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Leaked TPP Pushes ISP Content Filters, Kicking Users Offline

Wikileaks this week released a copy of the latest version of the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) that has been under construction behind closed doors for years. As we've long noted, the TPP attempts to take some of the worst aspects of U.S. copyright law and foist them upon the globe. Mike Masnick at Techdirt has a good take on what the TPP will do to copyright law in general, most notably making serious broad-scale copyright reform impossible.

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On the broadband front, TPP continues the effort to make ISPs more liable for enforcement of copyright infringement on their networks. In other words, higher prices whether you pirate or not as the carrier passes notification, filtering and anti-piracy Whac-A-Mole support costs on to you.

Canadian law Professor Michael Geist points out that there's a rift forming between the United States and Canada on just how liable ISPs should be, with the U.S. and Australia pushing for greater content blocking and possibly broadband user account termination:
quote:
The US proposal, which enjoys support from Australia (and support for some provisions from Singapore, New Zealand, and Peru) features far more conditions for ISP limitation of liability that could lead to subscriber service termination and content blocking (Canada, Brunei, Vietnam, and Mexico oppose the approach). Under the U.S. model, specific actions are required for specific limitations of liability. For example, a limitation of liability for automated caching is subject to four requirements, including "removing or disabling access, on receipt of an effective notification of claimed infringement, to cached material that has been removed or access to which has been disabled at the originating site."
In addition to greater ISP liability and the continued attempt to block content or kick users offline (ideas we had seemed to be moving away from globally and here in the States as draconian and dysfunctional), the leaked TPP draft also includes a measure that could make life harder for companies like Aereo to challenge the cable TV status quo. Directly from the TPP:
quote:
[US propose: Notwithstanding Article QQ.G.16 [limitations and exceptions] and Article QQ.G.14.3(b) [over the air broadcasting reference], no Party may permit the retransmission of television signals (whether terrestrial, cable, or satellite) on the Internet without the authorization of the right holder or right holders of the content of the signal and, if any, of the signal.]
Based on all of these changes it's fairly apparent which industry is in the driving seat when it comes to getting these proposals included in the draft. The EFF also has an analysis of the leaked TPP you should probably read here.

Most recommended from 23 comments



buzz_4_20
join:2003-09-20
Dover, NH

6 recommendations

buzz_4_20

Member

Ok, here's the plan.

We're going to cripple innovation, freedom and choice all for the sake of making sure a handful of companies keep getting to sell their crap without having to innovate.