by SHANE SINNOTT

As I write this, there are meetings being held to hash out what could turn out to be the most pivotal decision in the Internet’s history. In South Korea, representatives from Canada, the EU, Japan, Switzerland, New Zealand, Australia, Mexico, Morocco, Singapore, the Republic of Korea and the United States are working on a binding international treaty called Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA). While the nations involved are going to great lengths to keep all negotiations secret, details have been leaked, and the whole thing sounds scary as hell. Among the highlights is word that ISPs would have to actively police and enforce copyright on sites that allow user-created material. Which means that most music-, photo-, or whatever-sharing sites would be effectively shut down, as it would be nearly impossible to hire staff to monitor every piece of content added to the site for copyright infringement.

More messed up is that after three “offences”—though it seems like these need not be proven—your ISP would be legally obligated to cut off Internet access to your household. Meaning, yes, that nobody in your house could legally have an Internet connection. In addition, there would be mandatory rules on bypassing any kind of DRM—meaning zero exceptions, even if the DRM break is being done for a lawful purpose (archival preservation etc.) The website for Canada’s Dept. of Foreign affairs (tinyurl.com/yavb9nv) confirms that the parties involved would like to “conclude the agreement as soon as possible in 2010.” If you’d like to raise your ire further, be aware that the Obama administration decided back in May that all the negotiations had to be made in secret, because of “national security” concerns. However, the text of the work in progress is available to a number of “cleared” advisors, which includes, go figure, representatives from the entertainment industry.

There has been a lot of crying wolf over the years over the supposed “new laws” that are going to stop (amongst other things) all the free music. But this one just might be the real deal. Enjoy it while it lasts. Check out tinyurl.com/yz6q84l for info.