Digitaltopia
Technology, Entertainment, Mad Rantings, Free Cookies
08-07-2005
CAFTA Exports US Copyright Law to South America
The Central American Free Trade Agreement or CAFTA, apparently aims to do more then just crush organized labor in South America. Apparently it will also export U.S. Copyright laws to many of the countries of South America. It in effect makes the unpopular Digital Millennium Copyright Act law in countries including Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.
Among the things CAFTA members must now enforce are; Permit software patents, Extend copyright protection to "70 years after the author's death", Ban the "manufacture" or "export" of any hardware or software that could decode encrypted satellite TV signals, and Offer "online public access to a reliable and accurate" WhoIs database of domain name registration details.
This is only one of the many reason CAFTA is a bad thing for South America. I suggest my readers check out some sites like StopCAFTA.org It maybe to late to stop CAFTA but being informed could help to combat similar things in the future.