Pirate politics

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Pirate Politics? 1

description

Slides prep'd for a polemical session as part of the RSLG discussions

Transcript of Pirate politics

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Pirate Politics?

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Where to begin?

•Sweden▫Liberal history▫Neutrality▫Free speech▫Anonymity ▫Protection of sources▫Relaxed copyright laws▫Cheap 100-Mbps broadband network▫Downloading for personal use legal

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Where to begin?

•Antipiratbyrån (Swedish Anti-Piracy Agency)▫Founded in 2001▫Funded by MPAA ▫High profile raids on ‘torrent’ sites in 2004▫EU Copyright Directive 2006 rendered

filesharing illegal

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Where to begin?

•Antipiratbyrån (Swedish Anti-Piracy Agency)

•Piratbyrån (aka The Pirate Bureau)▫Founded in 2003▫Think tank opposed to current intellectual

property laws▫Founders established The Pirate Bay in

2003

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Where to begin?

•Piratpartiet (aka The Pirate Party)▫Sept 2006: Riksdag elections – 0.63% of

vote▫Dec 2006: EU Copyright Directive

(2006/116/EC)

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Where to begin?

•Piratpartiet (aka The Pirate Party)▫Sept 2006: Riksdag elections – 0.63% of

vote▫Dec 2008: overtook the Green Party▫Feb 2009: overtook the Left Party▫April 2009: overtook Liberal Party & the

Christian Democrats ▫May 2009: overtook the Centre Party

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Rapid growth• The 3rd largest political party in Sweden

(49,000 members)•2nd largest party amongst 18-29 year olds•4th largest amongst 30-44 year olds

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2009 European Parliament elections

•Pirate Party received 7.13% of the Swedish vote

•2 of 18 Swedish MEP seats ▫Lars Christian Engström▫Amelia Andersdotter

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Pirate Parties International

•Founded in 2010

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Pirate Party UK• Founded in Aug 2009• Response to pressure from the UK copyright lobby

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Pirate Party UK• Founded in Aug 2009• Response to pressure from the UK copyright

lobby• An end to excessive surveillance, profiling, tracking

and monitoring on individuals by Government and big businesses.

• Ensuring that all members of society have real freedom of speech and real freedom to enjoy and participate in humanity's shared culture.

• Copyright and patent law reform: legalise non-commercial file sharing and reduce the excessive length of copyright protection, and prevent patents being used to stifle innovation or manipulate prices.

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Pirate Party UK• The Pirate Party is a new type of political party.

▫ A party that talks about issues the other parties ignore.▫ A party free from corruption and expenses scandals,

free from lobbyists and party whips.▫ A party that is not left wing or right wing.▫ A party that admits it doesn't always have all the

answers, and is willing to listen.▫ A party that wants to give you more rights not burden

you with any more taxes.

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Digital Economy Bill/Act

•Rushed through Parliament during the ‘wash-up’ on 8th April 2010

•Came into force 8th of June 2010

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Digital Economy Bill/Act

•Web-blocking powers•Suspension of internet accounts•ISPs to monitor subscribers (DPI)•Open wi-fi restrictions•Ofcom’s powers•Ownership of orphan works•The role of Channel 4

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Alternates?

•Open Rights Group•38degrees•Being Threatened?•Don’t Disconnect Us•a2f2a•Which?

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ACTA

•Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement

•Plurilateral agreement regarding the establishment of global standards in relation to intellectual property rights enforcement

•Increased surveillance

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Pirate Party UK

•Zero chance of getting elected in UK under the first past the post system

•Aim to raise awareness

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Questions…

•Can this party be taken seriously?•How effective are they at raising

awareness of the issues at hand?•Do they support or undermine other

related pressure/interest groups?

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