Leaks Show Real Aim Of ACTA, As Trade Chief Declares It Binding

The recently completed Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), negotiated by the countries that own most of the world’s intellectual property rights, is aimed at developing countries they hope will give value to those rights by protecting them, leaked documents show, according to French group La Quadrature du Net.

The cables to which La Quadrature du Net said it had exclusive access through Wikileaks also showed the conflicts within the European Union during the ACTA negotiation. But a recent letter from EU Trade Commissioner Karel de Gucht in response to questions from a Member of Parliament, published by Knowledge Ecology International, declares ACTA to be binding on all parties although it may require some changes in national laws.