all, if we can extend the reach of our laws, why not the Chinese?

Steve:

lol...and scary at the same time. However, patent laws are enforced subject to the laws of the country in which the patent was granted. So, unless the Chinese are able to convince the U.S. government to make patent infringement punishable by up to three years in prison, the maximum period in China, it is lot likely to happen.

You make a really great point about the U.S. owing money too. O-Bomb-Duh has policies that are absorbing money at the fastest rate in the history of the United States. Take that George Bush, Jr.! So, will those with a sense of entitlement keep him in office or will the people who realize his rocket plane growth in government is a complete catastrophe put a halt to his shenanigans.

I hope people are voting in the next election.

"However, patent laws are enforced subject to the laws of the country in which the patent was granted." Unfortunately that concept is under attack.

Canada Also Getting Pushed By EU On Ridiculous Copyright Policies

Senate Wants To Send US Copyright Cops To Foreign Countries

Whether anything mentioned in the articles above actually gets done, is unknown. Nevertheless these concepts are being mentioned and may gain traction.

Steve:

I have always loved the U.S. Heck, I even served in the military for her. However, people are participating in government less and less, and our "politicians" are doing some pretty absurd stuff. Worse, the idiots who keep saying that "copyright is dead" are obviously not watching the news. It takes action to make things happen, and the "copyright is dead" crowd are sleeping while the fox is fryin' up the chikins. Serious, man, people have got to vote.