[P2P-F] Fwd: [fcf_discussion] OECD Draft Internet Communiqué Sacrifices Freedoms to Copyright

[Michel Bauwens]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: La Quadrature du Net <jz at laquadrature.net>
Date: Tue, Jun 28, 2011 at 11:17 PM
Subject: [fcf_discussion] OECD Draft Internet Communiqué Sacrifices Freedoms
to Copyright
To: fcforum_discussion at list.fcforum.net


La Quadrature du Net - For immediate release

Permanent link:
http://www.laquadrature.net/en/oecd-draft-internet-communique-sacrifices-freedoms-to-copyright


OECD Draft Internet Communiqué Sacrifices Freedoms to Copyright



*** Paris, June 28th, 2011 – La Quadrature du Net adds its voice to the 80
global civil society groups that have declined endorsing the OECD's
communiqué on Principles for Internet Policy-Making. Although the text puts
forward positive recommendations, rights and freedoms online are severely
undermined by the call for private policing of the network, opening the door
to automated censorship in the name of copyright. ***


The 80 global civil society groups represented at the Organization for
Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) under the umbrella of CSISAC
have rejected the draft communiqué on Principles for Internet Policy-Making.
La Quadrature du Net adds its voice to that of CSISAC, and regrets the OECD
member countries' stubborn defense of the entertainment industries' obsolete
business models, which is bound to undermine the very principles that the
communiqué rightly puts forward.

OECD LogoThe draft communiqué unfortunately shows that the OECD member
countries are pushing for the same flawed online copyright policies as the
ACTA agreement1, the G8 conclusions2 and the EU strategy3 for the future of
copyright. The draft communiqué contains crucial elements of wording seeking
to weaken the liability exemptions enjoyed by Internet companies such as
search engines, hosting or access providers4, to turn them into a private
copyright police and justice. The OECD draft communiqué reads: “Internet
intermediaries could take steps to [...] assist rights holders in enforcing
their rights or reduce illegal content,[...], respecting fair process
[...]”, with “fair process” being explicitly defined with no reference to
the judicial authority. It is clearly designed to allow rightsholders to
bypass citizens' right to a fair trial.

Thus, the OECD communiqué legitimates policies bypassing the judicial
authority for online law enforcement, particularly in the name of an
obsolete copyright regime. It also mentions that “users should have the
ability to access and generate lawful content”, thus limiting free speech,
and paving the way to private, automated censorship where machines would
determine what is lawful or not, rather than a judge.

“If left unchanged, the OECD communiqué is poised to promote a decade-long
war on sharing, which has already had disastrous consequences on freedom of
expression and privacy worldwide. Under the pressure of the entertainment
industries, the OECD is undermining the good principles laid in its
framework for Internet policy-making. Fundamental freedoms and the rule of
law should prevail over any private interest, and that means guaranteeing a
fair trial to all Internet users rather than pushing for private policing
and censorship”, concluded Jérémie Zimmermann, co-founder and spokesperson
of the advocacy group, La Quadrature du Net.


* Références *

1. http://www.laquadrature.net/en/ACTA

2.
http://www.laquadrature.net/en/frances-g8-focuses-on-control-and-restrictions-to-online-freedoms

3.
http://www.laquadrature.net/en/eu-commission-sticks-to-flawed-copyright-repression

4. Instead of strongly affirming liability exemptions and why there are
important, the draft calls for their active involvement in law
enforcement:.The draft reads “Internet intermediaries, like other
stakeholders, can and do play an important role by addressing and deterring
illegal activity, fraud and misleading and unfair practices conducted over
their networks and services as well as advancing economic growth.”



** About la Quadrature du Net **


La Quadrature du Net is an advocacy group that promotes the rights and
freedoms of citizens on the Internet. More specifically, it advocates for
the adaptation of French and European legislations to respect the founding
principles of the Internet, most notably the free circulation of knowledge.

In addition to its advocacy work, the group also aims to foster a better
understanding of legislative processes among citizens. Through specific and
pertinent information and tools, La Quadrature du Net hopes to encourage
citizens' participation in the public debate on rights and freedoms in the
digital age.

La Quadrature du Net is supported by French, European and international NGOs
including the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the Open Society Institute and
Privacy International.

List of supporting organisations :
http://www.laquadrature.net/en/they-support-squaring-net-la-quadrature-du-net


** Press contact and press room **

Jérémie Zimmermann, jz at laquadrature.net, +33 (0)615 940 675

http://www.laquadrature.net/en/press-room







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