ACTA Fool

A proposed treaty, The Anti-Counterfeit Trade Agreement, between various nations of the world raises several concerns in consumer privacy, the free flow of information on the Internet, and legitimate e-commerce, according to the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

EFF argues that despite the agreement's obvious cracking-down on counterfeited physical goods, its scope has been broadened to include Internet distribution and information technologies. A few measures include the requirement of Internet Service Providers to monitor their customers' communications online and divulge- to local and federal government- the identities of alleged copyright infringers without warrant, disruption of fair use, and holding pharmaceutical manufacturers of active pharmaceutical ingredients liable if those ingredients are used to make counterfeits.

I can see the benefit in a system that punishes illegal copyright infringement and rampant counterfeiting for profit, but is that fine line between protection of intellectual property and the warrant-less searching of the government being blurred?

What are your thoughts? Do you see an agreement like this stifling creativity under fear or would it bolster it with enhanced regulatory measures?