Re: Worried about the Free Trade Agreement with the US? You Should Be!

[Shay Telfer]

Please keep political messages off the WAMUG list,
Mike


Sadly portions of the FTA directly relate to what you can or can't do 
legally with your Mac. Although the original poster should probably 
have highlighted that relevance...


Have fun,
Shay (WAMUG ListMom)
--
=== Shay  Telfer 
 Perth, Western Australia   Technomancer  Join Team Sungroper in the
 Opinions for hire  [POQ] 2005 World Solar Challenge
 [EMAIL PROTECTED] fnord 

Re: Worried about the Free Trade Agreement with the US? You Should Be!

[Craig Ringer]

On Tue, 2004-07-06 at 15:24, Mike Murray wrote:
> Please keep political messages off the WAMUG list,

While I think this message could've been better explained, there is some
validity to it's being posted here. The FTA has the potential to
seriously harm our ability to use computers and technology, and computer
user groups are one of the things that can help stop it. In that sense,
at least, it seems reasonable to post it here, though I think it
could've been better worded to make that clear.

Then again, this is _me_ talking about "could have been better
worded...".

--
Craig Ringer

Re: Worried about the Free Trade Agreement with the US? You Should Be!

[Shay Telfer]

Hello, all WAMUGGERS, this is desperately in need of our full support!
Please take a moment & support the blocking if the FTA legislation in the
Senate.
If we do nothing now we can expect to reap the results in years to
come...all bad!


People may also want to review the Electronic Freedom Association's 
submissions to the Senate Committee on the Intellectual Property and 
Copyright provisions of the FTA


<http://www.efa.org.au/Issues/IP/index.html#fta>

Want to record shows off HDTV in a couple of years time? TV stations 
may be able to decide which shows you can or can't tape in the 
future. Want to copy that book from 50 years ago that's no longer in 
print? Sorry, it's just gone back into copyright for another 20 years.


EFA is opposed to Australia signing or implementing the provisions 
of Chapter 17 of the FTA. In particular, EFA is concerned that:
	*	 consideration of Chapter 17 should be approached 
from the perspective of promoting innovation and the public domain, 
rather than protecting existing business models and punishing 
infringers


	*	the Chapter 17 expansions are likely to impede rather 
than promote free trade and innovation


	*	there is no justification for extending copyright 
protection to 70 years


	*	the criminal law has only a limited role in 
intellectual property law and should not be expanded


	*	the proposed circumvention device bans are overly 
strict and have more potential to be used as weapons against 
competition and innovation than for it


	*	the proposed rights management information provisions 
would unduly extend the power position of copyright holders and 
impinge upon consumers' rights to deal with legitimately purchased 
goods


	*	presumptions towards subsistence and ownership of 
copyright are unnecessary and weight proceedings too far in favour 
of those claiming rights as opposed to those defending them


	*	the provisions relating to damages would result in 
unrealistic determinations and increase the power of copyright 
holders


	*	the take-down notice provisions are unfairly weighted 
in favour of those making allegations


	*	ISPs should not be force to divulge personal 
information about customers except after judicial order


	*	the FTA would commit to allowing any and all 
'technologies' to be patented, regardless of whether a need for 
patentability is demonstrated


 Chapter 17 of the Australia - United States of America Free Trade 
Agreement contains a range of proposals that would significantly 
expand intellectual property rights in Australia. These expansions 
are clearly not in Australia's best interests and must be rejected.


Have fun,
Shay
--
=== Shay  Telfer 
 Perth, Western Australia   Technomancer  Join Team Sungroper in the
 Opinions for hire  [POQ] 2005 World Solar Challenge
 [EMAIL PROTECTED] fnord <http://sungroper.asn.au/>

Re: Worried about the Free Trade Agreement with the US? You Should Be!

[Mike Murray]

Please keep political messages off the WAMUG list,
Mike

On Tuesday, July 6, 2004, at 03:05  PM, Ken Jackson wrote:



Hello, all WAMUGGERS, this is desperately in need of our full support!
Please take a moment & support the blocking if the FTA legislation in 
the

Senate.
If we do nothing now we can expect to reap the results in years to
come...all bad!

Thank you for taking a moment during June to send a message to ALP 
leader

Mark Latham at http://www.nofta.org
You'll be happy to know that almost 4,000 Australians like you have
similarly raised their voices in protest against the Australia-US Free 
Trade

Agreement (FTA) since June 1.

