Changes

===Background===

===Background===

In 2006, Japan and the United States introduced the idea of a new plurilateral treaty to combat counterfeiting and piracy which was called the  

In 2006, Japan and the United States introduced the idea of a new multilateral treaty to combat counterfeiting and piracy which was called the  

Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) to bring together interested governments worldwide that are willing to improve international standards to enforce the protection of Intellectual Property Rights. The European Union was mandated to lead the negotiations, which started in June, 2008.<ref>[http://www.ustr.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/factsheets/2009/asset_upload_file917_15546.pdf The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement  - Summary of Key Elements Under Discussion]</ref> Any member of the [[WTO|World Trade Organization]] (WTO) supporting ACTA should be able to sign the agreement after May, 2013.<ref>[http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/economy/i_property/pdfs/acta1105_en.pdf Final Text of ACTA]</ref>  ACTA participants conducted a series of negotiations discussing the content of the agreement. On April 16, 2010, a unanimous agreement was developed after the 8th round of negotiation which was held in Wellington, New Zealand.<ref>[http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/437&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en/ Joint Statement on Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA)]</ref> The text of the negotiated ACTA was reviewed by legal experts of each negotiating country in December, 2010 in a meeting held in Sysdney Australia.<ref>

Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) to bring together governments worldwide that are willing to improve international standards to enforce the protection of Intellectual Property Rights. The European Union was mandated to lead the negotiations, which started in June, 2008.<ref>[http://www.ustr.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/factsheets/2009/asset_upload_file917_15546.pdf The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement  - Summary of Key Elements Under Discussion]</ref> Any member of the [[WTO|World Trade Organization]] (WTO) supporting ACTA should be able to sign the agreement after May, 2013.<ref>[http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/economy/i_property/pdfs/acta1105_en.pdf Final Text of ACTA]</ref>  ACTA participants conducted a series of negotiations discussing the content of the agreement. On April 16, 2010, a unanimous agreement was developed after the 8th round of negotiation which was held in Wellington, New Zealand.<ref>[http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/437&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en/ Joint Statement on Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA)]</ref> The text of the negotiated ACTA was reviewed by legal experts of each negotiating country in December, 2010 in a meeting held in Sysdney Australia.<ref>

[https://www.ige.ch/en/legal-info/legal-areas/counterfeiting-piracy/acta.html Conclusion of Negotiations]</ref> On November 15, 2010, the negotiating parties announced that they were able to finalized the content of ACTA. <ref>[https://www.ige.ch/fileadmin/user_upload/Juristische_Infos/e/press_releases/Press_release_finalised_text_10-11-15_published_IPI.pdf Joint Press Release by ACTA Negotiating Parties]</ref> The final text of the agreement is available [http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/economy/i_property/pdfs/acta1105_en.pdf '''here''']

[https://www.ige.ch/en/legal-info/legal-areas/counterfeiting-piracy/acta.html Conclusion of Negotiations]</ref> On November 15, 2010, the negotiating parties announced that they were able to finalize the content of ACTA. <ref>[https://www.ige.ch/fileadmin/user_upload/Juristische_Infos/e/press_releases/Press_release_finalised_text_10-11-15_published_IPI.pdf Joint Press Release by ACTA Negotiating Parties]</ref> The final text of the agreement is available [http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/economy/i_property/pdfs/acta1105_en.pdf '''here''']

==Structure==

==Structure==

==Supporters==

==Supporters==

The supporters of ACTA recognize the importance of an international treaty for protecting intellectual property rights and the chance to regain lost revenue by stopping the exchange of counterfeit and pirated goods. Supporters of ACTA are major brand owners, copyright holders, movie studios, pharmaceutical companies, and include:<ref>[http://www.ustr.gov/acta Support for ACTA]</ref> <ref>[http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2012-01/24/acta-101?page=all What is Acta and why should you be worried about it?]</ref>  

The supporters of ACTA emphasize the importance of an international treaty for protecting intellectual property rights and the chance to regain lost revenue by stopping the exchange of counterfeit and pirated goods. Supporters of ACTA are major brand owners, copyright holders, movie studios, pharmaceutical companies, and include:<ref>[http://www.ustr.gov/acta Support for ACTA]</ref> <ref>[http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2012-01/24/acta-101?page=all What is ACTA and why should you be worried about it?]</ref>  

* [[Copyright Alliance]]

* [[Copyright Alliance]]

* Emergency Committee for American Trade

* Emergency Committee for American Trade

==Opposition==

==Opposition==

ACTA has also received criticism and oppositions from different sectors, particularly companies within the Internet industry, legal academics, digital rights groups such as the [[EFF|Electronic Frontier Foundation]] (EFF), Public Knowledge, the Pirate Party, Reporters Without Borders, Oxfam, Sakharov Laureates, Hactivist Group Anynymous and Members of the European Parliament including EU parliamentary Rapporteur for ACTA, Kader Arif.<ref>

ACTA has also received criticism and opposition from many quarters, particularly companies within the Internet industry, legal academics, digital rights groups such as the [[EFF|Electronic Frontier Foundation]] (EFF), Public Knowledge, the Pirate Party, Reporters Without Borders, Oxfam, Sakharov Laureates, Hacktivist Group Anynymous and Members of the European Parliament including EU parliamentary Rapporteur for ACTA, Kader Arif.<ref>

[http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2012-01/24/acta-101?page=all What is Acta and why should you be worried about it?]</ref> <ref>[http://www.studentsforfreeculture.eu/blog/2012/01/actas-eu-chief-kader-arif-resigns-in-protest/ ACTA’s EU chief Kader Arif resigns in protest]</ref>

[http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2012-01/24/acta-101?page=all What is Acta and why should you be worried about it?]</ref> <ref>[http://www.studentsforfreeculture.eu/blog/2012/01/actas-eu-chief-kader-arif-resigns-in-protest/ ACTA’s EU chief Kader Arif resigns in protest]</ref>