How TPP Would Harm You At the Drug Store and On The Internet

[xchrom]

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2014/02/25-0



A law affecting content on the Internet that was rejected by Congress shows up in a trade agreement designed to bypass and override Congress. Small, innovative companies that manufacture low-cost, generic drugs find their products blocked.

Those are examples of what is in store based on provisions in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which is now being negotiated by the United States and 11 other nations, that have been leaked to the public. The leaks appear to show that provision after leaked provision will take power away from democracy and countries and hand it to the biggest corporations. No wonder these giant, monopolistic corporations want Congress to approve Fast Track before they – and We the People – get a chance to read the agreement.

Because of these leaks we know that the TPP has an intellectual property section that will override government rules that limit the power giant corporations can wield against smaller competitors and the general public. Intellectual property (IP) is a term that covers patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, industrial designs and similar ‘intangible assets.” (Click here for the IP chapter that was leaked to Wikileaks.)

The rigged process in which only giant corporate interests are represented at the talks of course produces results that are more favorable to those giant corporations than to their smaller, innovative competitors and regular people around the world. The rigged “fast track” process enables these interests to push the agreement through Congress before there is time to organize a public reaction.

[cali]

1. rigged process. ding. ding. ding.

k&r

[pipoman]

2. "rejected by Congress" = accepted by Congress

If (more likely when) Congress approves "fast track authority" for TPP. Fast track shouldn't be an option...but alas, big banking and corps have already purchased this anti democratic nonsense from both dems and thugs.

[jsr]

3. Recommend

[daleanime]

4. K&R....

[Enthusiast]

5. Mr. Obama, we don't want this fucking TPP thing!

[davidpdx]

6. I hate to say it

(because it's extremely selfish), but my concern is it will crack down on piracy. There is no way to get TV shows here other than a VPN or maybe Slingbox (which is not an option as I don't have anyone back home to set it up). Medications also worry me as well as it might drive up the prices over here.