While the government has now passed FTA legislation in the House of
Representatives, thanks to public pressure from people like you, the 
ALP has
so far refused to support the agreement in the Senate. The ALP is 
waiting
for the Senate committee on the FTA to report on August 12 before 
taking a

public stand on the issue. They could vote either way.

If we are to succeed in stopping this agreement, we need to keep up the
pressure on the ALP to block FTA legislation in the Senate, 
particularly in
the lead-up to the coming federal election. With this in mind, we're 
asking
all those who've already send a letter to Mark Latham to encourage 
others to

do so too.

Please copy the message below into a new email and sending to 
workmates,
family and friends. We urgently need to double or even triple the 
number of

people who have so far sent a message.

Thanks once again for your support on this important issue.
---
Global Trade Watch
PO Box 6014, Collingwood North, VIC 3066
Ph: 03 9853 3228
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Website: www.tradewatchoz.org
ABN: 64 661 487 287

**PLEASE FORWARD TO WORKMATES, FRIENDS & FAMILY**

Worried about the Free Trade Agreement with the US?
You Should Be!
Take action now at http://www.NoFTA.org

The Australian Government has signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with 
the

USA that undermines fundamental social, cultural, environmental and
democratic protections which we all enjoy.  It gives US corporations 
new
rights to challenge our laws, and unprecedented influence on 
everything from
how much we pay for medicines to what we see and hear on TV and radio, 
to

our quarantine regulations.

Find out more:

"Free trade deal will cost thousands of jobs: study" -
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/06/07/1086460218281.html

"Study predicts trade agreement will cost PBS $1.5-billion" -
http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2004/s730.htm

"US trade deal raises prescriptions" -
http://news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,9612286%255E1702,00.html

"Scientists fear FTA boosts disease risk" -
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s1102699.htm

" Australia's quarantine rules in US farmers' sights" -
http://qcl.farmonline.com.au/news.asp?editorial_id=58526

"Not happy John! PM has put our culture up for sale" -
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/06/24/1088046220394.html

Fortunately, there's still a chance to stop this agreement coming into
effect: legislation enabling the FTA must be passed by the Senate. But 
while

minor parties have agreed to block the deal, the Labor Party (ALP) are
sitting in the fence. They will not block this deal unless the public 
outcry

is serious enough.

So log on to http://www.nofta.org NOW and join thousands of doctors, 
actors,
workers, farmers, students and others in asking ALP Leader Mark Latham 
to

join the minor parties in opposing this legislation in the Senate.

*** Do Something about the US-Australia FTA now at 
http://www.NoFTA.org ***


 
 

Ken Jackson
T 08 9271 1874
T 08 9271 0389
F 08 9271 0870
M 0409 770 747
E:  [EMAIL PROTECTED]
The information in this e-mail is confidential and may be privileged or
subject to copyright.
It is intended for the exclusive use of the addressee(s).
If you are not an addressee, please do not read, copy, distribute or
otherwise act
upon this e-mail. If you have received the e-mail in error, please 
contact

the sender
immediately and delete the e-mail. The unauthorised use of this e-mail 
may

result
in liability for breach of confidentiality, privilege or copyright.
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.




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Worried about the Free Trade Agreement with the US? You Should Be!

[Ken Jackson]

Hello, all WAMUGGERS, this is desperately in need of our full support!
Please take a moment & support the blocking if the FTA legislation in the
Senate.
If we do nothing now we can expect to reap the results in years to
come...all bad!

Thank you for taking a moment during June to send a message to ALP leader
Mark Latham at http://www.nofta.org 
You'll be happy to know that almost 4,000 Australians like you have
similarly raised their voices in protest against the Australia-US Free Trade
Agreement (FTA) since June 1.

While the government has now passed FTA legislation in the House of
Representatives, thanks to public pressure from people like you, the ALP has
so far refused to support the agreement in the Senate. The ALP is waiting
for the Senate committee on the FTA to report on August 12 before taking a
public stand on the issue. They could vote either way.

If we are to succeed in stopping this agreement, we need to keep up the
pressure on the ALP to block FTA legislation in the Senate, particularly in
the lead-up to the coming federal election. With this in mind, we're asking
all those who've already send a letter to Mark Latham to encourage others to
do so too.

