InternetNZ to take public message to ACTA negotiators

InternetNZ (Internet New Zealand Inc) will assist the public in voicing its concerns about the controversial international Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) through an open conference to be held next month in Wellington, New Zealand.

“We’re going to give the public the chance to have their say – in contrast to the secrecy of the negotiation process,” says Jordan Carter, InternetNZ Policy Director.

PublicACTA will be held on Saturday, 10 April 2010, two days ahead of Round 8 of the ACTA negotiations on 12-16 April in Wellington. The outputs of PublicACTA will be provided to the New Zealand government negotiators.

PublicACTA will be an open and public opportunity for people to critique the known and likely content of the ACTA proposals, providing a counterpoint to the secrecy of the negotiations.

“These plurilateral negotiations appear to extend well beyond the area of trade and physical counterfeiting to potentially cover non-commercial infringement of copyright material by ordinary citizens and digital rights management,” Carter says.

Despite the high level of secrecy surrounding the process, some of the proposals have leaked and demonstrate cause for concern.

“ACTA could affect everyone’s rights on the Internet.  Proposals from some countries seek to go beyond New Zealand’s current public position. It is therefore very important that there is a forum for public discussion,” says Carter.

“The aim of PublicACTA is to raise the public’s concerns, seek improvements to the Agreement, and provide an opportunity for people to connect and discuss the issues. The output will be an agreed statement that the public and interested organisations can sign up to, to be delivered to New Zealand Government negotiators and politicians.”

The New Zealand Government has called for submissions on ACTA identifying the dates of the negotiations and outlining some specific areas they would like feedback on. InternetNZ will also submit on that document, which has a deadline of 31 March 2010.

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A dedicated website has been launched at www.publicacta.org.nz, to provide details on the PublicACTA event to be held in the Town Hall in Wellington on 10 April 2010, ahead of the controversial ACTA (Anti-Countereiting Trade Agreement) negotiations. Respected Australian legal academic Kim Weatherall has confirmed as a speaker, joining Canadian law professor Dr Michael Geist, previously announced. Further speaker and programme details will be announced in coming weeks.

InternetNZ (Internet New Zealand Inc) is the organiser of PublicACTA, which is a day long event that will enable the public to voice its concerns about the ACTA negotiations. The outputs of PublicACTA will be provided to the New Zealand government negotiators.Registrations are rolling in and can now also be accepted through the website. Attending PublicACTA is free of charge.

InternetNZ Policy Director Jordan Carter says the organisation is proud to provide this platform for public discussion. “The secrecy around the treaty is concerning, with even the location of the negotiations in Wellington from 12-16 April being kept hidden from the public.”

“What is clear is that the negotiations extend well beyond trade and physical counterfeiting to include non-commercial infringement of copyright material by ordinary citizens, and digital rights management. This could affect everyone’s rights on the Internet and it is therefore very important that there is a forum for public discussion.

The aim of PublicACTA is to raise the public’s concerns, seek improvements to the Agreement, and provide an opportunity for people to connect and discuss the issues. The output will be an agreed statement that the public and interested organisations can sign up to, to be delivered to New Zealand government negotiators and politicians.

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More information at www.publicacta.org.nz