ACTA as an Example of Democrats Non-Transparent and Anti-Democratic Corporate Agenda

On the whole, the Democrats in Congress are more willing to protect consumer interests, civil rights, and protect many other values, than are Republicans. But unfortunately, often not by much. One example where the Democrats have been a huge disappointment concerns a trade agreement being negotiated on the enforcement of intellectual property rights. It is a massive, ambitious and far reaching negotiation, that is being held in complete secrecy. None of the negotiating texts are public, and even the agendas of meetings and participant lists have been withheld from FOIA requesters.

The Democrats in Congress have not done anything to open this negotiation up, and they have been cheerleaders of the negotiation -- in part because it uses the emotive and politically provocative title of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA).

Some of the negotiating texts are rumoured to contain proposals that would overturn elements of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in eBay regarding injunctions, or impose tough global norms for infringements of intellectual property, as well as dozens of other measures.

The less you know about these issues, the more harmless the negotiation seems. Why is it secret? Well, it is not really secret to corporate lobbyists, who have cleared advisors in the negotiations. It is secret to prevent the public from leveling criticisms at the flaws in the proposals, so some well funded lobbyists and members of Congress can deliver corporate favours.

One simple thing the democrats need to change is the secrecy of this negotiation.