Obama Won't Divulge Drafts of Copyright Treaties

George Frost

on

March 13, 2009

Obama Won't Divulge Drafts of Copyright Treaties

The Obama administration has taken a big step back from transparency in one area of critical importance to the FOSS movement. Just like George Bush did, the President is asserting that draft trademark and copyright agreements with Japan and the EU are "state secrets," and has refused to release them to the public -- even though the same drafts have been widely distributed among corporate lobbyists. Japan and the US are reportedly insisting on criminal penalties for commercial copyright infringement, and potentially onerous restrictions on fair use. Mr. President, please release these drafts.

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This secrecy is what happened in the pricing of AIDS drugs in poor countries. Corporate lobbyists had advance copies of crucial information, which they used in negotiation while public-interest groups could not get the drafts. Don't let this keep happening. Draft treaties must either be secret from all parties in major public disputes, or from none. John S. James Editor and publisher, AIDS Treatment News