Acta talks miss deadline, but secrets may soon emerge

Internet service providers and frequent download users can rest easy for a while longer afternegotiators of a secret agreement on anti-counterfeiting trade agreement (Acta)missed a self-imposed deadline of Christmas 2008.

In addition, details of the agreement being negotiated in secret between developed countries may soon become public.Astatement issued in Paris today at the end of the fourth round of talks said, "Participants agreed on the importance of transparency and on holding further discussions on sharing additional information with the public." However, no substantive details of the talks were revealed.

The negotiators plan to meet again in March in Morocco. They confirmed their intention to conclude the agreement "as soon as possible".

The proposed agreement aims to tighten international intellectual property protection laws and procedures to stop counterfeiting and piracy of goods such as music and films.

It is thought to provide for the criminalisation of possession of unlicensed or fake goods, currently a civil matter in most jurisdictions. It is also thought to call for greater powers to search, inspect and seize goods, including laptop computers, MP3 players, PDAs and mobile phones.

A statement issued after the meeting said, "The discussion focused on [increasing] international co-operation, enforcement practices and institutional issues. Participants also continued previous discussions on criminal enforcement of IPR."

Negotiators, including the UK Intellectual Property Organisation, represented Australia, Canada, the European Union, represented by the European Commission and the EU Presidency (France), Japan, Korea, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, Singapore, Switzerland, and the United States. EU member states also attended the meeting.