Digital coalition asks for a fair deal on TPP copyright provisions

A coalition of organisations have started a ‘Fair Deal’ campaign against copyright provisions in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement.

The TPP is an proposed agreement between Australia, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the US and Vietnam which aims to open up trade between member countries.

Japan recently announced it would join the negotiating table for the agreement.

FAQ: What is the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA/TPP)?

The secrecy of TPP negotiations has widely been widely criticised. The treaty has been slammed by Greens senator Scott Ludlam for locking Australia into a treaty that could scrap copyright exemptions currently enshrined in law.

The Fair Deal coalition includes the Australian Digital Alliance, Electronic Frontiers Australia and InternetNZ and represents Internet users, schools, universities, consumers, IT firms and business.

It has called on TPP negotiators to reject the copyright proposals in the treaty and wants to see TPP negotiators promote access to knowledge and innovation; respect privacy and free speech; and recognise the potential of the Internet.

“Unrestricted access to the open Internet is fundamental to participation in 21st century society,” Steve Anderson, executive director of OpenMedia.org, said.

“Trade agreements must not require [the] termination of Internet access for infringement of copyright or encourage ISPs to police Internet use.”

The 17th round of talks are currently taking place in Lima, Peru until 25 May following the 16th round of talks in Singapore, with Disney reportedly using a stakeholders meeting to call for extended copyright terms.

Susan Chalmers from InternetNZ, said a fair copyright deal would take into account the interests of Internet users, libraries and educational and business creators.

“We’re all part of the Internet economy. The Fair Deal coalition is promoting fair copyright standards for the TPP that reflect the needs of the broadest cross-section of society,” she said.

“The Internet has changed so much about the way we create, disseminate and access content – it’s essential the TPP not lock in 20th century copyright standards but focus on a healthy Internet future for both creators and consumers, distributors and innovators,” Ellen Broad, executive officer at the Australian Digital Alliance, said.

The Fair Deal coalition has created a petition calling for rejection of copyright proposals in the TPP.

Follow Stephanie McDonald on Twitter: @stephmcdonald0

Follow Computerworld Australia on Twitter: @ComputerworldAU