Please copy the message below into a new email and sending to workmates,
family and friends. We urgently need to double or even triple the number of
people who have so far sent a message.

Thanks once again for your support on this important issue.
---
Global Trade Watch
PO Box 6014, Collingwood North, VIC 3066
Ph: 03 9853 3228
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Website: www.tradewatchoz.org
ABN: 64 661 487 287

**PLEASE FORWARD TO WORKMATES, FRIENDS & FAMILY**

Worried about the Free Trade Agreement with the US?
You Should Be! 
Take action now at http://www.NoFTA.org

The Australian Government has signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the
USA that undermines fundamental social, cultural, environmental and
democratic protections which we all enjoy.  It gives US corporations new
rights to challenge our laws, and unprecedented influence on everything from
how much we pay for medicines to what we see and hear on TV and radio, to
our quarantine regulations.

Find out more:

"Free trade deal will cost thousands of jobs: study" -
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/06/07/1086460218281.html

"Study predicts trade agreement will cost PBS $1.5-billion" -
http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2004/s730.htm

"US trade deal raises prescriptions" -
http://news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,9612286%255E1702,00.html

"Scientists fear FTA boosts disease risk" -
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s1102699.htm

" Australia's quarantine rules in US farmers' sights" -
http://qcl.farmonline.com.au/news.asp?editorial_id=58526

"Not happy John! PM has put our culture up for sale" -
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/06/24/1088046220394.html

Fortunately, there's still a chance to stop this agreement coming into
effect: legislation enabling the FTA must be passed by the Senate. But while
minor parties have agreed to block the deal, the Labor Party (ALP) are
sitting in the fence. They will not block this deal unless the public outcry
is serious enough.

So log on to http://www.nofta.org NOW and join thousands of doctors, actors,
workers, farmers, students and others in asking ALP Leader Mark Latham to
join the minor parties in opposing this legislation in the Senate.

*** Do Something about the US-Australia FTA now at http://www.NoFTA.org ***

 
 

Ken Jackson 
T 08 9271 1874
T 08 9271 0389
F 08 9271 0870
M 0409 770 747
E:  [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
The information in this e-mail is confidential and may be privileged or
subject to copyright.
It is intended for the exclusive use of the addressee(s).
If you are not an addressee, please do not read, copy, distribute or
otherwise act
upon this e-mail. If you have received the e-mail in error, please contact
the sender
immediately and delete the e-mail. The unauthorised use of this e-mail may
result
in liability for breach of confidentiality, privilege or copyright. 
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. 

[EFA] EFA MR: EFA dismayed by IP Clauses of Free Trade Agreement

[Shay Telfer]

[ Forwarding this for those who might be interested. Which is 
hopefully everyone! ]



   Electronic Frontiers Australia Inc. (EFA)
 www.efa.org.au
  [Contact details at end of message]

Media Release: 12 February 2004

EFA DISMAYED BY IP CLAUSES OF FREE TRADE AGREEMENT

Electronic Frontiers Australia (EFA) today expressed dismay about the
intellectual property clauses of the recently announced Free Trade
Agreement with the United States of America, saying they would leave average
Australians at the mercy of legal action from multinational media companies,
and represent a massive step backwards for Australian Intellectual Property
law.

"The United States has one of the worst systems of intellectual property laws
in the world." said EFA board member Dale Clapperton. "Their Digital
Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) has been widely condemned by civil liberties
and users groups throughout the world, and now the Howard government has
committed itself to implementing its worst, most insidious provisions."

US copyright terms have been extended multiple times at the behest of
lobbyists, and now extend to 120 years from publication, a period which
has no purpose but to protect the vested interests of large corporate
copyright holders.  The 50 years (from the death of the author) afforded
by Australian law are ample, promote the growth and reuse of public
domain material, supporting ongoing innovation and development both in the
arts and business, and are in line with Australia's commitments under the
World Intellectual Property Organization treaty.

"Nothing published in the United States of America since 1923 has ever
come into the public domain, thanks to lobbying from the music and
motion picture industries to repeatedly extend the term of copyright.
The public domain has ceased to grow, and unless these continual
senseless extensions are stopped, it will never grow again."

