ACTA

First topic message reminder :

So... what's everyone's views on ACTA?

Essentially... a global treaty. Designed to stop piracy; it will also prevent freeware, blogging (or uploading of any original content), allow devices to be checked for breaches of copyright without evidence - they could confiscate your iPod in the streets just in case it has pirate music...

"Free" would not exist. More over, since ISPs will be liable... they will just block you uploading, rather than sit and check everything people upload.

Calm talking lady, describing it nicely;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhCs0vPmjVA&feature=related

A news report;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrRuuSlCCOc

Anonymous' response, if you can stand Microsoft Michelle's voice;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roMf2RmRzFc

Very blunt, but full of swearing version;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38mQnRfDuwg

1) So long as we're only talking about software, must and films; it's ALL FREE! I don't know a single pay-piracy website and if they exist... well, why use them when you can get it for free pretty much everywhere else?

... *reads the whole thing*

What are you pointing out with all that?

They aren't stopping downloading/uploading - and all your points seem to be based on that.

Downloading will likely be unaffected - however, the penalties for illegal downloading will likely be greater. That, and how they check for illegal products will seemingly be improved - such as random spot checks.

ISPs will be liable for what their customers upload, thus, it'll be UPLOADING that's affected by ACTA. They'll likely block all uploads to untrusted websites, or put monitors in place to see what you're uploading. These precautions won't affect your ability to download - but P2P-filesharing only works because people are uploading, if people stop uploading then you won't be able to download.

Things like Tor and other proxy servers will likely still work, the same way they mask you now. However, if your ISP sees you uploading via an encrypted network they might think something's going on.

So in a sense, they shouldn't be prohibiting work from being uploaded to sites like Deviant Art, You Tube and the RuneScape forums. I suppose it's just the matter of having a license to allow uploading or downloading.

I'm sure they'll be listed under trusted sites, whatever the case.

*fingers crossed that this is just a late April Fools*

*crosses other fingers that this is just a successful troll*