Posted on 03/27/2009 1:07:36 PM PDT by Lorianne
The Office of U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), part of President Barack Obama's office, has denied a company's request for information about a secretive anticounterfeiting trade agreement being negotiated, citing national security concerns.
The USTR this week denied a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request from Knowledge Ecology International, an intellectual-property research and advocacy group, even though Obama, in one of his first presidential memos, directed that agencies be more forthcoming with information requested by the public.
The USTR under Obama seems to be taking the same position about the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) as it did under former President George Bush, that the treaty documents are not open to the public. One of Obama's campaign promises was to make government more open and responsive to the public.
The USTR, in a letter to Knowledge Ecology International's director James Love, said information in ACTA, an anticounterfeiting and antipiracy pact being negotiated among the U.S. and several other nations, is "properly classified in the interest of national security."
Critics of the secrecy say the treaty could have a major impact on the way the U.S. enforces intellectual-property law, including the potential for U.S. law enforcement agencies arresting U.S. residents for breaking other countries' IP laws.
(Excerpt) Read more at pcworld.com ...
http://www.dmwmedia.com/news/2009/03/25/%2526amp%3Bt%2C-comcast%2C-cox-aiding-riaa-anti-piracy-actions
Obama Justice Dept. Sides With RIAA in File-sharing Lawsuit
http://www.dmwmedia.com/news/2009/03/23/obama-justice-dept.-sides-riaa-file-sharing-lawsuit
Why Is ACTA Being Negotiated In Secret?
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20080609/0319221344.shtml
US Using Bogus Excuses For Denying Access To ACTA Documents
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20090129/1955073576.shtml _________________
AT&T, Comcast, Cox Aiding RIAA Anti-piracy Actions
http://www.dmwmedia.com/news/2009/03/25/%2526amp%3Bt%2C-comcast%2C-cox-aiding-riaa-anti-piracy-actions
Obama Justice Dept. Sides With RIAA in File-sharing Lawsuit
http://www.dmwmedia.com/news/2009/03/23/obama-justice-dept.-sides-riaa-file-sharing-lawsuit
Why Is ACTA Being Negotiated In Secret?
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20080609/0319221344.shtml
US Using Bogus Excuses For Denying Access To ACTA Documents
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20090129/1955073576.shtml
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Anyone here who still genuinely believes that this is a Government "of the people, by the people, and for the people" needs to put down the bong and enter detox.
If this is about currency counterfeiting, and IF this contains sensitive information about methods or processes, I can understand that move.
Off the cuff observation: We're gonna be the MOST OPEN, TRANSPARENT ADMINISTRATION, ever, sayeth the obamination.
It’s not about currency counterfeiting.
I realize after I read the full thing after commenting. :->
Glad I put that big IF in there.
Saved by the IF .... :)
No way !
Treaties are supreme to laws of Congress and maybe even to the Constitution. We deserve to know what they are and have our input heard about them, or they are invalid so far as I am concerned.
That's it! How about a secret amendment to the Constitution. (No more elections. Obama is King! All Hail Obama!)
ML/NJ
Someone should tell the New York Times about this and hint that it’s designed to stop America’s enemies.
Then they would be able to read about it on the front page.
Catch the IFs and see point #10- IF it was what I thought (which it wasn’t) it would be like military technology classifications. It wasn’t, so moot point.
Agreed!
That's just a guess; I don't pretend to know anything about it.
This is not the first time that I think I wish Scott hadn’t rolled.
Reynolds vs. United States of America
So satan is basically asking his message to be taxed and shoved and paid for.
Counterfeit prez hidding birth certificate hides also “anticounterfeit” treaty. It’s no wonder counterfeits are available to government officials working abroad.
Not sure which Reynolds you are referring to. I found this one which maybe you thought relevant:
Facts of the Case:This is very different from anything involving a treaty which has to be ratified by the Senate, to my mind at least.
An airplane carrying several military personnel and several civilians crashed while conducting tests of "secret electronic equipment." The widows of the three civilians killed sued and asked for full disclosure of the Air Force?s accident investigation report. The report included information pertaining to the secret electronic equipment. The Air Force refused to provide the information, saying that to do so would threaten national security. Absent the report, the District Court and Court of Appeals viewed the question of negligence in the widow's favor and ruled for the plaintiffs.Question:
If the government invokes privilege to withhold information in civil proceedings, must the trial court view the point on which evidence is withheld in the plaintiff's favor?Conclusion:
No. In a 6-3 opinion by Chief Justice Fred Vinson, the court held that cause for privilege must be reasonably demonstrated. As a result, the government may withhold information for reasons of national security even when that information is vital to the plaintiff's case. On remand, the plaintiffs lost.
ML/NJ
The previous admin hid the details of this treaty as well.
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