There is nothing positive for Australia in these clauses. No additional
usage rights are granted to Australians or Australian companies, and these
provisions are a blatant sell-out to the interests of large US-based media
companies.

Additionally, "harmonisation" of Australian patent law with the United
States risks the creation of "software patents" in Australia. These types of
patents have been regularly abused in the United States by major software
companies who use them to intimidate and suppress competition and innovation.
Litigation over the alleged infringement of "software patents" has become a
lucrative business model in the United States, and is a path that Australia
would be ill-advised to follow.

"The Howard government intends to sell out the Intellectual Property rights of
average Australians to billion-dollar music and motion picture companies in
the United States, who can use these new enforcement powers to prosecute
Australians for trivial infractions of copyright, that would be legal under
American law.

Australian copyright law recognises only very limited 'fair dealing' rights,
typically for the purposes of scholarly study or review.  In contrast,
Americans enjoy wide-ranging 'fair use' rights, which Australians do not, such
as the right to record TV programs for viewing at a later time, or to copy a
legally purchased Compact Disk onto an audio cassette.  Unless very specific
and limited exemptions apply, Australians who perform these acts are breaking
the law.

"If the Howard government couples the draconian enforcement and prosecution
provisions of the DMCA with the already unbalanced Australian copyright law,
it will place every Australian at the mercy of a lawsuit for breach of
copyright", Clapperton continued.  "It will turn the Australian Internet
industry into a litigation mill, as well-funded US media groups launch waves
of prosecutions against Internet users and Internet Service Providers
themselves."

-- Ends --

(Note: It is intended that more comprehensive analysis of these
provisions of the Free Trade Agreement will be made when the full text
of the Agreement is released to the public.)

Below is:
- Background information
- Contact details for media

Background:

An agreed text for the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement was
reached on February 8.  The agreed text must be approved by the US Congress,
but does not require approval by the Australian Parliament.  The Australian
Government must then pass legislation to implement the provisions of the FTA
to give them effect.

DFAT fact sheet on the Intellectual Property chapter of the FTA:
http://www.dfat.gov.au/trade/negotiations/us_fta/outcomes/08_intellectual_property.html

Electronic Frontiers Foundation coverage of the US Digital Millennium
Copyright Act (DMCA):
http://www.eff.org/IP/DRM/DMCA/

Electronic Frontiers 

Re: Agreement?

[Peter Curtis]

I've never known one to be worth the paper it's written on anyway
Peter

Shay Telfer wrote:

> >Hi Team,
> >CAN ANYBODY ASSIST WITH A COPY OF A CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT?
> >WOULD BE OK AS A WORD DOC OR PDF?
>
> Go to <http://www.google.com/> and do a search for "confidentiality
> agreement" or "nondisclosure agreement" or NDA.
>
> Of course if you want it to work properly you may want to consult a lawyer...
>
> Have fun,
> Shay
> --
> === Shay Telfer 
> Perth, Western Australia Technomancer Sponsor WA's Solar Car
> Opinions for hire [POQ] Sungroper
> [EMAIL PROTECTED] fnord <http://sungroper.asn.au/>
>
> Got a Question? Try searching the WAMUG list archives first at
> <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wamug/messages/>
>
> To unsubscribe from the WAMUG e-mail list, send e-mail from this account to
>
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

Re: Agreement?

[Shay Telfer]

Hi Team,
CAN ANYBODY ASSIST WITH A COPY OF A CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT?
WOULD BE OK AS A WORD DOC OR PDF?


Go to <http://www.google.com/> and do a search for "confidentiality 
agreement" or "nondisclosure agreement" or NDA.


Of course if you want it to work properly you may want to consult a lawyer...

Have fun,
Shay
--
=== Shay Telfer 
Perth, Western Australia Technomancer Sponsor WA's Solar Car
Opinions for hire [POQ] Sungroper
[EMAIL PROTECTED] fnord <http://sungroper.asn.au/>

Agreement?

[Ken Jackson]

Hi Team,
CAN ANYBODY ASSIST WITH A COPY OF A CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT?
WOULD BE OK AS A WORD DOC OR PDF?

Thanks all,

Ken Jackson

[EMAIL PROTECTED]
T 08 9271 0389
F 08 9271 0870
M 0409 770 747
If busy please call 08 9271 1874

website:www.littleriverstudios.com.au



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]